New York City FC (NYCFC) officially reached a high point in its history yesterday with the topping-out ceremony for Etihad Park. The final steel beam was raised at the Willets Point site in Queens, marking the completion of the 25,000-seat stadium’s structural frame.
Construction on the all-electric venue began in December 2024. Despite a harsh New York winter, the project remains on track for its new debut date at the start of the 2027-28 MLS season. Following tradition, a tree was placed atop the final beam to symbolize growth and good fortune.
The stadium is a centerpiece of the Willets Point transformation and will be the first major-league sports venue built in NYC since the Barclays Center in 2012. Club officials and MLS Commissioner Don Garber hailed the milestone as a “new era” for soccer in the city, providing the club with its first permanent, soccer-specific home after years of sharing venues with baseball teams.