Monday, May 29, 2023
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
Hudson River Blue
New York City FC Official Gear
  • Home
  • Latest News
    • Game Recaps
    • Video Highlights
    • Player Ratings
    • Transfer News + Rumors
    • Tactics + Analysis
    • HRB Interviews
    • International Call-Ups
    • Oppo Research
    • Reader Polls
    • City Football Group News
    • FO News
    • Stadium Saga
    • Preseason
  • Schedule + Results 
    • NYCFC Schedule and Results
    • Game Recaps
    • Video Highlights
    • Game Day Hubs
    • Oppo Research
    • Leagues Cup
    • Hudson River Derby
    • MLS Cup Playoffs
    • US Open Cup
    • Campeones Cup
  • Opinion
    • Opinion
    • Tactics + Analysis
    • False 9
    • Hot Takes
    • Guest Columns
    • Predictions
  • Tri-State Soccer Scene
    • Tri-State Soccer Scene
    • Gotham FC
    • NYCFC II
    • NYCFC Academy
  • Fan Culture
    • Fan Culture
    • Kits + Merch
    • Food + Drink
  • About
    • About
    • Masthead
    • Privacy Policy
    • Opt-Out Preferences
Hudson River Blue
No Result
View All Result
Home Stadium Saga

NYCFC pick HOK to design Queens stadium

The architects will work with Turner Construction Company, which is good news for NYCFC fans: These heavy-hitters know how to get things done in NYC

Oliver Strand by Oliver Strand
April 14, 2023
in Stadium Saga
A A
5
NYCFC pick HOK to design Queens stadium

HOK's Terminal B at LaGuardia Airport. | Courtesy HOK

Earlier this morning, New York City FC announced the selection of architecture firm HOK to design the club’s stadium in Willets Point, Queens. The club also announced the selection of Turner Construction Company to be the general contractor of the $780 million “Cathedral of Soccer,” in the words of NYCFC President and CEO Brad Sims.

We’ll get into the significance of the decision to pick HOK and Turner in a moment. Suffice it to say that the announcement represents an important step forward in NYCFC’s endeavor to build a home in Queens, and keeps the project on track for the proposed 2027 opening.

Remember, we’re looking at a public review process that will last one year. As Chris Campbell explains so extensively in the Outfield, the city’s extensive Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) is expected to begin in September, with the hope approval in the spring of 2024. If things go well, construction could begin shortly after. A timeline only works if you stick to it.

HOK and Turner: Two heavy hitters

Established in 1955, HOK is one of the largest design and engineering firms in the world: The company has 25 offices and more than 1,600 employees. HOK has a solid portfolio of stadia, having designed CITYPARK, home to St. Louis City SC, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home to Atlanta United, among others.

But more germane to the NYCFC fans, HOK is the firm behind LaGuardia Airport’s Terminal B, the airy building that transformed what was easily the most miserable airport in the United States into one of the most elegant. Not bad for a cramped site wedged between a highway and runway.

Remember, the construction took place while the airport was fully functional, and HOK pulled off a hat trick of dazzling the public, the critics, and the clients — working for Governor Andrew Cuomo and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey can’t be easy. Terminal B is more than an example of good design, it’s proof that HOK knows how to get things done in New York City.

RELATED: NYCFC to build stadium in Queens

The same can be said of Turner, which built Yankee Stadium, USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, and Arthur Ashe Stadium. The unionized general contractor is a giant in the New York City construction industry. Turner even has a dedicated Sports Group, and built SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, and Lower.com Field in Columbus.

Just as important, HOK and Turner have a long track record of working together, with more than 400 projects under their belts. That kind of familiarity and experience is important when embarking on a large undertaking like this one in New York City.

RELATED: NYT hatchet job cherry-picks facts on NYCFC stadium cost to city

No renderings yet

NYCFC might have chosen HOK, but don’t expect any renderings of the Queens stadium any time soon.

Who doesn’t love gazing at the computer-generated areal images of a packed stadium at night, or an entrance plaza filled with fans with scarves and vendors with churros? Or the supporter’s section? OR THE BRICKS WITH THE NAMES OF FOUNDING MEMBERS?

We’re sorry to say it, but you’re going to need to be patient. There’s a lot to be done before HOK delights us with their drawings. (See below.)

RELATED: NYCFC will build a “Cathedral of Soccer” in Queens

Focus group season?

One of the next phases in the design process will be putting together focus groups selected from the NYCFC faithful.

Yes, that’s right: NYCFC will start to reach out to season ticket holders and other stakeholders to ask them what they want to see in a new stadium. Soon you will have the chance to let the club and designers know that you want the new field to be 70 yards wide, and a yellow foul pole on the corner, and a food hall that’s more Citi Field than Yankee Soccer Stadium. If chosen, be sure to speak loudly and clearly so that everybody on the other side of the one-way mirror can hear you.

While there’s no timeframe for when focus group season will start, NYCFC are making it clear that they value input from their fanbase.

Below is a statement from NYCFC President and CEO Brad Sims:

“We’re extremely excited to announce HOK as the architect and Turner Construction Company as the general contractor for our future home. It is clear that HOK and Turner are the right partners to bring our vision of a world-class stadium that is integrated into the local community. Soccer is known around the globe for its incredible in-stadium atmospheres, and we are committed to delivering a best-in-class experience for our fans in a stadium that reflects the greatest city in the world.

“This project will be transformative for Queens; the World’s Borough is the perfect location to build the City’s first stadium for the world’s game. Stadiums are where people come together, and we share a vision with HOK to ensure our stadium becomes a destination of soccer for our fans while playing an important part in the development of Willets Point. HOK is renowned for designing some of North America’s most successful stadiums, arenas, and entertainment districts, and we are looking forward to working with them as we enter the ULURP approval process. Turner is recognized as a leading builder of stadiums, arenas and ballparks – including one dozen Major League Soccer stadiums – that support the communities in which they are built.”

Tags: architectChris CampbellCITYPARKHOKLaGuardia AirportMercedes-Benz StadiumStadiumStadium SagaTerminal BThe OutfieldTurner Construction CompanyULURPWillets Point
Oliver Strand

Oliver Strand

Oliver is the executive editor and publisher of Hudson River Blue. A benchwarmer on the 1985 Culver City All-Stars, he grew up supporting the Los Angeles Lazers of the Major Indoor Soccer League.

Comments 5

  1. Col.B says:
    2 months ago

    Haha – nice callback re the bricks. Let’s see whether they pull that off. But hey, I’ll always have the scarf with all the Founding Members’ names on it!

    Reply
  2. Jcd says:
    2 months ago

    Great. Can’t wait.

    Reply
  3. Rich says:
    2 months ago

    Love this. Just one correction: Governor Andrew Cuomo, not Mario. Mario was Governor in the 80s and early 90s.

    Reply
    • Oliver Strand says:
      2 months ago

      TY, correction made

      Reply
  4. KevinJRogers says:
    2 months ago

    Awesome news. These are the heaviest of the heavy hitters. Our stadium is going to be spectacular. And so is the rest of the development project (which I hope will include our Academy facility, too).

    Great for our club. Great for the community. Great for our city.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Most Popular

Steve Cohen’s Willets Point casino suffers political setback

Steve Cohen’s Willets Point casino suffers political setback

May 25, 2023
Where to eat at Citi Field: 2023 Update

Where to eat at Citi Field: 2023 Update

April 13, 2023
The MLS Table after Matchweek 14.

Why W-D-L is better than W-L-T, and why MLS should change their ways

May 23, 2023
Gotham FC players celebrate after beating OL Reign 4-1

The secrets of their success: Why Gotham FC now top NWSL table

May 24, 2023
NYCFC midfielder Maximo Carrizo has interest from both the USMNT and the Argentine national team.

Four NYCFC players called up to USYNT U-16 tournament in Japan

May 23, 2023
Hudson River Blue

A New York City soccer community
© 2023 Seawall Media LLC

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • NYCFC Schedule and Results
  • Game Recaps
  • Video Highlights
  • Player Ratings
  • Opinion
  • Transfer News + Rumors
  • Tactics + Analysis
  • International Call-Ups
  • False 9
  • Kits + Merch
  • Food + Drink
  • Stadium Saga
  • HRB Interviews
  • Long Reads
  • MLS Cup Playoffs
  • US Open Cup
  • Tri-State Soccer Scene
  • Gotham FC
  • NYCFC II
  • About
    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Opt-Out Preferences
  • Masthead
  • Login

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Manage Cookie Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}