$200m stadium project finally underway as franchise’s ‘forever home’ hit by delays
Ground has officially broken on USL Championship Detroit City FC’s new stadium.
Work has begun on the soon-to-be AlumniFi arena, which will seat 15,000 fans at the former Southwest Detroit Hospital site.
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Outside the stadium, construction has begun on a 421-space parking lot, and a 104-unit residential building, 76 of which are described as affordable.
It’s all part of a $200m development that aims to make southwest Detroit a year-round sports and entertainment destination.
The Detroit City Council unanimously approved the project in November 2025, with the deal including $2.27m in commitments to the local community.
It also offers a minimum wage of $17 an hour with local employment priorities.
“As a club built from the ground up by Detroiters, this milestone reflects years of work, belief and investment from our supporters and partners,” said Sean Mann, founder and CEO of Detroit City FC.
“Breaking ground on AlumniFi brings us closer to creating a permanent home for our supporters and a development that reflects the pride, history and future of this city.”
“This is exactly the kind of neighborhood investment we want to see throughout Detroit,” added Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield.
“This area has been vacant for too long – now this development is creating lasting benefits for Detroiters.
“It will go beyond the project itself with direct support for neighborhood organizations, local employment, small businesses and improvements that residents will benefit from for years to come.”
The stadium development is expected to generate an estimated 1,030 construction jobs and 142 full-time roles.
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AlumniFi Field was originally expected to be completed in Spring 2027.
It is slated for the 2028 season, meaning they will spend one more season at 7,933-capacity Keyworth Stadium in Hamtrack, Michigan.
The football team announced that the stadium will be delayed in June.
“While planning, design, partnership development, and community engagement continue to evolve in the near term,” the statement read.
“The revised timeline is intended to ensure that Detroit City FC and its partners deliver the strongest fan experience, matchday venue, and long-term community impact.”
In addition, they announced that more than 6,000 season ticket holders have been booked for the 2028 season.
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The club played in the National Premier Soccer League from 2012 to 2019, before moving to the National Independent Soccer Association in 2020 and 2021.
Now in the USL, they have made the play-offs twice in their four seasons in the league.
The club reported a loss of $9.62 million since joining the USL, including $1.23 million in 2021, $2.91 million in 2022, $2.27 million in 2023, and $3.21 million in 2024.
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