BY DAN STICKRADT
WEB AND CONTENT EDITOR
Twitter: @MiSoccerNetwork
DETROIT — Detroit City FC announced on Thursday the club has acquired the site of the former Southwest Detroit Hospital at the corner of Michigan Avenue and 20th Street for the purpose of building a new stadium that will serve as a permanent home for soccer in Detroit. The club’s aim is to open a new soccer-specific stadium by the 2027 season.
“This is a huge step for our organization to build a modern venue to serve our club and community,” said Detroit City CEO Sean Mann in a press release Thursday. “As longtime residents of the city, with a few of us even living within walking distance of the site, the leaders and founders of the Club view this project not only as an opportunity to grow our organization and sport, but as a civic endeavor to give back to the city we love.
“We look forward to starting a process to connect with our supporters, city residents, and community leaders, among others, to craft a community-focused, grassroots professional soccer stadium that serves the City of Detroit.”
Southwest Detroit Hospital opened in 1973 as the first Detroit hospital to hire and accredit African American doctors and nurses, which was uncommon in the United States then. The original hospital existed only 17 years. In 1991, it closed and declared bankruptcy. The building has had other tenants in the 1990s but has been abandoned for 18 years.
Detroit City FC games are currently played at Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck. Since 2016, the Le Rouge have attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors and millions of dollars to small businesses in Hamtramck and various parts of the city of Detroit as well as fostering and advocating improvements to the recreational spaces around the community.
“A DCFC home match is a can’t-miss stop for any true sports fan in the US, but our players, staff, and supporters deserve a stadium with modern amenities that retains the best elements of Keyworth while also putting the club on firmer financial footing,” said Alex Wright, Co-Owner and Chief Creative Officer of Detroit City FC. “The city and the people of Hamtramck were there when we needed them. Investments by our club and supporters give proof of our gratitude, and we are excited to set forth on the challenge to make our forever home just as iconic.”
Detroit City will reveal more details around the stadium vision and programming after further consultation with city officials, local residents, and long-time fans. A public engagement process is anticipated to kick off later this year.
(Have a story suggestion for the Premier Media Group and the Michigan Soccer Network regarding club soccer, high school varsity, amateur soccer, collegiate soccer or professional soccer of teams or players with Michigan ties, contact Communications Specialist/Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com, or call 248-884-1051. Dan Stickradt is a 31-year veteran of the Michigan Media circles and recently joined the staff full time in March of 2024. Want to schedule a broadcast game or live show, contact PMG/MSN Director of Broadcasting Jonathan Turner for availability and pricing at jonathan@michigansoccernetwork.com.)
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