New Mexico United owner Peter Trevisani, in the middle, celebrates with his fans ahead of a July 2021 game against El Paso Locomotive FC at Isotopes Park. (Roberto E. Rosales/Journal) New Mexico United is fast reaching the finish line of its fourth season and there are even more questions than answers related to a permanent stadium for the club.
Peter Trevisani, president and CEO of the USL Championship Club, is running to replace him.
Things have been up in the air since the Albuquerque electorate rejected a $50 million bonus factor to fund a city-owned stadium leased through United in 2021. Trevisani has since said the United-owned organization will seek a privately funded facility that doesn’t rely on municipal taxes.
But it’s been almost a year since the link factor failed and time is running out for United. The USL Championship has required all of its clubs to be the number one tenants of specific soccer stadiums through 2026, the year the U. S. has been the U. S. in the U. S. The U. S. will host the World Cup.
Trevisani optimistic.
“We can do it in time,” he said in an interview with the Journal. “We may have a plan in the next 60 days and then put a (funding and construction) plan in place within six months. It’s vital to ride, especially if we need to be on the grass until 2025. “
Meanwhile, United will continue to play home at Isotopes Park as a subtenant of Triple-A baseball’s Albuquerque Isotopes. The clubs agreed last offseason to a three-year extension until 2024.
This is not an ideal scenario for either franchise, as the playing surface will have to be remodeled several times to accommodate baseball/football. The grass is installed in the football box, which can be problematic in rainy conditions. The season had to be postponed due to turf problems, adding Wednesday’s match against LA Galaxy II, which was halted after six minutes due to poor ground conditions.
Such unrest would be unlikely if United played on an express football surface, and remains a priority for Trevisani going forward. As for the location of a new stadium, what it will look like and how much it will cost, the main points have not yet been defined. It has not yet been resolved.
Trevisani said the recent hypothesis about 3 potential sites, the west side of Albuquerque, the Mesa del Sol and the isotope park region, has no merit. He declined to be specific, but showed that the club had explored West Side assets and held “discussions”. on the structure in the Mesa del Sol domain where United’s educational facility is located.
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“We have analyzed 3 other spaces and we are close to some plots,” Trevisani said. “We need a hot position that is within the city limits and where we can be a catalyst for positive change, just a position to play football. “
Trevisani said he and other members of United’s owning organization visited the newly opened USL championship stadiums in Louisville and Colorado Springs for concepts and inspiration. Both sites have impressive features, Trevisani said, adding designs that allow for long-term expansion.
Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville opened in 2020 with a capacity of 11,700 that can be expanded to 15,300. Weidner Field in Colorado Springs, which opened in 2021, is lately home to 8,000 fans.
Trevisani hopes to build a stadium that can accommodate 12,000 to 15,000 fans. United leads the USL in home attendance this season with 10,474 consistent with home play.
“The stadium in Louisville is phenomenal,” Trevisani said. We would like to have something like this, but we do it in phases. We have to be realistic because the prices of structures have risen especially in recent years. We would possibly have to build something smaller than we originally sought and expand as we go.
Trevisani said it was inopportune to put a price on the assignment until United moved to a site, but added that the club’s assets were intended to “take the lead” on financing.
Prior to the 2021 bond election, United’s assets committed to pay $10 million for structure pricing and $22. 5 million for lease and concessions over the term of a 25-year lease if the assignment was approved.
Today, Trevisani plans to create a public-private partnership with sponsorships and potential incentives for state and municipal government spending to help increase investment in the property.
“The property will do its part and make a major commitment,” he said, “but to get it right, we want a lot of other people to do a little bit. “
Trevisani envisions a facility that is open and hosts similar non-football related occasions, such as boxing, professional wrestling and NCAA competitions.
She opened up to hosting the best school championships and held out hope of bringing a women’s professional soccer franchise to Albuquerque. A bid for the latter requires a specific soccer stadium, Trevisani said.
New Mexico is one of many USLC groups that play home games in baseball or multipurpose facilities, but the league no longer accepts new franchises without established stadium plans. Expansion groups are being added in Jacksonville, Rhode Island, Iowa and New Orleans over the next 3 seasons, and it will be the number one tenant of the stadium.
“We were lucky to get in when we did,” Trevisani said. But the USL is moving forward and we have to move forward. We’ve come a long way in 4 years, building an educational center and putting a lot of pieces in position to succeed. We knew there would also be obstacles. A football stadium is a great investment, but we are making progress. We will keep moving forward. “
GAME DAY: NM united at San Diego Loyal SC, Sunday, p. m. , ESPN (broadcast), no radio
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
• New Mexico (9-11-11): Sunday’s game is of great importance for United, which is looking to secure a playoff spot. Tambakis wants to be tested early and ArrayTambakis had a solid season with six blank sheets, adding one on his last outing in Las Vegas. He has 59 saves and 30 goals conceded, but he hasn’t had the luxury of playing with an advantage. New Mexico is tied for 20th place in the USLC with 35 goals scored. Moving forward, Jerome Kiesewetter returns to injury numbers to help. He arrived as a late replacement in Las Vegas and was initially 11 against LA Galaxy II.
• San Diego (18-9-5): It remains to be seen what kind of team Loyal SC coach Landon Donovan will employ on Sunday. Momentum is at stake. Still, Donovan has plenty of firepower at his disposal, adding Kyle Vassell, who ranks ninth in the league in goals scored (14) and shots (64). Vassell scored in San Diego’s 1–1 draw with United in May. 7 in Albuquerque. Thomas Amang has 10 goals for Loyal SC and versatile midfielder Tumi Moshobane (six goals, seven assists, 44 chances created) has 31 appearances. Koke Vegas (71 saves, 41 goals conceded) is the main goalkeeper.
NOTE: Late goals and draws have been the history of previous meetings between NMU and San Diego. New Mexico’s Ilija Ilic scored the equalizer 4 minutes into second-half stoppage time in a 1-1 draw in 2021. United’s Harry Swartz scored the equalizer in 90-4 minutes in this season’s 1-1 draw in Albuquerque. New Mexico may have a chance to secure a playoff spot on Sunday depending on Saturday’s wins. NMU (44 problems) would want a win combined with a loss from Rio Grande Valley, Oakland or El Paso (43 problems each).
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