Mayor Mamdani and Governor Hochul Announce Gotham FC Move to Etihad Park in Queens

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul joined Gotham FC and New York City FC on Tuesday to announce a major soccer milestone for New York City: Gotham FC, the two-time and reigning National Women’s Soccer League champion, will make Etihad Park in Queens its permanent home beginning in 2028.

The announcement, made during a City Hall press conference, places one of the top women’s soccer clubs in the world inside New York City’s first soccer-specific stadium. Etihad Park, now under construction in Willets Point near Citi Field, is scheduled to open in spring 2027 and will become home to New York City FC for the 2027–28 MLS season before Gotham FC joins in 2028.

City and state officials framed the move as more than a sports relocation. They described it as a major investment in women’s soccer, Queens, transit-accessible entertainment, and New York’s growing position as a global soccer capital.

Mayor Mamdani said Gotham FC’s move to Queens will give young fans across the city the ability to see elite women’s soccer by public transit. He also pointed to the economic impact for local restaurants, hotels, and small businesses as Queens becomes a stronger destination for major sporting events.

Governor Hochul called the announcement “perfect timing” during a summer when the World Cup has brought new energy to soccer across the region. She said the move is about giving women athletes the first-class facilities, fans, and recognition they have long deserved.

Etihad Park will seat approximately 25,000 fans and is being described by officials and club leaders as the country’s first all-electric outdoor sports venue. The stadium is privately funded by City Football Group and built entirely with union labor. It will be located steps from the Mets-Willets Point transit station, served by the 7 train and the Long Island Rail Road.

For Gotham FC, the move represents a major infrastructure step. The club will receive dedicated spaces inside the stadium, including its own locker room and permanent club merchandise presence. Stadium features will include a Five Boroughs Food Hall, a large supporters’ gathering area, digital branding throughout the venue, and facilities designed for both men’s and women’s professional soccer.

Gotham FC supporters will get an early preview of the club’s future Queens presence next week, when Gotham faces the Washington Spirit at Citi Field in “The Queens Classic.” The match is expected to draw more than 40,000 fans and will be staged just across the street from Etihad Park.

The announcement also comes as New York officials continue to use soccer as a public-facing civic theme during the 2026 World Cup. The Mamdani administration has promoted affordable access to professional soccer, including previously released $5 Gotham FC tickets, while the Hochul administration is connecting the moment to NY Kicks, a state program aimed at expanding youth soccer fields and community soccer access.

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards welcomed Gotham FC to “The World’s Borough,” saying the move will inspire young girls across Queens and bring another elite professional sports team into one of America’s most soccer-loving communities.

Gotham FC Governor Carolyn Tisch Blodgett said the move reflects the club’s ambition to become one of the world’s most iconic women’s sports organizations. NYCFC CEO Brad Sims called the partnership an opportunity to shape the future of soccer in New York City.

For New York, the announcement is another step in the transformation of Willets Point from a long-neglected industrial district into a sports, housing, transit, and entertainment hub. For Gotham FC, it means a permanent New York City stage. For Queens, it means another major team, another major venue, and another reason to call the borough one of the true capitals of the world’s game.

City Hall Rotunda
Lower Manhattan

July 7, 2026

By Midtown Tribune Staff
New York, July 7, 2026