Marcus Samuelsson to debut burger concept at NYC soccer stadium
The as-yet-unnamed concept is expected to join other local restaurants at Etihad Park.
“Marcus Samuelsson's debut burger concept in New York City is a great reflection of the culinary program we’re building with New York City FC,”
Chef and restaurateur Marcus Samuelsson has announced plans to open his first burger concept at the future home of New York City’s professional soccer team.
The as-yet-unnamed restaurant is slated to debut when the 25,000-seat stadium, Etihad Park, opens in 2027 in the Queens neighborhood of Willets Point.
Samuelsson is a longstanding New York resident, having first gained acclaim as a chef at the turn of the century when he was working at the fine-dining Swedish restaurant Aquavit. Samuelsson was born in Ethiopia, but was adopted at a young age by a Swedish family. His cooking reflects that heritage, honoring Swedish cuisine while increasingly incorporating elements of East African food as well as New York influences, in his cuisine.
He currently operates Red Rooster, offering upscale comfort food in Harlem, seafood concept Hav & Mar, and Metropolis by Marcus Samuelsson in the Perelman Performing Arts Center, which offers a diverse menu including the Metropolis Burger, an 8-ounce beef patty topped with New York State cheddar cheese, roasted tomato, and Béarnaise sauce.
Etihad Park’s operators say the stadium will feature a broad culinary program intended to “bring a fresh, New York City-inspired approach to stadium dining,” according to a press release announcing Samuelsson’s participation. It said that will include local restaurants, chef-led concepts, “and community-focused culinary programming.” The park will also house Five Boroughs Food Hall featuring ten small local business representing cuisines from across the city.
“As a lifelong soccer fan and former player, it is very exciting for me to launch a brand-new burger in New York City’s first soccer stadium,” Samuelsson said in a statement. “New York City is passionate about its teams, traditions, and the many cultures that make it like no other place in the world. It is a dream to be a part of this new chapter for the club that I have supported for years, for the fans who love the sport like I do, in the city that has been my home for decades.”
Tom Funk, president of Legends Global, the stadium’s food & beverage partner, said Samuelsson is just the sort of operator his company is looking for at Etihad Park.
"Marcus Samuelsson's debut burger concept in New York City is a great reflection of the culinary program we’re building with New York City FC," he said in a statement. "Each matchday and event will offer fans something new to taste and discover, and we’re excited for them to see what comes next."
New York City FC CEO Brad Sims agreed.
“From the beginning, we’ve said Etihad Park should feel like New York City. That means it should taste like it too,” he said in a statement. “Announcing Marcus Samuelsson’s first dedicated burger concept in New York City as our first signature food and beverage offering says exactly what we want this stadium to be: a place where world-class soccer and culture come together in a brand-new way that feels authentic to this city.”
Apart from being New York City’s first stadium dedicated to soccer, it will also be the country’s first fully electric outdoor sports stadium and is intended to be a year-round destination for entertainment and community programming as well as soccer.
