Albany may get $300M entertainment district, centered on soccer stadium

A group of investors is plotting to bring a soccer franchise to downtown Albany, including a stadium and key elements of entertainment districts that have sprouted across the country.

The potential owners of the Albany team pitched a $300 million entertainment district to be flanked by an 8,000-seat soccer stadium, the Times Union reported, after Major League Soccer executives met with city officials on Thursday.

The stadium alone would cost $75 million and be situated in downtown’s Liberty Square area, a largely vacant neighborhood. Schenectady firm Reform Architecture created initial site plans for the nine-acre site, while discussions have also been held with Populous about the stadium design. The firm has worked on the Buffalo Bills’ stadium plans.

The site is also expected to have a hotel, restaurants and apartments. Specifics about those aspects haven’t been made public yet.

The principal owners of the team would be Ed and Lisa Mitzen, of Business for Good, as well as investors including developers Jeff Buell and Chris Spraragen. They expect to privately finance most of the project, though they’ll likely ask the state for some funding.

Mayor Kathy Sheehan has come out in support of the project, saying she would “do everything in my power to help make this a reality.”

If approved, the team would join MLS NextProp, a developmental league affiliated with the MLS, the country’s top soccer league. MLS aims to have the team playing in 2026, an ambitious schedule that would line up the start of play with the banner year soccer is expected to have as the World Cup kicks off. The team could play elsewhere if the stadium isn’t ready.

A women’s professional soccer franchise may also be considered down the line to share the stadium.

— Holden Walter-Warner

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