Harlem River Yards Stadium – design description

This riverside site in South Bronx is already the 6th location for what could be the first home for NYCFC. After 5 failed locations, this time application was filed with strong partners, developers Related Companies and Somerset Partners. The latter company is already running a major residential project next to the proposed site.

The stadium's initial design was created by renowned architect Rafael Viñoly, known in the sports world for Princeton University stadium and Manchester City's training facilities. Now he was employed by Man City's US offspring NYCFC.

He proposed a stadium that seems conventional, yet isn't. First of all, the field would be located above ground level in order to allow existing railyards to operate on the ground. Secondly, the site is very constrained in terms of access, which is why you see a double public concourse around the seating bowl.

Only above these public spaces is the conventional part: translucent and quite opaque roof and facades hiding the double-tiered stands able to hold 26,000 people for MLS games. According to initial reports, forced elevation of the stadium increased its cost by $75 million.

The football part extends beyond matchday use, including offices for 70 NYCFC employees and a soccer school. Beside the stadium a large residential unit is planned with 550 affordable apartments and a medical facility on ground floor (over 2,000 m²). Combined with public green waterfront area the entire site would cover 12.8 acres (5.2 hectares).