New York City FC’s Etihad Park

Since joining Major League Soccer (MLS) in 2015, New York City FC has played home matches in borrowed venues. That changes in 2027 with the opening of Etihad Park, New York City’s first-ever soccer-specific stadium and the first fully electric MLS stadium in the country. Privately financed by New York City FC, Etihad Park will serve as the future home of the club when it opens for the 2027-28 MLS season. HOK has carried out New York City FC’s vision for the project by designing the 25,000-seat Etihad Park.

Design Solutions

The building’s form responds to its surroundings. Brick and black structural steel reference the neighborhood’s industrial heritage. A transparent roof brings daylight into the concourse and keeps crowd noise within the bowl.

The main entrance along 126th Street features “The Cube,” a seven-story gateway wrapped in 11,000 square feet of programmable LED screens. It creates a dramatic arrival experience on match days while acting as a year-round neighborhood landmark.

The intimate bowl positions fans close to the pitch. This creates a compact atmosphere for soccer that can easily convert for concerts and other events. Premium spaces include suites, pitchside lounges and the exclusive Tunnel Club.

Inside the stadium’s south side, Paze City Square keeps the site active between matches. The plaza can host a range of community events, from markets and festivals to programs through New York City FC’s City in the Community foundation.

The fully electric stadium includes a roof-mounted solar array, rainwater harvesting under the field and locally sourced materials. The elevated site helps reduce flood risk, and the club is working toward net-zero operations by 2040.

Fans won’t need to drive. They can reach the venue via the Mets-Willets Point subway and the Long Island Rail Road, along with several bus lines. Shared parking with Citi Field avoids the need for new garages.

Turner Construction is the general contractor building New York City FC’s privately financed $780 million stadium, which is being financed through J.P. Morgan and built with 100% union labor.

Impact

Etihad Park will be New York City’s first soccer-specific stadium and MLS’s first fully electric venue. It is also a part of the broader Willets Point development. Once completed, the development will add 2,500 affordable homes, a 650-seat public school, a 250-key hotel, ground-floor retail and over 40,000 square feet of public open space. The development is expected to generate $6.1 billion in economic impact over the next 30 years, creating over 16,000 jobs.

Together with Citi Field and the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Etihad Park will further establish the Willets Point area as the premier sports-entertainment district in the country.