NYCFC's new Etihad Park in Queens aims to give soccer fans a true NY experience

The vision for New York City FC’s new home and the first soccer-specific stadium in New York City has become reality.

Etihad Park, which is adjacent to Citi Field, officially will host its first match on July 17 — 273 days from Saturday.

Ahead of the team’s match against Los Angeles FC at the Mets’ home on Saturday night, NYCFC chief operating officer Jennifer O’Sullivan and senior project manager of construction Ian Wilson provided a hard-hat tour of the venue to the media. The stadium already has many of its 25,000 seats in place — capacity will expand to 30,000 for concerts — and installation of the grass pitch is underway and expected to be completed before harsh winter temperatures arrive.

Previously without a permanent home since its debut in 2015, NYCFC primarily had played its home games at Yankee Stadium and Citi Field with appearances at several other venues. O’Sullivan noted it has been “12 long years” and that “our goal is that you know you're in New York” when attending games at Etihad Park, which also will be home to Gotham FC starting in 2028 and host games during the 2028 Summer Olympics.

“We made a promise 12 years ago that we were going to build in the five boroughs of New York,” she said. “And it was something that we were told we would never be able to do, it's impossible, you'll never be able to succeed in doing it — and we have. And so for us to be able to have the support that we've had through the years, to get the support from the community and from our local politicians and leaders to be able to say, no, that New York deserves its first-ever soccer-specific stadium.

“We want people to know exactly where they are when they come into this building, and so making it representative of this community and this city was really important to us. And I hope that when everyone comes through here, they feel like we succeeded in doing that.”

Among O'Sullivan’s highlights of the tour: Parts of the stadium that are named “The Cube,” “City Square” and “The Supporters Porch.”

Wilson said that “65 to 70% of our fans” are going to enter Etihad Park through The Cube. It will feature 11,000 square feet of LED panels that will showcase matchday information, local artwork and various digital displays. It will be the first thing that most fans see entering Etihad Park.

“Think of the Sphere [in Las Vegas] — this is our version of it,” O’Sullivan said. “. . . It's a really exciting focal point, and probably unlike anything in professional sports.”

City Square is a 40,000 square foot programmable space. On matchdays, that space will feature the Five Boroughs Food Hall with 10 different vendors from the five boroughs, including mom-and-pop restaurants and ethnic foods. On non-matchdays, City Square can host community events and private events.

“Think about a farmers market or five-vs.-five mini pitches for a kids tournament or yoga in the square,” O’Sullivan said. “The opportunities are really endless with the use of that space.”

The Supporters Porch provides a space for fans to hang out. On the walk up the stairs and upon reaching the area, fans can catch glimpses of the Manhattan skyline, the Unisphere, the National Tennis Center, Citi Field and planes flying to and from LaGuardia Airport.

“There’s just so many touchpoints, visual reminders that this is New York,” Wilson said.

O’Sullivan expressed excitement for being “welcomed into this new neighborhood,” which she said includes the 2,500 units of affordable housing, the Mets and the United States Tennis Association. (The Metropolitan Park casino and entertainment complex is currently under construction, too.)

“As Ian talked earlier, it's a valley of ashes, and it was just desolate and kind of wasteland for a long time,” she said. “And to be able to see what can happen when you have community leaders and civic leaders and elected officials who really have a vision for what a neighborhood can look like, and I think we're just really excited to be a part of that.”

The official team store is adjacent to The Cube, and other merchandise kiosks will be located throughout the stadium.

Though its first match won’t be until July, Etihad Park is “on track” for a spring opening to have test events, O’Sullivan said.

City Football Group, NYCFC’s majority owner, also owns Manchester City, which has been rendered guilty on 114 charges of breaking Premier League financial rules and could face a historic punishment. As far as any impact that may have on NYCFC?

“No concern in New York,” O’Sullivan said. “Everything here is business as usual. We're on track with construction. We're on track for our first game, July 17, 2027. We're really excited about that. So everything here has just been business as usual for us.”

By Ben Dickson

benjamin.dickson@newsday.com@bendickson__

Ben Dickson is Newsday Sports' general assignment reporter. He joined Newsday’s high school sports staff in 2023 after graduating from Maryland, where he covered several of the Terrapins' teams.