Detroit City FC today announced plans to renovate the east grandstands at Keyworth Stadium in time for the start of the 2017 season.
Two unfinished sections in the east grandstands, including the north end and portions of the south end, are on track to be completed ahead of the team’s second season in Hamtramck. Mich.
The north end of the grandstands will include bleacher seating, while the south end portion will be standing room.
Additional renovations include structural and utility upgrades throughout the 80-year-old stadium.
Keyworth Stadium is property of Hamtramck Public Schools. DCFC works alongside HPS and has partnered with HPS through a 10-year lease agreement. Hamtramck Public School sports teams have regular access to the stadium throughout the year.
With the additional investment, and based on a recalculation for safety precautions and code compliance, the official capacity at Keyworth will stand at 7,325.
The southernmost portion of the east grandstands will not be included in this year’s renovations.
After announcing its move to Keyworth Stadium in late 2015, DCFC launched Michigan’s largest community investment campaign to finance stadium renovations. The campaign ended on February 15, 2016, and it was announced the club and nearly 500 verified Michigan investors raised more than $700,000 through the investment campaign.
The improvements funded by the investment campaign included structural improvements to the east and west grandstands, and mending of bleachers, locker rooms, restrooms and lighting.
The middle portion of the east grandstands, which is standing room, was included in the initial renovations, but the north and south ends were not.
A total of 52,550 supporters attended City’s 10 home matches in 2016, representing a 48-percent increase in total attendance from 2015.
DCFC returns for its highly anticipated second season at Keyworth Stadium with season ticket sales outpacing last year’s figures.
City will host 11 matches at Keyworth this year. The team will open up 2017 play at home when it hosts Dayton Dynamo in a preseason exhibition match on Saturday, May 6 at 7:30 p.m.
Le Rouge will begin its 2017 National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) season at home on Friday, May 12 against the Milwaukee Torrent. Kickoff for the NPSL opener is set for 7:30 p.m.
Seven of City’s 11 home matches are regular season match-ups, with its remaining four matches being friendlies.
City’s marquee home match is the Detroit Cougars 50th Anniversary Match as part of the DCFC International Series presented by Strategic Staffing Solutions on Saturday, May 27. Detroit will host Glentoran FC of Belfast, Northern Ireland to commemorate the 1967 Detroit Cougars team, which was represented by Glentoran.
Supporters have the option of purchasing Le Rouge’s standard ticket package, the City Card, which starts at $70 and grants entry to at least 10 home matches, or the Gold Card season ticket package, which is DCFC’s first premium ticket package that grants entry to every home match and event, with priority stadium entry, midfield seating, free parking and more. The Gold Card, which also grants entry to DCFC’s match vs. Glentoran FC, is $150.
If you haven’t purchased season tickets, get yours here.
Single match tickets will go on sale in early March.
