Stadium Subsidies and American Cities
Public Financing, Neighbourhood Displacement, and Civic Identity
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Chapters cover specific stadium projects including Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Yankee Stadium in New York, Nissan Stadium scheduled for 2027, Etihad Park, and Arrowhead Stadium. Each chapter analyzes the financial arrangements, neighborhood impacts, and local responses to these public investments.
The book explores how stadium financing affects urban communities, from the displacement of residents in Chavez Ravine to modern debates over economic impact studies. It shows how cities balance public resources against private development while managing civic identity questions.
This detailed look at stadium finance will interest urban planners, public policy researchers, and anyone studying how sports venues shape city development.
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Overview
A stadium subsidy is a government aid package meant to help professional sports teams build or update their stadiums. These subsidies can include tax-free bonds, direct cash, long-term tax breaks, infrastructure upgrades, and even ongoing operational support. They come from local, state, and sometimes federal levels, and they remain a hot topic among lawmakers and voters. Economists surveyed say 86% believe public money should not be used for sports venues. They argue that these subsidies rarely bring economic gains big enough to justify the cost to taxpayers. Instead, they tend to benefit wealthy team owners, players, and staff, while placing the burden on the general public. Critics say it's wrong to use taxpayer dollars to boost the fortunes of billionaires, especially when it leaves schools and roads underfunded.
In the United States
Before the 1950s, cities built sports stadiums without public help, but in 1951, MLB commissioner Ford Frick said teams were bringing in money that owners didn't keep, so cities should start funding venues. That change came mostly because teams gained more power and could demand support. Most new or renovated stadiums use public money, and a 2017 survey found that 83% of economists believed the cost to taxpayers outweighed benefits. From 1953 to 1970, 27 of 30 new stadiums got over $450 million in public funds, as cities used subsidies to lure teams. The Brooklyn Dodgers moved to Chavez Ravine and the New York Giants went to San Francisco for what became Candlestick Park. Over time, a system developed where teams could shop for the best deal, and cities often gave in because they saw keeping teams as key to their success. NFL teams especially want new stadiums to bid for Super Bowls, and recent examples include the Atlanta Falcons getting a subsidy for a new stadium so they could host Super Bowl LIII.
In Europe
In Europe, public money rarely pays for major league sports stadiums, unlike in the United States. Local teams are deeply tied to city identity, so cities would be upset to lose their clubs, and most already have their own teams that residents support. That means European leagues don't have much power to demand subsidies or threaten to move, since they can't easily find new homes for their clubs. In North America, the situation is different. Leagues like the NFL or MLB operate in closed systems with a set number of teams—like 32 in the NFL—making it hard for franchises to find new cities if their current ones won't pay for stadiums. Because of this imbalance and the large size of the U.S. and Canada, team owners have more leverage. European leagues use promotion and relegation instead, where clubs can move up or down based on performance, and most big cities already have their own teams, so there's less reason for owners to threaten relocation.
Types of subsidies
Cities help build stadiums mainly through direct subsidies or tax breaks. A direct subsidy means a city promises money for construction, maintenance, and upgrades. Sometimes, instead of cash, cities offer tax reductions that save the team or owner about the same amount a subsidy would cost. In the U.S., states have handed out billions in annual subsidies for stadiums. A 2005 study found that from 1990 to 2001, public money totaled around $17 billion—about $24 billion in 2018 dollars. That’s an average of $1.6 billion a year, or about $16.2 million per facility. A 2012 Bloomberg analysis estimated tax breaks cost the U.S. Treasury $146 million yearly.
Benefits
When cities offer stadium subsidies, they argue new or improved facilities will boost the local economy through direct and indirect effects. Direct benefits come from ticket sales, concessions, parking, and advertising, while direct costs include wages, utilities, and maintenance. For example, the Baltimore Orioles estimate each game brings in $3 million, adding up to $243 million over a season. Supporters say stadiums draw tourists and businesses, creating more jobs and spending that multiplies over time through increased tax revenue and property values. Some studies suggest games increase local spending on rainy days—a so-called "sunny day benefit" estimated at $14 to $24 million annually by economist Jordan Rappaport. Advocates further claim less measurable benefits like civic pride and fan identity, which act as public goods. Cities use a social marginal benefit evaluation to weigh these effects against the subsidy cost, considering all economic impacts including crime changes and tourism increases.
Criticisms
Critics say stadium subsidies don't boost local economies as claimed, instead diverting about $15 million annually from Detroit's public schools while fans spend money on entertainment they'd have purchased anyway, creating no real economic growth. Much stadium funding leaves the local area, going to teams rather than helping local businesses or workers. The opportunity cost of spending billions on stadiums could be greater than benefits, since that money could fund schools, firehouses, or police departments instead. Some argue building stadiums pushes people and businesses out through eminent domain, causing anger and migration. Studies show subsidies for sports teams don't lead to job creation or income growth, with most research finding no support for using them as economic development tools.
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Overview
Paycor Stadium opened on August 19, 2000, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and has been home to the Cincinnati Bengals since then. Originally named Paul Brown Stadium, it’s now sponsored by Paycor and known as “The Jungle,” a nickname tied to the team’s unofficial anthem, “Welcome to the Jungle.” The stadium was built with $555 million in public money, the largest subsidy for an NFL venue at the time. That deal, made when the Bengals threatened to leave, was later called “unusually lopsided” by The Wall Street Journal. By 2026, taxpayers are expected to have paid $1.1 billion total under the 26-year agreement.
History
In 1996, Hamilton County voters approved a half-percent sales tax increase to build new stadiums for the Bengals and Cincinnati Reds, who had shared Riverfront Stadium (later Cinergy Field), which was aging and lacked modern amenities. Construction began on Paul Brown Stadium in 1998, opening August 2000 for the NFL season. Cinergy Field was demolished December 2002 after serving as a baseball-only venue for two seasons. The playing field started as Kentucky Bluegrass but faced maintenance issues, leading to FieldTurf switch in 2004, updated multiple times with most recent change in 2018 using Shaw Sports Turf's Strenexe XD fibers. In February 2024, the Bengals announced return to FieldTurf, upgrading to newer CORE version. The stadium features two LED video displays installed 2000 and was renamed Paycor Stadium 2022 after 16-year naming rights deal with Paycor HCM Inc., owned by Robert J. Coughlin. A series of upgrades began 2026, with further improvements planned for 2027, including new seats, escalators, and larger videoboard.
College football
The University of Cincinnati Bearcats played their first college football game at Paycor Stadium on September 21, 2002, against the Ohio State Buckeyes, drawing a crowd of 66,319. The stadium hosted the Kentucky Wildcats and Miami Redhawks in an opening game on September 5, 2009. Cincinnati also played Oklahoma there in 2010, with the Sooners winning 31–29 in front of 58,253 fans. In 2011, the Bearcats faced Big East opponents Louisville Cardinals and West Virginia Mountaineers at the venue. Due to renovations at Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati returned in 2014 for the football season, averaging 28,840 fans per game. Miami (OH) hosted the Bearcats again on September 8, 2018, in their annual Victory Bell rivalry, with games scheduled at Paycor Stadium in 2022 and 2026.
Features
Paycor Stadium is home not just to the Bengals' games, but to their administrative offices and training facilities, including a main field paved with Momentum Pro turf by Show Sports Turf and three practice fields—two with natural grass and one with AstroTurf. Local bus companies like Cincinnati Metro run trips from places such as Jungle Jim’s International Market in Fairfield to the stadium. The venue offers premium seating in 114 private suites and 7,600 club seats, with in-seat service and access to fine dining lounges. On-site shopping includes a pro shop on the plaza level and 56 concession stands along with eight stores.
Architecture
Paycor Stadium, designed by NBBJ and led by Dan Meis, made history as the first NFL facility to win an AIA design award, and one of only two sports venues honored that way. Its open corners offer views into the stadium, while fans can see the downtown skyline and bridges crossing the Ohio River. The stadium is the only football venue to make a list of “America’s favorite 150 buildings and structures,” according to a Harris Interactive survey, ranking 101st among all kinds of major structures, from skyscrapers to memorials. No other football stadium was included in that top 150, though Wrigley Field and Yankee Stadium ranked higher among all sports venues.
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Overview
Mercedes-Benz Stadium opened in Atlanta in 2017, replacing the Georgia Dome, and is home to the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL, Atlanta United FC of MLS, and an NWSL expansion team set to begin play in 2028. The stadium cost about $1.6 billion to build and officially opened on August 26, 2017. Events that moved there include the SEC football championship game, the Peach Bowl, and the College Football Playoff National Championship in 2018 and 2025. It also hosted the MLS Cup in 2018 and Super Bowl LIII in 2019, with Super Bowl LXII scheduled for 2028. The stadium will also host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including a semi-final.
Roof
The Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta features a retractable "pinwheel" roof with eight translucent triangular panels that move on parallel rails, opening and closing in just under a minute. The circular design was inspired by the Roman Pantheon, using clear, lightweight polymer that adjusts opacity. Architect Bill Johnson said the panels resemble bird's wings when open. The east end zone was redesigned to remove middle concourse and upper bowl for unobstructed skyline views. Below the roof is the "Halo," a massive ring-shaped video board measuring 58 by 1,100 feet—three times larger than the NFL's previous largest display at EverBank Stadium. Built with outdoor-rated electrical systems and drainage, the stadium can remain open under light rain, though roof decisions depend on weather conditions, according to AMB Group executive Mike Egan, who called it "an outdoor stadium with a roof over it."
Interior
Mercedes-Benz Stadium wasn't built just for the NFL—it's designed with college football in mind, featuring two massive locker rooms that can hold 100 players each. When it opened, it didn't include staircases for bands to reach the field, making halftime shows difficult since most NFL teams don't have marching bands. The venue also includes a soccer-specific setup with retractable lower bowl seats and mechanized curtains that reduce capacity to about forty-two thousand. Inside, over 180 commissioned artworks are displayed, including pieces by Nari Ward, Hank Willis Thomas, and Steven and William Ladd. A centerpiece is a stainless steel sculpture titled The Atlanta Falcon, created by Gábor Miklós Szőke. The artist said it is the largest freestanding bird sculpture in the world. Perched atop a 13-foot bronze football, the falcon rises forty-one feet high with a wingspan of seventy feet and weighs more than seventy-three thousand pounds.
Amenities
Mercedes-Benz Stadium features a 100 Yard Club stretching the length of the field, the AT&T Perch with video screens for fantasy football fans, and the Budweiser Biergarten, along with neighborhood bars and the Home Depot Backyard, an 11-acre green space with a shaded pavilion. Concessions offer fan first pricing, with items like $2 beverages and $5 beers, and all prices are set at whole dollars including tax to speed service. In 2019, the stadium became one of the first in the U.S. to accept only cashless payments for concessions, though cash is still used for tickets and merch. The "Best of Atlanta" banner brought local restaurants like Chick-fil-A and The Varsity, with Chick-fil-A not operating on Sundays, replaced by a Levy Restaurants stand during those events. In 2023, the stadium adopted the NFL’s clear bag policy.
Planning
In May 2010, the Atlanta Falcons began planning to replace the Georgia Dome with a new open-air stadium, hoping to play outdoors and potentially host a Super Bowl or FIFA World Cup. Kansas City's architectural firm Populous released initial plans in February 2011, estimating costs at $700 million, but by April 2012, that had risen to $947.7 million. The proposed site was a parking lot in Atlanta's Vine City neighborhood near the Georgia Dome. By December 2012, the Georgia World Congress Center Authority approved most terms of the plan, though the agreement was non-binding. In January 2013, Mayor Kasim Reed expressed confidence in the project, noting it could help Atlanta land a Major League Soccer team. On March 7, 2013, the Falcons and Atlanta agreed to build the stadium, with a maximum public contribution of $200 million from hotel-motel taxes. The city council approved the deal on March 19, voting 11–4. The NFL later approved a $200 million loan for the Falcons. The team unveiled a conceptual design in June 2013, with a capacity of 70,000. Groundbreaking didn't happen until May 19, 2014, after legal issues delayed the project.
Construction delays, opening
Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta was delayed three times due to problems with its eight-panel retractable roof, originally opening March 1, 2017, then June 1, July 30, and finally August 26. Falcons' CEO Steve Cannon said the team's preseason schedule and Chick-fil-A Kickoff Games wouldn't be affected, but three Atlanta United FC matches were rescheduled. The Georgia Dome's demolition was delayed until the new stadium received its certificate of occupancy. By June 9, officials were confident in the scheduled opening, and the Dome was imploded November 20. During preseason games, the roof remained closed above 80 degrees. Construction delays were intentional to ensure proper roof function. On September 10, the Falcons announced the roof would open for the home opener September 17, weather permitting. By October 6, stadium officials said the roof would open for Atlanta United's final game October 22, but stay closed during the rest of the Falcons' regular season and any playoff matches.
Additional construction and renovations
Stadium officials said they planned to add more doors to help with crowds at the entrances and exits, trying to fix problems from the first year of the stadium’s operation. Fans attending major events had complained often about being stuck in lines. During the College Football National Championship game, people reported long delays getting into and out of the stadium. Some said it took more than forty-five minutes to leave after the game ended. That was mostly because of extra security steps required by the US Secret Service, due to the President being there.
Pedestrian bridge
A pedestrian bridge was planned but not originally opened when Mercedes-Benz Stadium first opened. It was completed in January 2019 at a cost of about $33 million, more than double its original estimate of $13 million. The bridge connects gameday parking lots and the Vine City MARTA Station to the northwest side of the stadium and The Home Depot Backyard, allowing pedestrians to avoid crossing Northside Drive. Critics say it was rushed to finish in time for Super Bowl LIII, though it wasn’t open for the game due to security concerns. The project also diverted funds from the 2016 Renew Atlanta TSPLOST, removing other initiatives that might have served more people. Additionally, the bridge has been criticized for lacking accessibility, with a ramp that is too steep and no elevator.
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Overview
Yankee Stadium, also called New Yankee Stadium, is the home of the New York Yankees and sits in the Bronx, replacing the old stadium that closed in 2008. It opened in April 2009 on the site of Macombs Dam Park, just a block north of where the original stood. The new stadium was built with $1.2 billion in public money out of a $2.3 billion total cost and has the fifth-largest seating capacity in Major League Baseball. It kept design elements from the old stadium, like its exterior and frieze, while adding modern features and more space. The project sparked controversy over public spending and the loss of parkland. The stadium hosted the World Series in 2009 and 2024, became home to New York City FC in 2015, and will serve as a temporary venue until Etihad Park opens in 2027. It also hosts college football games like the Pinstripe Bowl, concerts, and other events.
Planning
George Steinbrenner pushed for a new stadium in the early 1980s while old Yankee Stadium remained open. He initially considered New Jersey's Meadowlands, where a 1987 referendum rejected $185 million in public funding. Steinbrenner threatened to leave, pressuring New York City to agree to a $90 million renovation in 1988, which he later withdrew from. In 1993, Mayor David Dinkins proposed a Bronx Center plan including new housing and a courthouse. Governor Mario Cuomo suggested the West Side Yard, but the idea died after George Pataki won election in 1994. By 1995, Steinbrenner had rejected thirteen proposals to keep the team in the Bronx. In 1998, Bronx borough president Fernando Ferrer proposed a $600 million plan with luxury boxes and "Yankee Village," but Steinbrenner refused again. Mayor Rudy Giuliani later floated a $1 billion West Side Stadium plan, which he tabled due to fear of a citywide vote. After September 11, 2001, Giuliani announced tentative agreements for both Yankees and Mets to build new stadiums, estimating the cost at $2 billion with $1.2 billion from taxpayers. Michael Bloomberg called the deal "corporate welfare," backed out, and said publicly funded stadiums were poor investments. His plan for the new stadium was unveiled in 2004, along with Citi Field for the Mets. The final cost for both stadiums was more than $3.1 billion, with taxpayer subsidies totaling $1.8 billion.
Construction
Groundbreaking for the new Yankee Stadium happened on August 16, 2006, on the 58th anniversary of Babe Ruth’s death. George Pataki, Mayor Bloomberg, and Steinbrenner were there, wearing hard hats and using ceremonial shovels. The Yankees kept playing in the old stadium through 2007 and 2008, leaving the neighborhood without parkland for five years. A construction worker who was a Red Sox fan buried a replica jersey of David Ortiz under the visitors’ dugout, trying to place a “hex” on the Yankees, like the Curse of the Bambino. After being caught, he helped dig up the jersey, which the Yankees then gave to the Jimmy Fund. The worker later claimed to have hidden a 2004 American League Championship Series program, but never said where. The Yankees went on to win the 2009 World Series in their new stadium.
Features
The new Yankee Stadium was built to bring back parts of the old one, matching both its original 1923 look on the outside and the style it had after being rebuilt in 1976. Inside, it's a modern ballpark with more room and better features, but the field is designed to match the dimensions from 1988 to 2008. This version includes 4,300 club seats and 68 luxury suites.
Design and layout
The new Yankee Stadium was designed by Populous and built with 11,000 pieces of Indiana limestone from the same quarry as the Empire State Building, along with granite and pre-cast concrete. Its exterior features V-cut lettering and gold-leafed names above each gate. Inside, hundreds of photos from the "Glory of the Yankees Photo Collection" selected by the New York Daily News and curated by Sports & The Arts adorn the walls. The seating layout mirrors the old stadium's grandstand design but spreads fans farther back, lowering their view by about 30 feet. With 46,537 seats and a standing room capacity of 52,325, the new ballpark has more space and better amenities than before, including wider seats and more legroom. The roof includes a replica of the original copper frieze, and the Great Hall with its 31,000 square feet of retail space and massive LED displays is the largest open-air concourse in any sports venue. Monument Park was moved to center field, repositioned under the sports bar, and relocated from its old spot beyond left field. The transfer began in November 2008, with the first monuments placed in February 2009. Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera requested that the bullpen be repositioned and connected to Monument Park so relievers could access it, a request the team honored.
Field dimensions and playing surface
The new Yankee Stadium reopened in 2009 after major renovation, keeping many same outfield fence measurements as original but with different layout. The right-field wall is now about five feet closer to home plate due to stands and manual scoreboard design. Fences measure 318 feet to left field, 399 to left-center, 408 to center, 385 to right-center, and 314 to right field. New ballpark's right-field fence takes sharp, mostly straight angle unlike old stadium's curved wall, creating up to nine feet difference at certain points. Left field dimensions nearly same, though auxiliary scoreboard added there too. Outfield fences 8 feet 5 inches high until bullpen, then gradually drop to 8 feet at right foul pole—lower than previous 10-foot wall. Backstop 52 feet 4 inches from home plate, reduction of twenty feet from old ballpark. Field uses Kentucky bluegrass grown on farm in Bridgeton, New Jersey, with drainage system containing over 14,000 feet of pipe allowing play an hour after two inches of rain.
Amenities and facilities
Yankee Stadium opened with modern amenities, featuring 63% more space than its predecessor and 500,000 square feet more in total. It includes 227 miles of wired Ethernet cable and fiber-optic infrastructure so advanced that Cisco's David Holland called it "future proof." The stadium houses over 1,100 HD video monitors and approximately $10 million in baseball merchandise. Its center field scoreboard, made by Mitsubishi Diamond Vision, measures 59 x 101 feet and offers 5,925 square feet of viewing area—making it the third-largest HD scoreboard in the world when it opened. In 2026, Daktronics installed a new LED scoreboard and upgraded boards with 8-millimeter pixel spacing for better visibility. The Yankees' clubhouse spans 30,000 square feet, more than 2.5 times the size of the old one, with a weight room, training room, video room, lounge area, indoor batting cages, and a therapy room with a hydrotherapy pool and underwater treadmill. The team was among the first to chemically treat uniforms and shower surfaces with anti-bacterial agents. A second, more complete skeleton is on display in the museum, along with autographed balls from past and present players, including a commemorative home plate and statues of Larsen pitching to Yogi Berra. A facsimile of a current locker and Thurman Munson's former locker are also on display.
Food at the stadium
At Yankee Stadium, food options stretch across the ballpark with twenty-five fixed stands and another hundred twelve movable ones. A Hard Rock Cafe sits within the stadium but remains open year-round at the 161st St. and River Ave. entrance. The Hard Rock Cafe at the stadium opened officially on March 30, 2009, with a ceremony held on April 2 of that year. Beyond right field, NYY Steak offers a steakhouse experience. Celebrity chefs occasionally appear at the ballpark’s eateries to cook for fans in premium seats throughout the season. Above Monument Park is the Center Field Sports Bar, its tinted black glass acting as the batter’s eye. The MasterCard Batters Eye Deck, located above centerfield, holds up to two hundred fifty guests. Legends Hospitality manages the food service, led by executive chef Robert Flowers.
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Overview
Nissan Stadium is an indoor stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, set to open in 2027. It will replace the current Nissan Stadium and serve as the home for the Tennessee Titans of the NFL. The new 60,000-seat venue is projected to cost $2.1 billion, with $1.26 billion coming from public funds—the largest stadium subsidy in U.S. history. The stadium is being built next to the existing structure, which will be torn down after completion. Designed by architectural firm Manica, it will host Super Bowl LXIV in 2030.
Background
Nissan Stadium opened in 1999 and has been home to the Tennessee Titans ever since. The city hired a group called Venue Solutions Group, or VSG, to look at the stadium’s condition and figure out how much it would cost to keep it going for the rest of the lease, which runs until 2039. VSG’s first look found that bringing the stadium up to “first class condition” would set the city back between $1.75 billion and $1.95 billion.
Planning and construction
The new Nissan Stadium cost $2.1 billion, funded by the team’s $840 million contribution, $500 million from Tennessee state funds, and $760 million in revenue bonds issued by the Metro Sports Authority. Those bonds are to be repaid through personal-seat license sales and taxes collected at the stadium, plus a new 1% hotel/motel tax. The financing plan passed with a 26–11 vote on April 25, 2023, and construction began in 2024. Originally, the IndyCar Series Music City Grand Prix route was set to change during construction, but on February 14, 2024, it was announced the race would move to Nashville Superspeedway, where it also ran in 2025 and 2026. In July 2025, a noose was found, halting construction while police investigated; on July 24, no charges were filed. Then on May 19, 2026, it was announced the stadium would host Super Bowl LXIV in 2030.
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Etihad Park is a new soccer stadium being built in Queens, on the site of Willets Point, and it'll be home to New York City FC and Gotham FC. The stadium is being designed by HOK and construction began in December 2024, with completion expected before the 2027–28 season. The club is paying around $780 million for the project, but the city won’t collect an estimated $516 million in property taxes over the 50-year lease. The naming rights are held by Etihad Airways, which also sponsors the team’s jerseys.
Background
Before New York City FC joined Major League Soccer, the league considered building a stadium in several parts of the city, including Pier 40 in Manhattan and Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in Queens. The Flushing plan faced opposition for converting public land to private use, and Mayor Michael Bloomberg suggested using the old Flushing Airport site, which also drew criticism. After NYCFC was admitted, the team took over the search, playing at Yankee Stadium for three years while exploring locations. Plans were considered for the Bronx near Yankee Stadium, but Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio opposed a deal involving public financing. The club later looked at Columbia University's Baker Athletics Complex in Manhattan and a site in Belmont Park in Nassau County, before shifting focus back to Queens. In 2018, a proposal emerged for a stadium in the South Bronx at Harlem River Yards, though negotiations with the Yankees eventually collapsed over parking spaces and community support.
Willets Point site
Willets Point, a deteriorated industrial area in Queens known as the “Iron Triangle,” was once home to chop shops and junkyards, with no running water or sewage and just one permanent resident. City planner Robert Moses called it an “eyesore and a disgrace to the borough.” A major redevelopment plan had been a goal for every mayor since the 1950s. Mayor Bloomberg secured approval in 2012 for a $3 billion project, but a lawsuit halted progress after some businesses were displaced. The plan restarted under the de Blasio administration, with Queens borough president Melinda Katz and City Council member Francisco Moya involved in a task force created in 2018. On January 17, 2019, the city released two proposals for the site, one of which included a soccer stadium of up to 25,000 seats near Citi Field. Though not naming the club, speculation linked it to New York City FC, as the developers were also behind the Harlem River Yards project. Initially, Queensboro FC was associated with the site, but later shifted its focus to a new stadium at York College.
Planning
In November 2022, the city and NYCFC agreed on a plan to build a 25,000-seat stadium in Willets Point, with completion targeted for 2027, following the City's Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP). The project was unveiled at a public event held at the Queens Museum. That stadium would be part of a larger, three-phase mixed-use development called the Willets Point Project. In December 2023, Queens Community Board 7 voted to support the plan. The following January, Borough President Donovan Richards recommended it, contingent on the club's commitment to hire local vendors and improve nearby parks. After passing the City Planning Commission with unanimous approval, the project received further backing from the New York City Council's Zoning and Franchises Subcommittee and its Land Use Committee. It then cleared the full Council by a 47–1 vote in April 2024. Mayor Adams celebrated the approval at a pre-game event before the club's match against D.C. United on April 20, 2024, alongside Councilmember Moya and other team officials.
Construction
Soil remediation began in 2021 and finished in May 2023. A pre-construction public hearing took place on May 20, 2024, with the New York City Public Design Commission, which conditionally approved HOK's design for Etihad Park, pending a heat island effect study and changes to materials, public spaces, and art installations—final approval came in September. The groundbreaking ceremony occurred on December 4, 2024, attended by MLS commissioner Don Garber, Mayor Adams, Borough President Richards, Councilmember Moya, and NYCFC staff. On June 16, 2025, the first structural beam went in the supporters' section at a smaller event attended by Moya and NYCFC personnel. In February 2026, NYCFC announced that the opening would be delayed to 2027 due to MLS switching to a fall-to-spring schedule; the club would continue playing at Yankee Stadium and Citi Field during the transition. The stadium was officially topped out on March 25, 2026, with a specially painted steel beam installed on the grandstand roof, and the first seats were put in on August 21. When finished, Etihad Park will be the first soccer-specific stadium in New York City history.
Financing and ownership
New York City FC will pay the full $780 million to build Etihad Park, while renting the land from the city instead of buying it. The city’s contribution will be limited to tax breaks and nearby infrastructure upgrades. Yet the Independent Budget Office estimates that leasing, rather than selling the property, will cost the city at least $516 million in lost tax revenue over the 49-year lease term. The NYCEDC claims the project will generate $6.1 billion in economic impact over 30 years, along with 1,550 permanent jobs and 14,200 construction jobs. Skeptics question those numbers, noting that similar stadium subsidies rarely produce net gains, and they wonder why public funds are being used when the club is owned by two very wealthy companies — City Football Group and Yankee Global Enterprises.
Ownership
Originally, Etihad Park was meant to be fully owned by City Football Group, the group that owns New York City FC. In September 2024, the New York Yankees, who had previously held just 20% of the club, reduced their stake in the team. They then joined a new company that now controls all of New York City FC. That change left City Football Group with 80% of the shares, as before. The remaining 20% is now split equally between Yankee Global Enterprises and investor Marcelo Claure, who became part of the ownership group in September 2024.
Tenancy
Gotham FC will begin calling Etihad Park home in 2028, after playing at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, where it shared the field with the New York Red Bulls of MLS. Earlier, the team used Yurcak Field at Rutgers University. The club’s lease agreement includes dedicated spaces like a team locker room and merchandise areas. The initial term is five years, with options to extend the tenancy up to 15 years.
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Overview
Arrowhead Stadium sits in Kansas City, Missouri, and has been home to the Kansas City Chiefs since 1972. It's part of the Truman Sports Complex, sharing space with Kauffman Stadium, where the Kansas City Royals play. At 76,416 seats, it’s the sixth-largest NFL venue and the biggest in Missouri. Built alongside Kauffman Stadium, it’s now the oldest in the American Football Conference. A major renovation cost $375 million and finished in 2010. The stadium will also host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
History
The Dallas Texans moved to Kansas City in 1963 and became the Chiefs, playing at Municipal Stadium with the Kansas City Athletics of Major League Baseball. When the Athletics left for Oakland, California, after the 1967 season, the expansion Kansas City Royals arrived in 1969. Built in 1923 and mostly rebuilt in 1955, Municipal Stadium held about 35,000 fans for football. Following the AFL–NFL merger announced in 1966, NFL stadiums had to seat at least 50,000, so the city sought a new facility. When no suitable site was found, Jackson County offered land near the interchange of I-70 and I-435. Voters approved a $102 million bond issue in 1967 to build a new sports complex with two stadiums. The original plan called for side-by-side stadiums with a shared rolling roof, but that design was scrapped for a more conventional open-air setup. Chiefs staff, led by general manager Jack Steadman, helped develop the project.
Construction
Construction on Arrowhead Stadium began in 1968, when architect Charles Deaton and Steadman designed a two-stadium concept for Denver. The baseball and football venues look different but share utilities, parking, and underground storage. Covered stadiums were never built, so both are open-air. Lamar Hunt added an owner’s suite to the football stadium with three bedrooms, bathrooms, a kitchen, and a living room. To fit more seats without expanding the footprint, the upper sections were built at a steep incline—something not allowed in modern stadiums due to accessibility rules. The design was carried out by the Kansas City firm Kivett & Myers, and the construction was a joint effort by Sharp-Kidde-Webb. Some say Arrowhead influenced later NFL stadium designs.
1970s
Arrowhead Stadium opened in 1972, and the Chiefs played their first game there that August, beating the St. Louis Cardinals 24–14 in a preseason match. The following month, they lost their regular season opener to the Miami Dolphins, who had beaten them in the previous postseason—on Christmas Day—in a game that went into double overtime and remains the longest in NFL history. That first year, the Chiefs beat the Oakland Raiders 27–14 on November 5th, drawing a crowd of 82,094 for their first win at the new stadium. In 1973, Arrowhead became the first NFL stadium to mark yard lines with arrows, a feature that later spread league-wide. Then in January 1974, the Pro Bowl was held at Arrowhead, though players had to practice elsewhere due to an ice storm; on game day, the temperature rose to 41 °F, melting much of the accumulated snow and ice.
1980s–present
In 1984, the Jackson County Sports Authority rejected a fabric dome for Arrowhead Stadium, calling it unnecessary and too expensive. The venue hosted the Drum Corps International World Championships in 1988 and 1989. Two football-shaped video screens were added in 1991, and by 1994, the field was upgraded to natural grass, replacing the old AstroTurf. In 2009, a new multimillion-dollar Daktronics system brought high-definition displays and digital ribbon boards. By 2013, the team switched to NorthBridge Bermudagrass for better performance in cold weather. A naming rights deal with GEHA began in March 2021, renaming the stadium GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Arrowhead was chosen to host games in the 2026 FIFA World Cup and is set to undergo renovations, though a sales tax extension failed in 2024. In December 2025, the Chiefs announced plans to leave for a new stadium in Wyandotte County, Kansas, scheduled to open in 2031. The original "Arrowhead Stadium" name was restored on August 5, 2026.
Noise record
In 1990, during a game against the Denver Broncos, the Chiefs were warned by referee Gordon McCarter that further crowd noise would result in a timeout. John Elway spoke with McCarter after being backed up to his own goal line and unable to run a play. The crowd at Arrowhead Stadium later set a Guinness World Record on October 13, 2013, reaching 137.5 decibels during a game against the Oakland Raiders. That record was briefly broken by Seattle Seahawks fans at CenturyLink Field on December 2, 2013, at 137.6 decibels. The Chiefs reclaimed the title on September 29, 2014, in a Monday Night Football game against the New England Patriots, hitting 142.2 decibels.
College football
Arrowhead Stadium has been the site of major college football moments, hosting five Big 12 Championship games, including matchups between Kansas State and Oklahoma in 2000 and 2003, Colorado versus Oklahoma in 2004, Nebraska versus Oklahoma on December 2, 2006, and Missouri versus Oklahoma in 2008. From 2007 to 2011, it hosted the Border War between Kansas Jayhawks and Missouri Tigers, with the 2007 game dubbed “Armageddon at Arrowhead” drawing 80,537 fans. The stadium also played host to the annual “Farmageddon” game between Iowa State and Kansas State in 2009 and 2010. Oklahoma State moved a game against Nebraska there in 1998 to boost attendance. In 2005, Missouri played Arkansas State and BYU at Arrowhead, while a scheduled 2020 game versus Arkansas was moved to Columbia due to the pandemic. For the 2024 season, Kansas played four home conference games there because of stadium renovations.
Soccer
Arrowhead Stadium has been home to soccer in Kansas City since Major League Soccer began in 1996, when it hosted the Kansas City Wiz, later renamed the Wizards. After the 2007 season, the team left for CommunityAmerica Ballpark, now Legends Field, and didn’t return until a friendly match on July 25, 2010, against Manchester United. That game, played due to ticket demand at their new stadium, ended with Kansas City winning 2–1, and Dimitar Berbatov scoring the only goal for Manchester United. The Wizards did not play again at Arrowhead until April 13, 2024, when Inter Miami faced Sporting Kansas City, drawing a crowd of 72,610 to accommodate fans wanting to see Lionel Messi.
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