New York Construction Report staff writer
New York City’s first professional soccer-specific stadium officially broke ground in early December. The 25,000-seat stadium is expected to be operational by the 2027 Major League Soccer season.
Etihad Park, the first fully-electric stadium across the nation and also the first fully privately-financed major league sporting facility constructed in New York City in generations
Designed by HOK, Etihad Park will be Major League Soccer’s first all-electric stadium when it opens in time for the league’s 2027 season. J.P. Morgan arranged the private financing for the stadium, with a construction cost estimated at $780 million. Turner Construction is the general contractor.
The stadium is part of the Willets Point redevelopment that will include 2,500 units of affordable housing, more than 40,000 square feet of new public space and 650 school seats.
“Today, we are breaking ground on Etihad Park — our city’s first-ever soccer-specific stadium — for NYCFC to call home and finally deliver New Yorkers the soccer stadium they deserve,” Mayor Eric Adams said. “This stadium is part of our Willets Point Transformation, building a neighborhood with more housing, public space, and a new school out of the Valley of Ashes.
According to the New York City Football Club, the stadium name pays homage to the city’s green spaces.
“Today’s groundbreaking represents a critical milestone in not only creating New York’s first soccer-specific stadium, but also generating thousands of good-paying union careers for hardworking New Yorkers from the local community,” said Gary LaBarbera, president the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York.
According to the developers, the entire transformation process is expected to create more than 14,000 construction-related jobs.
“New York City Football Club committed ten years ago to build New York City’s first-ever, soccer-specific stadium in the five boroughs, and today’s groundbreaking of Etihad Park in Willets Point, Queens, brings us one step closer to delivering that promise to our fans and our city.” said Marty Edelman, vice-chairman, New York City Football Club.
