Trevisani sees United stadium lights on the horizon

Peter Trevisani is finally starting to see twinkling stadium lights at the end of a lengthy tunnel.

Five years into his quest to build a soccer-specific home stadium for New Mexico United, the USL Championship soccer club’s owner/CEO is beginning to think in terms of when instead of if.

The latest in a series of court and city government decisions went United’s way earlier this month, clearing the way for construction of a privately funded stadium at Albuquerque’s Balloon Fiesta Park. A district court judge rejected the latest appeal by three local neighborhood associations seeking to prevent stadium construction on the city-owned site.

Trevisani expects more legal wrangling but said the latest ruling allows city officials to begin making infrastructure improvements at Balloon Fiesta Park (bathroom installations and utility upgrades among them) and construction preparations at the proposed stadium site.

State money was previously approved for the improvements, which will also serve Balloon Fiesta patrons and vendors.

So just how far off are those elusive stadium lights?

Trevisani admits there’s considerable guesswork involved, but he took a stab at a potential opening date in a Friday interview with the Journal.

“If the city’s able to finish its work and get the site ready by next summer, 2027 is not out of the question,” Trevisani said. “It’s going to be a process, but we want to get the core built with at least 7,500 seats — probably more — and we can enhance it as we go.”

Even an ambitious 2027 opening would fall outside of an original deadline set by the USL Championship, which sought to have all of its clubs in soccer-specific stadiums by 2026. Some USLC franchises, including San Diego Loyal and Memphis 901 FC, have ceased operations or been relocated after failing to secure stadium deals. Others, like El Paso Locomotive FC, continue to play in multi-purpose parks.

Trevisani said USLC officials have been patient with New Mexico’s ongoing stadium pursuit. United currently leads the 24-team league in average home attendance at 9,981 fans per match. The club has a sub-lease agreement with the city and the Isotopes to play at Isotopes Park through 2027 if necessary, Trevisani said.

“The league is super excited for us,” Trevisani said. “They understand we’ve been facing some hurdles, but they know we haven’t given up on getting a stadium built.”

What might a new United stadium look like? Trevisani said previous work on building plans was “mothballed” as various legal challenges dragged on. That process will now pick up again, he said, as United’s ownership group considers a range of possible plans. The club has committed to invest at least $30 million into stadium construction under an approved 30-year lease agreement. No city funding will be used for the building project.

“We’ve got some basic plans in place, but now we can get into the nitty gritty,” Trevisani said. “There are some trade-offs to consider. We’re not looking to maximize capacity right away. We’re more concerned about maximizing the experience and keeping games affordable for our fans.”

One detail under consideration for the new stadium is a berm seating area similar to the one beyond the right-field fence at Isotopes Park.

“Fans love the berm area,” Trevisani said. “We’ll have to see if the retaining work and site preparation make it possible, but that’s definitely a feature we’re interested in having.”

Trevisani and Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller, a stadium proponent, have long suggested that a new facility would not be limited to hosting United games. High school tournaments and a potential women’s pro soccer franchise could he housed there, as well.

“Building something like this is a big project, Trevisani said, “but we’re as excited as ever. We’re grateful to the Isotopes and the city for working with us as we’ve gone through all the legal challenges and it feels like we’re finally getting closer. We’re going to have a great stadium and we honestly can’t wait to start playing there.”