Close, but no cigar.

That was the message from New York Yankees President Randy Levine as he fielded questions on the club’s pursuit of a possible stadium location just south of Yankee Stadium.

“We tried very, very hard,” Levine said. “Unfortunately, it just didn’t happen. We are looking around for other stadium sites in New York City right now.”

The New York City FC ownership group pursued a novel approach to secure land for their proposed new stadium. Offering to relocate the GAL Elevator Company and their 100k square foot warehouse at no cost, NYCFC executives found a large-scale footprint just south of Yankee Stadium, creating what would have been a potential hub for both sporting outfits. That footprint would be completed with the purchase of another large scale land grab; a parking garage just south of Heritage Park.

However, months of negotiations broke down this summer as NYCFC left the bargaining table to pursue other options.

In a Capital New York report, GAL Vice President Paul Seifried admitted surprise at the sudden turn in negotiations, never letting on just how close NYCFC got to securing a deal.

Levine was more forthcoming about the deal.

“We had a great site. We were close to right across Heritage Park,” Levine said. “Unfortunately, we came very, very close, pretty much had an agreement with Mayor Bloomberg to do it, and then there was a change in administration and it didn’t happen.”

Club officials insist the hunt for a new stadium ground continues, but Levine label the availability of such areas as “premature.” Nevertheless, club officials continue to tout patience as they explore the five boroughs for the proper fit.

“Every market has its own circumstances and its own things to deal with to get these projects done,” NYCFC CBO Tim Pernetti explained. “New York City — and I have experience with facilities and doing things like this in New Jersey — New Jersey is a complicated place. New York is equally as complicated.

“In the end, its not about complexity. There is a pathway to get things done but we are taking the amount of time we feel we need to take to get it done right. You only get to make this decision one time.”