Detroit City FC has announced plans to renovate the east grandstands at Keyworth Stadium in time for the start of the 2017 soccer 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, Michigan.
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.
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 US$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% increase in total attendance from 2015.
February 22, 2017
