Work on £610million stadium for Man City’s sister club officially begins as football chief hails ‘historic moment’
NEW YORK CITY have begun construction for their new stadium in Queens.
The sister club of Manchester City have played at the Yankee Stadium in the Bronx since 2015.
But they are now set to move into a football specific stadium for the first time since the club's inception in 2013.
Construction has begun on the 25,000 capacity arena, which is expected to cost £610million ($780m).
It will be part of a redevelopment at Willets Point that is expected to bring 15,000 jobs, 2,500 units of affordable housing and over 40,000 square feet of new public space.
It will be the first fully electric stadium in the USA and is expected to be ready by 2027.
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NYCFC have partnered with Etihad Airways for the naming rights, with the new ground to be called Etihad Park.
MLS commissioner Don Garber said of the project: "This is a historic moment for New York City FC, Major League Soccer, and everyone who has believed in the promise of soccer in America.
"We’ve always known that a world-class soccer stadium belongs in New York City."
While New York Mayor Eric Adams said: "We are breaking ground on Etihad Park — our city’s first-ever soccer-specific stadium — for NYCFC to call home and finally deliver New Yorkers the soccer stadium they deserve.
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"This stadium is part of our Willets Point Transformation, building a neighbourhood with more housing, public space, and a new school out of the Valley of Ashes."
The new stadium will contain a club store, a special "cube" entrance in the main stand and a "supporters porch" where fans can mingle while grabbing a bite to eat and something to drink.