New York City Football Club has announced the selection of design and construction firms for a new NYCFC stadium, with HOK as the architect and Turner Construction Company as the general contractor.
The new NYCFC stadium will be New York City’s first-ever soccer-specific stadium, envisioned as a 25,000-seat stadium also serving as a community resource. The MLS team is working with Queens Development Group (QDG) on the Willets Point Development that will include 2,500 units of 100 percent affordable housing, a 650-seat new public school, a hotel, open space, and NYCFC’s fully privately financed stadium. Construction on the $780 million project aims to be completed for NYCFC to play in its new stadium for the 2027 MLS season.
Queens Development Group (QDG) is a joint venture of Related Companies and Sterling Equities. Related Companies is an international real-estate firm, while Sterling Equities is a real-estate investment firm launch by Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz that formerly owned the New York Mets and has since invested in other sports projects, such as UBS Arena at Belmont Park, via its Sterling Project Development subsidiary. The entire project will enter the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) approval process later this year and will be reviewed by the New York City Public Design Commission. The stadium and development are projected to generate more than 14,200 local jobs during construction, with 1,550 permanent positions created upon completion.
“We’re extremely excited to announce HOK as the architect and Turner Construction Company as the general contractor for our future home,” said Brad Sims, NYCFC CE, via press release. “It is clear that HOK and Turner are the right partners to bring our vision of a world-class stadium that is integrated into the local community. Soccer is known around the globe for its incredible in-stadium atmospheres, and we are committed to delivering a best-in-class experience for our fans in a stadium that reflects the greatest city in the world.”
The new NYCFC stadium will be located along the edge of 126th Street, integrating into the city grid to optimize land use and incorporate public open space. In addition to providing a home for NYCFC, the stadium will provide a variety of year-round amenities and events. Designed with a pedestrian-friendly scale, the stadium will showcase cutting-edge technology, offer flexibility, and create a grand arrival experience. The site is adjacent to the USTA Billie Jean King Tennis Center and the New York Mets’ Citi Field, creating a world-class destination for sports and entertainment in Queens.
HOK’s Sports + Recreation + Entertainment projects include St. Louis CITY SC’s new CITYPARK, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta (home of NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and MLS Atlanta United) and the renovation of State Farm Arena in Atlanta. HOK also designed the new award-winning Terminal B at LaGuardia Airport, which was designed and constructed as one of the largest public-private partnerships in U.S. aviation history.
“We’re honored to work with NYCFC to design New York City’s first-ever soccer-specific stadium for the 2021 MLS champions,” said Rashed Singaby, principal and senior project designer at HOK, via press release. “The stadium will embody New York City’s dynamism and cultural diversity and will become a vibrant example of urban placemaking. Our design will embrace the multi-faceted identity of Queens, Flushing Meadows and the site’s industrial heritage, offering fans an unprecedented, hospitality-driven game-day experience while integrating into the local community as an everyday asset.”
Turner Construction Company’s Sports Group has worked on many of the top sports venues in the world, including TQL Stadium, SoFi Stadium, Lower.com Field, the Golden 1 Center, Yankee Stadium, Madison Square Garden, Levi’s Stadium, and the Intuit Dome.
“We are honored to be a part of the team building the new home for NYCFC. The stadium will elevate the experience for this incredible team and their fans,” said Turner Vice President and General Manager Charlie Whitney via press release. “From the very beginning of our involvement, we understood the importance of this project and the positive impact and transformation it will bring to the entire community. We look forward to continuing to work in close partnership with HOK and the entire team over the next several years to achieve our common goals, deliver on our commitments, and make this project a reality for NYCFC and New York City.”
Rendering courtesy City of New York.
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