We here at The18 are suckers for a good downtown soccer stadium in the United States. Whether it’s MLS, NWSL or USL, a shiny stadium in the heart of a city hits the same.
Oklahoma City looks to be the latest major U.S. metro area ready to add the beautiful game in the downtown area.
According to reports from Steve Lackmeyer of The Oklahoman and from OKCTalk.com, the city could have a $71 million stadium by 2027. The capacity is expected to be 10,000 and would serve as the home for USL side OKC Energy FC.
Oklahoma City soccer stadium
MAPS 4 stadium planned for area south of Bricktown. 10,000 seats with ability to expand. FC Energy would be primary tenant but would also host concerts and other events. Full story and more images: https://t.co/agYDjJi534 pic.twitter.com/6d4PuQtipo
— OKCTalk.com (@OKCTalk) January 2, 2024
The MAPS 4 multi-purpose stadium would also be used for hosting college soccer games, high school football and other events.
Energy FC are on a bit of a hiatus right now as the club doesn’t have a stadium and field that meets the USL’s standards. The club had competed from 2014 through 2021 with the last five of those years being in the second tier of the U.S. Soccer pyramid.
This new stadium in 2027 would bring the sport back to the city.
Cities in the U.S. having a place for soccer fans to gather and support a local team is a great look for the growth of the sport in this country. Oklahoma City is a prime example of a major metro area in the country — 20th in population behind Denver and ahead of Nashville — getting a new home for soccer.
We’ve covered several other cities raising the level of their soccer stadiums including Indianapolis’ new plans for a stadium and Kansas City getting a stadium for the Current.
USL club Indy Eleven has released a first look at the new $1 billion “Eleven Park” near downtown Indianapolis.
It’s set to break ground in May. pic.twitter.com/Is5azhLyxp— Front Office Sports (@FOS) February 17, 2023
Good morning Kansas City @cpkcstadium is getting more r̶e̶a̶l̶ by the day pic.twitter.com/LnKMNjEQMa
— KC Current (@thekccurrent) December 9, 2023
