DETROIT – A hospital that has sat vacant for nearly 20 years in Detroit will now be the site of a new soccer stadium.
The Southwest Detroit Hospital, just south of Michigan Avenue, has been acquired by the Detroit City Football Club, which plans to build a permanent home for soccer in the city. The new soccer-specific stadium is expected to be open before the 2027 season.
The Southwest Detroit Hospital opened in 1973 as the first Detroit hospital to hire and accredit African American doctors and nurses. It was open for 17 years before closing and declaring bankruptcy in 1991. It reopened as United Community Hospital in 1997, but closed again in 2006 due to financial issues.
“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,” said Detroit City FC CEO Sean Mann. “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.”
Detroit City FC has played at Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck since 2016. Following the move to Corktown, Detroit will be one of the very few cities that has MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL and United Soccer League teams playing in stadiums within the city boundaries.
Details regarding the stadium and redevelopment of the area will be revealed after Detroit City FC speaks with city officials, residents and fans. A public engagement process will start later this year.