New York City Football Club (NYCFC) has selected HOK as the architect and Turner Construction Company as the general contractor to design and build New York City’s first purpose-built soccer stadium.
According to NYCFC, it is confident HOK and Turner will successfully deliver the club’s vision for a world-class 25,000-seat stadium that will become a community resource. NYCFC is proud to work with Queens Development Group (QDG) to bring forward a once-in-a-generation project for Willets Point 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. Following the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) approval process, construction on the $780 million project aims to be completed for the club to play in its new stadium for the 2027 Major League Soccer (MLS) season.
HOK’s design will strategically position the stadium 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.
Brad Sims, NYCFC CEO says: “This project will be transformative for Queens; the ‘world’s borough’ is the perfect location to build the city’s first stadium for the world’s game. Stadiums are where people come together, and we share a vision with HOK to ensure our stadium becomes a destination of soccer for our fans while playing an important part in the development of Willets Point. HOK is renowned for designing some of North America’s most successful stadiums, arenas, and entertainment districts, and we are looking forward to working with them as we enter the ULURP approval process. Turner is recognized as a leading builder of stadiums, arenas, and ballparks—including one dozen Major League Soccer stadiums—that support the communities in which they are built.”
Rashed Singaby, principal and senior project designer at HOK, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, citing a shared commitment to community-focused design. “We’re honored to work with NYCFC to design New York City’s first-ever soccer-specific stadium for the 2021 MLS champions. 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.”
