New York City FC (NYCFC) has officially broken ground on its new 25,000-seater stadium in Willets Point, which will be named Etihad Park. Set to be completed before the 2027 MLS season, this will be the first soccer-specific stadium in the five boroughs of New York City. The $800 million project, approved by the New York City Council in April, will also include affordable housing, a school, a hotel, retail space, and public open space.
The stadium will be fully electric, making it the first of its kind in the United States. The development is expected to create around 14,000 construction jobs and 1,500 permanent jobs, all fully unionized. NYC Mayor Eric Adams and other city officials attended the groundbreaking ceremony, praising the project’s economic impact and significance in bringing professional soccer to Queens.
Elected officials, including Council Member Francisco Moya, highlighted the community-focused nature of the development, emphasizing the inclusion of affordable housing and union jobs. The stadium will offer a home for NYCFC, which has been playing home games at Citi Field and Yankee Stadium. Supporters of the club expressed excitement over finally having a permanent home within the five boroughs.
While there have been delays in the project’s timeline, City Football Group’s Jonathan Stemp emphasized the importance of quality over speed in construction. The groundbreaking marks a significant milestone for NYCFC and New York City, bringing a long-awaited soccer-specific stadium to the area and revitalizing the Willets Point neighborhood from its historical “Valley of Ashes” moniker.
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