Gotham FC will relocate to Etihad Park in Queens, New York, beginning in 2028, marking a landmark moment for women’s soccer in the city.
The National Women’s Soccer League club and Major League Soccer’s New York City FC officially confirmed the move on Tuesday, ending months of widespread speculation.
The $780 million stadium, which holds 25,000 supporters, is set to open in the spring of 2027 as NYCFC’s primary home ground.
Gotham FC will make their move to the new venue the following spring, slotting into the NWSL’s calendar schedule.
The two-time NWSL champions have been building significant momentum in recent years, with historic investment fuelling their rapid rise as a club.
Gotham recently announced plans for their first dedicated training facility, to be located in Whippany, New Jersey, further underlining the club’s growing ambitions.
“From day one, our ambition has been bigger than championships,” said Carolyn Tisch Blodgett, Gotham’s governor and lead owner, in a statement released by the club.
“We are building one of the world’s most iconic clubs and helping define the future of women’s sports. Our move to Etihad Park reflects that ambition, and we are deeply grateful to New York City FC for their vision and commitment to helping make this historic moment possible.”
The move will see Gotham relocate approximately 32 miles east of Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, where the team has played since 2020.
Before Harrison, the club spent a decade at Yurcak Field at Rutgers University in Piscataway, New Jersey, making Etihad Park the third stadium home in the club’s history.
Gotham has leaned firmly into its New York City identity this season, dropping the “NJ/NY” from its name and unveiling a third kit featuring the city’s signature orange and blue colours alongside a striking image of the Statue of Liberty.
The club estimates that the move to Etihad Park will connect Gotham to more than three million additional fans within a 75-minute commute of the new venue.
Etihad Park sits directly across from Citi Field and will be easily accessible by public transit, including the New York City subway, buses, and the Long Island Rail Road.
“Moving into Etihad Park is a defining moment for this organization,” said Yael Averbuch West, Gotham’s president of soccer operations, in a statement accompanying Tuesday’s announcement.
“Our players compete at the highest level in the world every single time they step on the pitch, and our matchday will reflect that standard. Access to dedicated facilities, permanent infrastructure and a modern stadium built for soccer in the world’s most famous city creates the environment our players need to sustain and build on their excellent on-field performance.”
The new stadium is the first soccer-specific venue ever built in New York City, rising from the redeveloped Willets Point area in Queens after more than a decade of planning and construction.
NYCFC itself has been without a permanent home since its founding in 2013, previously splitting time across Yankee Stadium, Citi Field, and even Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison.
Gotham will benefit from custom spaces within Etihad Park, including a dedicated locker room, with the clubs promising a matchday experience described as “unmistakably and exclusively Gotham FC’s own.”
“We set out to create a venue that would bring the world’s game to the world’s borough and showcase soccer at the highest level, including women’s soccer,” said Marty Edelman, NYCFC’s Co-Vice Chairman, in a statement.
Brad Sims, NYCFC’s CEO, added that both clubs share a vision for what the sport can mean to New York City, calling Gotham a partner in building something truly historic together at Etihad Park.
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