sports
New York City FC to Play First Match at Etihad Park on July 17, 2027
Club CEO Brad Sims announced the date Thursday at MLS headquarters. The team has played without a permanent stadium since its 2015 debut.
Jul 16, 7:38 PM·1m read1 source
espn.comAudio version
Tap play to generate a narrated version.
Developing·Limited corroboration so far. This page will refresh as more sources emerge.
New York City FC will play its first match at Etihad Park on July 17, 2027. nypost.com reported that club CEO Brad Sims made the announcement Thursday during a media event at MLS headquarters in midtown Manhattan. The stadium is under construction next door to Citi Field in Queens.
The date marks the end of the club's nomadic period that began with its first season in 2015. NYCFC will complete a condensed February-to-May 2027 sprint season split between Yankee Stadium and Citi Field before the league shifts to a summer-to-spring calendar for the 2027-28 campaign.
Defender Kevin O’Toole said the team has been “homeless” and that players, the club, and supporters are excited about the new venue.
Sims stated that NYCFC is the only professional sports team in New York City with “City” in its name and that the club is fulfilling a promise made at its inception to maintain a city identity. Gotham FC announced earlier this month that it will move to the Queens venue starting in 2028.
NYCFC also announced that O’Toole signed a contract extension through the 2028-29 season with an option for 2029-30.
Transparency
How sources framed this
Single source — no framing comparison available.
CorroborationLimited · 1 source
