The MLS franchise of the New York City has signed an agreement with the airline Etihad Airways to sell the naming rights of its new stadium, which will officially come to life in 2027. The project envisages that the facility will be built next to the Citi Fieldhome of the New York Mets of baseball.
The new stadium, as reported by the US media, will have a capacity of 25,000 seats for a total cost of 780 million dollars (at the current exchange rate, 740 million euros). The facility will be called Etihad Park, to distinguish it fromEtihad Stadium in Manchester where Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City plays.
Etihad is shirt sponsor del New York City dal 2014 «It’s a 100% club deal and his alone – he wanted to reiterate Brad Simspresident of the Big Apple franchise –. Etihad Airways has essentially been our main partner since day one. We ideally wanted to stick with someone who was already a partner of New York City FC or someone from the City Football Group family, but Etihad was clearly our number one target from the start».
«Etihad has been interested in this stadium in New York for some time, investing, I believe, in the growth path of football in this country and, in particular, in the market of the city of the Big Apple – added Sims – . For them, it’s a strategic commercial market».
Returning to the stadium question, since 2015 (debut year in MLS), New York City has played its home matches at Yankee Stadiumhome of the Yankees, which is still a minority investor in the MLS franchise. However, due to overlapping commitments, some games were also played at Citi Field, al Red Bull Arena di HarrisonNew Jersey, et al Rentschler Field in East HartfordConnecticut.
The plan for a new stadium was made official by the club in 2022. Since then, the New York City Council approved the process in April, also as part of a Willets Point redevelopment project which includes 2,500 housing unitsa new public schooland hotel e shops. And i preliminary works have already begunwhile the negotiations between the municipality and the club for the rental agreement. Furthermore, the actual work should begin by the end of 2024.
The proximity to another important facility, that of the Mets, forces a quite rigid program when the two teams play in their respective stadiums. Sims himself explains it: when New York City plays first of the day, there must be a six-hour break before a Mets game starts. However, when the latter play first, a seven-hour break is necessary before the football match begins.
