Union-built stadium will integrate into the local community providing a community resource
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-ever soccer-specific stadium. The Club is confident that 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 MLS Season.
Brad Sims, NYCFC CEO, said: “We’re extremely excited to announce HOK as the architect and Turner Construction Company as the general contractor for our future home. 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.
“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.”
HOK’s Sports + Recreation + Entertainment key 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, the renovation of Footprint Center in Phoenix, Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Rogers Place and the ICE District in Edmonton, Alberta and Little Caesars Arena and The District Detroit. 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. With 1,600 people across 25 offices worldwide, HOK will draw on its interdisciplinary team of planners, designers, and engineers for the project.
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.”
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.
Turner Construction Company has a dedicated Sports Group that brings together an enormous breadth of specialized resources in the unique aspects of sports construction. Turner’s Sports Group is made up of dedicated, passionate staff with the experience, industry knowledge, creativity, and resourcefulness to deliver on commitments. Turner clients include professional teams in soccer, football, baseball, hockey, and basketball.
Turner 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. Turner has earned a reputation for safe, efficient project management and innovative solutions to complex challenges.
“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. “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.”
HOK and Turner Construction Company’s relationship dates back 50 years, and in that time, the firms have completed more than 400 projects together. They have successfully delivered large-scale projects in the New York market and across the United States spanning corporate, healthcare, science + technology, and sports + entertainment facilities.
For nearly a decade, NYCFC has been investing in local communities across New York City through its foundation, which will be housed in the new stadium, enabling the organization to expand its free-soccer programs available to the local Queens community.
Queens Development Group, a joint venture between Related Companies and Sterling Equities, will oversee the stadium and district’s development. 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. NYCFC will work to finalize the stadium design to align with entering the ULURP approval process later this year. The stadium and development are projected to generate more than 14,200 local jobs during construction, with 1,550 permanent positions created upon completion.