The anticipation for New York City FC‘s new stadium, Etihad Park is reaching new heights as the club prepares to open its doors on July 17, 2027. This milestone marks the culmination of a long journey for the club, which has played in various venues since its inception in 2015.
The announcement was made through a creative newsstand activation in SoHo, capturing the spirit of New York City and the excitement surrounding the upcoming 2026 fifa world Cup. The activation, dubbed the “New York City FC Newsstand,” offered fans a unique way to engage with the club and learn about the upcoming stadium.
Innovative Fan Engagement
The newsstand activation, created in partnership with creative agency Tavern featured custom newspaper vending machines across the city. Fans could pick up special-edition newspapers with club content and scratch-off tickets offering prizes, including tickets to future matches and exclusive experiences at Etihad Park.
“New York is at the center of the soccer world this summer, and the New York City FC Newsstand gives us a chance to meet fans right in the middle of that excitement,” said Lauren Scrima vice president of marketing for New York City FC. “From the beginning, our goal was to create something that felt authentically New York while building anticipation for what’s next for the club.”
Etihad Park+ Membership Program
In addition to the newsstand activation, New York City FC has introduced the Etihad Park+ Membership Program a first-of-its-kind stadium membership designed to enhance the fan experience. The program offers expanded venue access, priority opportunities, and year-round member benefits, complementing the broader guest experience at Etihad Park.
Etihad Park+ features different member levels, each providing a range of benefits such as priority access to events, cash back on merchandise and food and beverage purchases, annual member gifts, and exclusive member events. The program is designed to create more opportunities for fans to engage with the venue beyond matchday.
“Etihad Park+ is designed to complement the broader guest experience at Etihad Park by creating more opportunities to engage with the venue beyond matchday,” said a spokesperson for New York City FC. “The program will offer enhanced access and preferred opportunities to all Etihad Park events, including New York City FC, Gotham FC, and other non-soccer events.”
The Future of Etihad Park
Located in Willets Point, Queens Etihad Park will be the first fully electric sports stadium in New York City and MLS. The venue will seat approximately 25,000 fans and anchor a new 23-acre neighborhood that includes 2,500 affordable housing units, a 650-seat public school, a hotel, and more than 150,000 square feet of public open space.
The opening of Etihad Park represents a significant milestone for New York City FC and its fans. As the club looks ahead to the 2026 FIFA World Cup and beyond, the new stadium and membership program promise to enhance the
