The construction of a new 25,000-seat soccer stadium for Major League Soccer’s New York City Football Club has been approved by city officials in New York City. This stadium, which is expected to be completed by 2027, will be built next to the New York Mets’ stadium, Citi Field, as part of a larger redevelopment project in the Willets Point neighborhood. The $780 million stadium will serve as the city’s first venue dedicated solely to professional soccer, providing a permanent home for NYCFC, which currently plays at Citi Field or Yankee Stadium.
The new soccer stadium is set to anchor a 23-acre redevelopment project in Willets Point that will also include housing, a new public school, retail stores, and a hotel. This development is a significant milestone for the city, as it follows decades of unsuccessful attempts to transform the Willets Point area, known for its auto body shops. The stadium’s location will place it alongside other major sports venues, such as the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, where the U.S. Open is held, creating a sports hub in the area.
While the soccer stadium will be privately financed by NYCFC’s owners, which include the New York Yankees and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, owner of Manchester City Football Club, there are concerns about the potential cost to taxpayers. The city’s Independent Budget Office estimates that taxpayers could be on the hook for $516 million over the 49-year term of NYCFC’s lease, based on the property taxes the city would have received if it had sold the land to developers instead of leasing it. The development team behind the project includes Related Companies and Sterling Equities, partly controlled by the Wilpon family, former owners of the Mets.
The approval of the new soccer stadium represents a major win for NYCFC, which won the MLS championship in 2021. The club’s vice chairman, Marty Edelman, expressed excitement about the stadium’s approval, stating that it brings the team one step closer to making Queens their permanent home. The new stadium is expected to boost the profile of professional soccer in New York City and provide a state-of-the-art facility for fans and players alike. With construction set to begin soon, the soccer stadium is poised to become a key part of the city’s sports landscape.
