AlumniFi Field – design description

What does the new Detroit City FC stadium project look like in brief?

Since 2022, Detroit City FC has competed in the USL Championship, the second-highest professional soccer league in the United States after MLS. The next step in the club’s development is the construction of a new stadium – in March 2024, the club purchased a plot of land for this purpose, which included a hospital building abandoned since 2006.

The new facility will have a capacity of 15,000 spectators. Alongside the stadium, plans also include a multi-level parking structure, residential units, and commercial spaces. The stadium will be visible from two major highways, as it will be located right next to the I‑75 and I‑96 interchange.

Demolition of the old hospital began in August 2025 and is expected to continue through the fall. Construction of the stadium is planned to start at the end of 2025, with the opening anticipated at the start of the 2027 season. The new stadium will be named AlumniFi Field, after its title sponsor – the digital banking platform AlumniFi.

Who are Detroit City FC?

Detroit City FC is a soccer club founded in 2012. Since the 2022 season, the team has participated in the USL Championship, the second tier of professional soccer in the United States, just below MLS. Since 2021, the club has also had a women’s team.

The team initially played at a stadium belonging to Cass Technical High School. In 2016, it moved to Keyworth Stadium, located about five miles north of downtown Detroit.

Keyworth Stadium has a capacity of just under 8,000 spectators and was inaugurated in 1936 by then‑U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. However, the stadium does not meet all the requirements of a professional soccer club.

When did plans for the new Detroit City FC stadium emerge?

On March 15, 2024, Detroit City FC purchased the Southwest Detroit Hospital for $6.5 million, an abandoned hospital located less than two miles west of downtown Detroit. The club intended to build its own new stadium on the site and announced these plans two months later, on May 16, 2024.

The renowned architectural firm HOK was involved in designing the venue. A formal presentation of the stadium renderings took place on August 11, 2025, at Mexicantown Mercado.

What does the Detroit City FC stadium project include?

The new, soccer-specific stadium will have a capacity of 15,000 spectators. According to the released renderings, the facility will feature four standalone stands, one on each side of the pitch. Three of these will be covered, while only the lowest stand behind the south goal will remain uncovered.

As part of the project, a separate building is planned for the northern part of the site. It will house a multi-level parking structure and 70 affordable residential units. The development will also include commercial spaces.

Where will the new Detroit City FC stadium be located?

The stadium is planned less than two miles west of downtown Detroit, at the intersection of Michigan Avenue and 20th Street. The plot is situated right next to the I‑75 and I‑96 highway interchange, and the new stadium will be visible from these roads.

To the south, the site is bordered by railroad tracks, and nearby stands the historic Michigan Central Station building.

What is on the site designated for the new Detroit City FC stadium?

The plot is occupied by the abandoned Southwest Detroit Hospital. The hospital opened in 1973 and primarily served Detroit’s Black community. Its operations, however, were marred by multiple scandals, and in 1991 the facility declared bankruptcy.

After the bankruptcy, the hospital operated in a very limited capacity until 1993. In 1996, new investors took over the building, and in 1997, United Community Hospital opened; however, it ceased operations at the beginning of 2006. Since then, the building has remained unused and has gradually deteriorated.

What will the new Detroit City FC stadium be called?

On August 11, 2025, during the presentation of the stadium renderings, an expansion of the partnership with AlumniFi was also announced, which will include the naming rights for the new stadium. The agreement is set to last 10 years, and the stadium will be called AlumniFi Field.

AlumniFi is a digital banking brand offering checking and savings accounts for graduates and young professionals, with tools for saving and support for financial management.

The partnership with AlumniFi had been established several months earlier – from the start of the 2025 season, the brand’s logo appeared on Detroit City FC jerseys.

When will the new Detroit City FC stadium be built?

Demolition of the old hospital building began in August 2025. Before demolition work could start, approximately 1.9 million gallons of water had to be pumped out of the basement.

Demolition and site preparation are expected to be completed by fall 2025. Stadium construction is planned to start at the end of 2025, with the new facility expected to be ready for the start of the 2027 season.

How much will the new Detroit City FC stadium cost?

The stadium’s construction is estimated at $150 million. The club intends to cover the costs entirely from private funds but is also counting on tax abatements from the city authorities. Additionally, the city is expected to largely reimburse the costs of demolishing the unused hospital and revitalizing the surrounding area.

The completion of additional projects – the multi-level parking structure, residential units, and commercial spaces – is estimated to require a further $40 million.