Major League Soccer team New York City FC has released renderings of The Cube, the entrance for its new stadium which is scheduled to open in Queens in 2027.
NYCFC said The Cube would be the “most dynamic entrance” of any stadium in MLS. The structure will be the first thing fans see as they arrive at the stadium from the south.
The Cube will stand at over seven stories high and will feature more than 11,000 square feet of LEDs as part of plans to create an immersive experience for fans. It will be capable of projecting video, photography and graphic elements.
NYCFC also received a boost yesterday (Wednesday) as the New York City Planning Commission approved the stadium project. The New York City Council will now vote on the plans, which will then require approval from the mayor.
NYCFC’s new stadium will have a capacity of 25,000 and is set to be the first fully electric venue in MLS, as well as the first fully electric professional sports stadium in New York City.
The design and building of the stadium will place a focus on renewable energy, with solar panels to be fitted on the roof to maximise energy generation. NYCFC is also focusing on reducing CO2 emissions and is working for credible net zero by 2040.
The stadium will form part of the Willets Point revitalisation plan, which will also include 2,500 new affordable homes, over 40,000 square feet of open public space, a hotel, and retail space. Plans for the project were first announced in November 2022.
HOK and Turner have been selected as the stadium’s architect and general contractor, respectively. It will be the first soccer-specific stadium in New York City and the first major league sports venue to be developed in the city since 2012, when Barclays Center opened in Brooklyn.
Willets Point will be within walking distance of Citi Field, home of Major League Baseball’s New York Mets, and the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, home of the US Open grand slam tournament.
NYCFC debuted in MLS in 2015 and has primarily played home matches at Yankee Stadium, home of the New York Yankees.
