Downtown Albany Soccer

A group of investors is planning to bring a soccer franchise to downtown Albany, proposing a $300 million entertainment district with an 8,000-seat soccer stadium. The stadium, estimated at $75 million, would anchor the district in the vacant Liberty Square area. Led by Ed and Lisa Mitzen of Business for Good, the team aims to join MLS NextPro by 2026, coinciding with the World Cup. Mayor Kathy Sheehan supports the project, which also includes plans for a hotel, restaurants, and apartments. Discussions are ongoing with architects for the stadium design.