NYCFC released the first look at plans for its new, soccer-specific Stadium in Queens, New York City, on Wednesday. Here’s what you need to know:

• The team plans to build a $780 million, privately financed, 25,000-seat soccer-specific stadium in Willets Point, Queens.
• NYCFC’s plan is to open the new stadium ahead of the 2027 MLS season.
• The renderings were initially shown at a meeting to Community Board 7, a local governmental advisory board, to outline early plans for the stadium and surrounding area in Willets Point.

Backstory

Plans were announced for the soccer-specific stadium, to be built in Queens’ Willets Point community, last November.

Willets Point also is home to Citi Field, the New York Mets’ stadium. NYCFC has detailed plans to revitalize the community with 2,500 units of affordable housing near the stadium site as well. There will be more than 40,000 square feet of public open space in the community, a school, hotel and ground floor retail shops, NYCFC said.

NYCFC was initially announced as an MLS expansion club in 2013 and debuted in the 2015 season, with the idea that the team would find a deal to build its own soccer-specific stadium in New York City. The plan was for the club to play at Yankee Stadium until that happened.

It took longer than expected to get a deal for land and begin planning for the stadium and the club has had a more nomadic “home” experience in recent seasons than initial years. In the 2022 season, NYCFC played “home” matches at five venues: Yankee Stadium (the team’s primary location, home of the New York Yankees), Red Bull Arena (home of rival New York Red Bulls), Citi Field, Belson Stadium (home of St. John’s University) and even BMO Stadium (home of LAFC).

“From the beginning, New York City Football Club has understood the importance of strong communication and collaboration with Mayor Adams, Councilmember Francisco Moya, Borough President Richards, and the local Queens community as we move forward with plans for a privately financed soccer-specific stadium,” NYCFC vice chairman Marty Edelman said in a club statement. “This continued investment in New York City will create a long-overdue home for our first team, and create a new neighborhood for Queens.”

Required reading

(Photo: Courtesy of NYCFC)