Construction has officially begun on New York City FC's new stadium, Etihad Park, in Queens. The stadium, named after the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, will be the city’s first soccer-specific venue.

"Today is a once-in-a-generation historic victory for this neighborhood," Mayor Eric Adams stated at the groundbreaking ceremony.

The $780 million, 25,000-seat Etihad Park is located near Citi Field and is set to become the first fully electric stadium in Major League Soccer. Since its inception in 2015, NYCFC has played its home games at both Yankee Stadium and Citi Field.

"We're very grateful for the Yankees and the Mets to be hosting us, but I think it's time for us to move into our own stadium," said NYCFC player Kevin O'Toole.

Etihad Park is part of a larger Willets Point redevelopment project, privately financed and expected to transform the area. The plan includes retail spaces, a hotel, affordable housing, and a public school.

"When the plan’s complete, you're going to see a whole new neighborhood," said Brad Sims, CEO of NYCFC.

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards expressed excitement about the transformation, saying, "F. Scott Fitzgerald called this very spot the valley of ashes. I don't know about you, but I do not see any ashes today."

While some community members have raised concerns about the impact on local businesses, particularly the area’s auto body shops, NYC Economic Development Corporation president Andrew Kimball noted that the redevelopment would bring significant job opportunities. "Many of those shops are finding new homes. And this is exciting because this is 1,500 permanent jobs, 14,000 construction jobs, and new homes for over 2,500 New York City families," he said.

Sims also addressed traffic concerns, ensuring that NYCFC and Mets games will not overlap. "There will not be Mets games and New York City FC games going on simultaneously," he confirmed.

NYCFC fan Andre Tessier shared his excitement about the future stadium, saying, "What can you not love about the sport? It’s got action. It’s got pathos. It’s got heroism. It’s got defeat. It’s got everything. It’s truly the beautiful game."

Etihad Park is scheduled to open in 2027.