New York City FC’s Etihad Park Opening Delayed to 2027

omidbasir- NEW YORK — The opening of New York City FC’s Etihad Park has been rescheduled to the summer of 2027, aligning with the commencement of the MLS’s 2027-28 season.

Initially announced in December 2024, the new 25,000-seat venue, located adjacent to Citi Field, was set to debut for the 2027 season. However, with the Major League Soccer transitioning to a summer-to-spring calendar to synchronize with most European leagues, the venue’s opening has been pushed back.

During the league’s abbreviated transition season in 2027, each MLS team will participate in a 14-game regular season, followed by playoffs. Until the new stadium’s completion, NYCFC will continue to host most of its home games at Yankee Stadium and Citi Field.

Since its establishment in 2015, NYCFC has primarily played its home matches at these locations, along with some games at the rival New York Red Bulls’ stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, and Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut.

Furthermore, the new stadium is expected to serve as a venue for soccer matches during the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

The controlling owner of the Major League Soccer team is City Football Group, the parent organization of Manchester City in England, which renamed its venue Etihad Stadium in July 2011.