OPINION: New Mexico United has earned a stadium

I live near Balloon Fiesta Park and will be directly impacted by the proposed New Mexico United stadium. I’ve lived in New Mexico for over 50 years and have seen few things bring us together like New Mexico United. From the beginning we’ve seen record-breaking attendance, national attention and postseason pushes have proven that New Mexicans aren’t just casual fans — we are committed, passionate supporters who show up in numbers that teams in other states envy. Game after game, thousands pack into a baseball stadium not built for soccer, and they bring an energy that has become a central part of New Mexico’s identity. Imagine what that atmosphere could be if the team finally had a home designed for the sport. This stadium will boost the community as much as it will the team.

New Mexico United’s place in this community is inspiring. It’s a welcoming, positive and inclusive community that deserves, and needs, a proper and permanent home — a right-sized multipurpose soccer stadium. Balloon Fiesta Park is the perfect location for many reasons — infrastructure that already exists, easily accessible by Interstate 25, roads designed for traffic volumes many times that of a soccer game, plenty of parking, minimal disruption to neighbors and businesses surrounding the park, and a venue that will greatly enhance the Balloon Fiesta, Boots in the Park, Wine Festivals and other events.

A purpose-built stadium isn’t just about a better fan experience and improved player facilities, though both are overdue. It’s about securing the future of our team in New Mexico, creating positive economic impact and smart growth that uplifts the community and continues to make this a great place to visit and live.

New Mexico United already generates millions of dollars in spending each season, from restaurants and breweries to hotels and small businesses. A stadium in the right location — which Balloon Fiesta Park is — would amplify that impact, creating year-round activity through community events and tournaments — not to mention jobs tied to construction and ongoing operations. Cities across the country have seen how soccer stadiums anchor new, smart development that revitalizes neighborhoods, increases property values and provides a venue for the community to come together.

Most importantly, a stadium would be an investment in us — in our pride and our place. New Mexico United has become one of New Mexico’s strongest symbols of unity — it’s even built into the name. In a time when people often focus on what divides us, New Mexico United brings together families, generations and communities from every corner of the state. A stadium would give us a shared home to celebrate who we are and what we can accomplish together.

Unity is honoring exactly what makes New Mexico so uniquely valuable. We honor our past and celebrate the remarkably diverse peoples, traditions and cultures that make us who we are. New Mexico United exemplifies that we can simultaneously honor what we already have and build respectfully around that shared narrative into our vibrant future.

New Mexico United has proven, beyond any doubt, that the demand exists. The fans are here. The energy is here. The economic opportunity is here. It’s time for New Mexico to build the stadium that this team, its supporters and the community have earned.

Somos Unidos.