New York City FC is building its first permanent home next to Citi Field in Queens, with construction on Etihad Park set for completion next spring. The club plans a series of test events before its first official match there on July 17, 2027.
Club chief operating officer Jennifer O’Sullivan led media through the construction site Saturday, ahead of NYCFC’s 1-1 draw against LAFC at Citi Field. She said the design was built around making sure visitors know exactly where they are.
“It’s been so important to us because for 12 long years, we’ve been looking for our own home,” O’Sullivan said. “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.”
NYCFC has never had a permanent stadium since its founding more than a decade ago. The new venue on Seaver Way will include a supporters porch with skyline views, a “City Square” food hall featuring vendors from all five boroughs, and other design touches meant to tie the building to the city.
Construction Progress
Seats are already installed in parts of the lower and upper bowls. Crews are working on a seven-story LED-lined entrance, called “the cube,” expected to handle 65 to 70 percent of fans entering the stadium. The grass pitch has been laid and is set to be finished before winter.
Ticket Prices
Tickets for premium hospitality areas are already on sale, though general admission tickets have not been released. O’Sullivan said affordability is a priority for the club as it finalizes pricing.
“Everybody deserves to have a really unique and valuable fan experience, and so that’s something that’s really important to us, and making sure that that price point for those fans is something that they can afford — that it’s something that also they feel the value that they’re getting for their money,” O’Sullivan said.
She said the club has focused on the general admission sections to give fans value, including matching food quality with the stadium’s more exclusive areas.
O’Sullivan also addressed the Premier League financial scandal involving sister club Manchester City, saying there are “no concerns in New York” about any impact on the MLS team.
A Rough Stretch on the Field
The stadium news comes as NYCFC’s on-field performance has collapsed. The club has won just one regular-season match in its last 12 games since August. NYCFC has not won a single MLS match this season when it has conceded the first goal.
Saturday followed that pattern. LAFC scored first, and NYCFC salvaged a draw only after an early second-half goal erased Los Angeles’ lead.
Head coach Pascal Jansen pointed to missed chances as the root of the team’s problems.
“Somehow that is something that comes back to us all the time,” Jansen said. “So if you don’t reward yourself enough in these games, it stays a very tight game, and every mistake you make in the final phase of the game has cost us dearly.”
