In Queens, NY, the New York City Football Club (NYCFC) has appointed HOK as the design architect and Turner Construction Company as the primary contractor to establish the first-ever soccer-focused stadium in New York City. The Club anticipates that both HOK and Turner will be instrumental in achieving their ambition of a high-caliber 25,000-seat stadium that will also serve as a community hub. In a collaborative endeavor with Queens Development Group (QDG), NYCFC will undertake a significant initiative at Willets Point, featuring 2,500 affordable housing units, a new public school with a capacity of 650 students, a hotel, public spaces, and NYCFC’s completely privately funded stadium. After obtaining the necessary approvals through the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP), the $780 million venture is projected to be completed in time for NYCFC to inaugurate their new home during the 2027 MLS Season.
NYCFC CEO, Brad Sims, expressed his enthusiasm regarding the partnership with HOK and Turner Construction Company, expressing confidence in their ability to make the Club’s stadium vision a reality. Sims highlighted soccer’s reputation for creating incredible stadium environments and asserted NYCFC’s commitment to providing fans with a top-notch experience. He also stressed the transformative impact of the project on Queens and applauded HOK’s achievements in designing several successful North American stadiums, arenas, and entertainment districts. Sims also noted Turner’s reputation as a premier builder of sports facilities, including twelve Major League Soccer stadiums.
Some of HOK’s most prominent projects include St. Louis CITY SC’s CITYPARK, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, home of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and MLS Atlanta United, the State Farm Arena renovation in Atlanta, and others. Their extensive team of 1,600 professionals across 25 worldwide offices will contribute to the NYCFC project.
Rashed Singaby, a principal and senior project designer at HOK, shared his enthusiasm for the venture, emphasizing the common goal of community-centered design. He described the future stadium as a vibrant representation of New York City’s dynamic culture and diversity.
HOK’s plan entails aligning the stadium along 126th Street, optimizing land use, and integrating public spaces. The stadium, which will serve as NYCFC’s home base, will also host a range of amenities and events throughout the year. It will be built in close proximity to the USTA Billie Jean King Tennis Center and the New York Mets’ Citi Field, establishing Queens as a world-class hub for sports and entertainment.
Turner Construction Company boasts a dedicated Sports Group with extensive expertise in sports construction. Turner’s portfolio includes some of the world’s most renowned sports venues, such as TQL Stadium, SoFi Stadium, Yankee Stadium, Madison Square Garden, and Levi’s Stadium, to name a few. Their reputation for effective project management and innovative problem-solving is well-established.
Charlie Whitney, Turner Vice President and General Manager, expressed the company’s honor to contribute to the NYCFC’s new home and the positive community transformations it will incite.
With a history spanning half a century, HOK and Turner Construction Company have successfully collaborated on over 400 projects. Their joint endeavors span a broad range of large-scale projects in various sectors, including corporate, healthcare, science and technology, and sports and entertainment facilities.
NYCFC has a long-standing commitment to investing in New York City’s local communities, primarily through its foundation. The new stadium will house this foundation, allowing the Club to increase its free-soccer programs available to the Queens community.
The Queens Development Group, a joint venture between the Related Companies and Sterling Equities, will supervise the stadium and district’s development. The entire venture will undergo the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) approval process this year and will also be reviewed by the New York City Public Design Commission. The stadium and overall development are estimated to create over 14,200 local jobs during construction, with 1,550 permanent positions established upon completion.