Turner Construction has kicked off construction of New York City’s first soccer-specific stadium.
The contractor has turned dirt on the $780 million Etihad Park, financed by and future home of Major League Soccer’s New York City Football Club, according to a Jan. 14 news release.
The privately funded, 610,000-square-foot, 25,000-seat facility is a cornerstone of the broader Willets Point redevelopment in Queens, which is slated to add 2,500 affordable homes, over 20,000 square feet of retail space and a 250-key hotel to the area.
Etihad Park will be the first fully electric stadium in the U.S., according to Turner, and will include photovoltaic panels on its roof as well as a water reuse system to irrigate the field. The stadium will feature 40 private suites, three clubs and the City Square, a plaza for community gatherings and events. The project also integrates retail, dining and office spaces, according to Turner.
“Etihad Park will stand as a landmark for soccer enthusiasts and a cornerstone for the Willets Point community,” said Charles Whitney, vice president and general manager at Turner.
The New York City-based contractor has a slew of stadiums in its portfolio, including several for the other kind of “football.” It worked on the $5.5 billion SoFi Stadium, home to the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams and Chargers. It also partnered to build the $930 million Levi’s Stadium for the San Francisco 49ers.
Currently, it’s building a stadium in Nashville, Tennessee with AECOM Hunt for the NFL’s Titans and another in Orchard Park, New York, with Providence, Rhode Island-based Mortenson, for the NFL’s Buffalo Bills.
Indeed, it was Turner’s track record with large stadium builds — including a $200 million stadium for Cincinnati FC and $150 million DC United stadium that drew NYCFC to the contractor. “Turner is recognized as a leading builder of stadiums, arenas and ballparks,” said Brad Sims, NYCFC’s CEO, when the contract was awarded in 2023.
Turner said Etihad Park is scheduled to open in time for the 2027 MLS season.
