New York City FC reached a defining moment in its long-awaited stadium journey, as the Club officially “topped out” Etihad Park with the installation of the final steel beam. The milestone marks the completion of the stadium’s structural framework—an achievement that kept pace with schedule despite a particularly harsh winter—and signals that the vision of a permanent home for the Club is now firmly within reach.
For a team that debuted in MLS more than a decade ago, the significance of this moment cannot be overstated. Etihad Park is set to become New York City’s first-ever soccer-specific stadium, with NYCFC expected to begin play there during the 2027–28 MLS season. The topping-out ceremony not only celebrated construction progress but also paid tribute to the all-union workforce that has powered the project from the ground up.
Ironworkers Local 361 played a central role in the ceremony, raising the final beam into place in front of a crowd that included elected officials, union leaders, fans, and community members. In keeping with a centuries-old tradition, a tree was placed atop the beam before it was lifted—symbolizing growth, resilience, and good fortune for the structure and those who will gather within it.
Club leadership emphasized that this moment goes far beyond construction. Co-Vice Chairman Marty Edelman described it as the realization of a vision that will shape both the Club and the sport in New York City for generations. CEO Brad Sims echoed that sentiment, noting the nearly decade-long search for the right location and praising the collaboration between the Club, the City, and union partners that made this progress possible.
New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani also highlighted the broader impact of the project, pointing to its union workforce—including hundreds of Queens-based workers—and its fully electric design as a model for future development across the city.
As steel gives way to the next phases of construction, the countdown to opening day has truly begun. For NYCFC supporters, Etihad Park is no longer just a promise—it’s a rising reality, one beam at a time.
