New renderings show off NYC’s first professional soccer stadium

Renderings have been unveiled for New York City’s first-ever professional soccer stadium. During a Queens Community Board 7 meeting last week, Related Companies, Sterling Equities, and the NYC Football Club (NYCFC) presented new renderings for the Willets Point Revitalization Plan, a massive mixed-use development planned for Queens that includes a 25,000-seat stadium, a 250-room hotel, a 650-seat public school, over 40,000 square feet of public open space, retail space, and 2,500 affordable housing units. The stadium is scheduled to open in time for the 2027 season.

In their latest meeting with Community Board 7, the project’s developers—Queens Development Group (a joint venture of Related Companies and Sterling Equities), presented renderings of the $780 million soccer stadium. Besides providing a home for the NYCFC, the stadium will be the home for the soccer club’s foundation City in the Community (CITC).

Designed by HOK, the stadium will feature a striking, “activated cube” entranceway, which will be illuminated on match days with vibrant colors and imagery to ensure a dynamic experience for stadium visitors, according to a press release. S9 Architecture and Turner Construction Company are serving as design and construction partners on the project.

“The design of NYCFC’s new stadium celebrates diversity, community and the love of the sport, creating a hospitality-driven experience unique to its location in Queens, the world’s borough,” Rashed Singaby, principal and senior project designer at HOK, said.

“Our design team has created a sustainable, technology-driven experience and integrated the stadium into the context of a future district. Our goal is to establish a connected urban amenity for the community and an unprecedented live event experience. We’re looking forward to the stadium becoming a centerpiece for the vibrant Queens community.”

The affordable housing component, described by the developers as the largest 100% affordable development in the city in 40 years, will anchor a larger neighborhood constructed with pedestrian-centric urban planning principles in mind.

Features include open common areas, with “pedestrianized” thoroughfares allowing for family-friendly activities and space for small businesses and recreation. The housing will be situated around a main street featuring local retail and other small businesses.

“As if the dynamic plans to transform Willets Point to an affordable new community for thousands of New Yorkers and a destination for so many others were not inspiring enough, these initial designs make it even more so,” Council Member Francisco Moya said.

“The integration of the residential buildings with the open space and stadium is a true model for how neighborhoods should be built, and is a critical step for how this vision will come to life in a way that puts housing first, prioritizes the pedestrian experience and will be built with union labor.”

Residents of the community and sports fans alike would have easy access to public transportation, including the 7 subway line, the Long Island Rail Road, and the Q48 bus.

The site, formerly a dumping ground directly east of Citi Field, has been considered for redevelopment for decades. In 2007, former Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced plans for a mixed-use development with apartments, offices, and a shopping mall, but a lawsuit halted the project. In January 2019, former Mayor Bill de Blasio revived the plan, which also included the creation of affordable housing and revitalization of the surrounding area.

In November, Mayor Eric Adams announced plans for the transformation of Willets Point into a new neighborhood and sports hub. The stadium is projected to generate $6.1 billion in economic impact for NYC over the next 30 years and create 1,550 permanent jobs and 14,200 construction jobs.

After going through the uniform land use review procedure (ULURP), the project is expected to be completed “for the club to play in its new stadium for the 2027 MLS Season,” according to a press release.

RELATED:

• NYC’s first professional soccer stadium will open in Queens
• NYC and NJ selected as host city for 2026 FIFA World Cup
• City’s plans for Willets Point include a soccer stadium and affordable housing

All renderings courtesy of New York City Football Club