Sports Illustrated Stadium

Sports Illustrated Stadium

Sports Illustrated Stadium is a special soccer stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, United States. It is home to two soccer teams: the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer and Gotham FC of the National Women's Soccer League. The stadium opened in 2010 and was first called Red Bull Arena.

The stadium has a unique design with a transparent partial roof. It is near the water in the Riverbend District of Harrison. It is across the Passaic River from Newark and about 7 miles (12 km) west of Lower Manhattan, New York City. With space for 25,000 fans, it is one of the bigger soccer stadiums in the United States.

In December 2024, the stadium got a new name: Sports Illustrated Stadium. This change happened because of a new agreement between the Red Bulls and Sports Illustrated Tickets that will last for 13 years.

Initial planning

The idea to build a special soccer stadium in the New York Metropolitan area started in 2000. Nick Sakiewicz, who led the MetroStars team, searched for the best spot. In 2004, it was announced that the team, later called the New York Red Bulls, would move to Harrison, New Jersey.

Harrison was chosen because it has good transportation, is close to New York City, and has a strong soccer history. Plans faced delays, but construction began in 2006. The stadium opened in 2010, later than first expected. A street near the stadium was named after Peter Higgins for his important role.

Red Bull buyout and new design

Red Bull bought the team and took over the stadium from AEG. This happened because Red Bull and AEG had different ideas about the stadium, which caused delays.

After buying the rights to name the soccer team Red Bull Park, Red Bull changed the original plans. They decided not to include a stage for performances that AEG had planned.

The new design was made by Rossetti architects from Detroit and built by Hunter Roberts Construction Group, LLC from New Jersey. The special roof of the stadium was made by Birdair from Amherst, New York, which is near Buffalo.

Design and features

Sports Illustrated Stadium has a curved roof made of strong fabric that covers all 25,000 seats. The roof lets in natural light and helps make the crowd noise louder for the players. The stadium also has big screens for fans to watch the game.

The seats are like those in European soccer stadiums, with special areas for fans who like to stand and cheer. There are also special seats for important guests and a section just for fans of the home team. The stadium shows memories of important moments and players, like a banner for a big win by Gotham FC in 2023.

The stadium has a quiet room for people who need a calmer place to sit during games. This room has soft lighting and fun activities to help make the game more comfortable. There are also fancy areas for guests to enjoy before and during the game, with lighting that can change colors for special moments.

Construction

Construction started on January 3, 2008, at the site of an old factory. Workers began driving timber piles into the ground to support the new stadium. Erik Stover was named the new general manager of the stadium during its building.

A contract was signed in February 2008 to help make and build the steel parts of the stadium. The steel pieces were made off-site and then put up later that year. The project was expected to use about 9,000 tons of structural steel.

The first big steel beam was placed on August 19, 2008. By March 2009, the stadium was reported to be about halfway finished. The last major beam for the roof was put up in April 2009. Work on the outer walls began in May 2009. The first part of the roof was finished in August 2009. Underground drainage and a system to heat the grass started being installed in August 2009.

Tax controversy

In 2010, the New York Red Bulls chose not to pay $1.4 million in taxes to the town of Harrison. They said the stadium did not need to pay taxes. They also did not pay $1.3 million in 2011. Later, they paid the money but asked to get it back.

In 2012, a court in New Jersey said Harrison could collect taxes from the stadium and the land it sits on. The team asked a higher court to look at it, but the case went to talks to solve the problem.

In 2016, a new plan was made. The town would take ownership of the land and stadium, and the team would pay rent each year. The team agreed to this plan later in 2016.

Naming rights

In 2006, Red Bull bought the MetroStars team and got the right to name the future stadium. In 2024, Red Bull made a deal with Sports Illustrated Tickets, a company that helps people buy tickets. Starting in 2026, Sports Illustrated Tickets will be the official ticket partner for events at the stadium. This deal does not change the work of the Sports Illustrated newsroom.

Events

Soccer

The stadium opened on March 20, 2010, with a friendly match between the Red Bulls and Brazilian club Santos FC. The first official match was on March 27, 2010, where the Red Bulls won 1–0 against the Chicago Fire. Over the years, the stadium has hosted many important soccer games, including international matches, friendly games, and tournaments like the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Red Bull Arena has also been the home for both the New York Red Bulls and Gotham FC. It hosted the first-ever international soccer game in May 2010 and many other notable matches, including the 2011 MLS All-Star Game and the 2016 United Soccer League Final.

Rugby union

The arena has also hosted rugby union matches, including the finals of the 2010 Churchill Cup and the 2022 Major League Rugby final between Rugby New York and the Seattle Seawolves.

Lacrosse

In 2019, the Premier Lacrosse League held matches at Red Bull Arena, marking the first time lacrosse was played there.

American football

The arena hosted its first American football game on September 2, 2023, featuring Grambling State University and Hampton University.

Concerts

Red Bull Arena began hosting concerts in 2011, with the first concert by Dispatch. Since then, it has hosted many performances, including artists like Rüfüs Du Sol, Jason Aldean, Ludacris, and others.

Community

The arena has been used for community events, such as fundraising sleepouts for homeless youth, voting for Peruvian Americans, and COVID-19 testing sites. It has also hosted commencement ceremonies for Hudson County Community College.

Auto shows

The arena has hosted several auto shows, including the Allstar Fitment 3.0 auto show and the EuroKult Thanks-4-Giving Car Meet and Food Drive.

Awards and recognition

In December 2010, the stadium was named “Project of the Year (Sports/Recreation)” by Engineering News-Record – New York.

In January 2016, the stadium won Major League Soccer’s “Security Staff of the Year” award for 2015. The staff was praised for their plans during a big game.

In August 2016, the stadium won the first annual J.D. Power – “Best In Fan Experience” award for 2016. It was chosen from all the sports and entertainment places in the New York metropolitan area. The stadium got top marks for satisfaction, security, seating, game experience, buying tickets, food, and leaving the game.

Also in August 2016, the stadium and the training facility received an award for being good for the environment.

In August 2017, the stadium won the J.D. Power – “Best in Fan Experience” award for the New York area again. It did well in ticket buying, security, seating, game experience, food, and getting to the game.

In November 2018, the stadium and its grounds director, Dan Shemesh, won the “Field of the Year” award for professional soccer.

In April 2021, the stadium received Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) STAR accreditation before the 2021 home games. This recognition shows the stadium follows strict safety rules, especially for health situations like COVID-19. Changes included better air cleaning and regular cleaning treatments.

In November 2021, the stadium was named “2021 Professional Soccer Field of the Year” by the Sports Turf Managers Association for the second time.

Accessibility and transportation

You can get to the stadium by train from the Harrison station. Take the Newark-World Trade Center train on the PATH rapid transit system. You can also take the New Jersey Transit Bus.

Bicycles are allowed near the stadium at the Harrison PATH station plazas. There are outdoor racks and secure storage spots.

The Jackson Street Bridge over the Passaic River is a nice walk way to the stadium. In 2022, a special soccer mural was added to the bridge.

If you drive, use I-280 and find parking in nearby lots and the Harrison Parking Center garage.