$120M Soccer Stadium Is Suddenly on Life Support

Now, the stadium part of it might not happen at all. According to a published report, Hudson County officials have backed off of issuing $90 million bonds to help pay for the stadium. One county official terms the issue, "too risky. The numbers don't work."

Under the terms of a deal the team cut with the city, the MetroStars are supposed to contribute the remaining $30 million. According to one local official, the city is currently pursuing alternatives, including private money, to finance the remaining $90 million.

A spokesperson for the Bedminster, NJ-based Advance Realty Group declined to comment, other than issuing a written statement: "We remain committed to the town of Harrison and to Harrison MetroCentre. Our goal remains to ensure that Harrison achieves its vision for this strategically positioned project. We continue our work with Harrison and the Harrison Redevelopment Authority to develop MetroCentre as a world-class mixed-use community."

As the soccer stadium project founders, the state is already actively courting the MetroStars with a possible new soccer complex in the Meadowlands. The team is currently a tenant of the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority, but generally averages 20,000 spectators in the 76,000-seat Giants Stadium and has actively been seeking a more intimate venue.

According to a published report, NJSEA officials have already initiated discussions with the MetroStars for a new build-to-suit facility within the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Nick Sackiewicz, president and general manager of the team, declined to comment.

The whole matter ties to what is apparently a larger policy change by the state. Outgoing Gov. James McGreevey appointed George Zoffinger to head the NJSEA two years ago with the goal of largely getting the state out of the sports business. Four of the five pro franchises based at the Meadowland, including the MetroStars, are slated to leave over the next four years, and the NJSEA has put its Meadowlands and Monmouth Park racetracks on the block for sale or lease. The "new" Meadowlands Sports Complex is supposed to be a recreation and entertainment site centered on Mills and Mack-Cali's Meadowlands Xanadu project.

But in public statements this week, leading up to his ascension to acting governor on Monday, State Senate president Richard Cody (D-Essex County) has effectively put a full-court press on keeping the "sports" in sports complex. He's already proposed a new stadium for the New York Giants, the new soccer complex for the MetroStars, new efforts to hold onto the New Jersey Devils hockey team, which is slated to move to a new arena in Newark, and a new minor league baseball stadium. He's also ordered that the two racetracks be taken off the block, at least for now.