Just off their historic win in the inaugural USL Super League Championship, Tampa Bay Sun FC has revealed its intention to build a waterfront stadium in Ybor Harbor—a milestone for the region’s first top-level women’s soccer team.
The 15,000-seat stadium will be partially roofed to protect against rain and sunshine while preserving water views. The stadium will anchor the 33-acre mixed-use development project in Ybor Harbor led by Sun majority owner Daryl Shaw. The development, aside from the stadium, also features a boutique hotel, retail space, restaurants, apartment residences, office high-rises, and new USL soccer headquarters.
“The vision for the new Tampa Bay Sun FC stadium is one of opportunity, of winning, and of helping to further revitalize Ybor City,” Shaw said in a statement on Tuesday. “Furthermore, we believe sports have the power to inspire, bring people together, and ultimately spark real change. Therefore, by establishing a dynamic home for women’s professional soccer in this historic neighborhood, we’re not only investing in Tampa’s future but also simultaneously honoring the community that gives it life.
While the stadium’s cost and construction timeline are still undetermined, developers say the aim is to move forward through a public-private partnership.
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor has publicly endorsed the proposal in public statements, describing the mooted stadium as a bold show of how cities can lead the way in enabling women’s sport and inclusive development.
“This is not a stadium, it’s a statement about who we are and what we value,” Castor stated.
The Beck Group, a Dallas-based architecture and construction firm, designed the new venue.
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Tampa Bay Sun FC Waterfront Stadium Project in Ybor Harbor
Stadium Specifications
Capacity: 15,000 seats
Location: Ybor Harbor waterfront
Design Features: Partial roof for weather protection while maintaining scenic water views
Significance: Home venue for the region’s first top-tier women’s soccer team
Development Details
Total Site: 33-acre mixed-use development
Developer: Led by Sun FC majority owner Daryl Shaw
Additional Components:
Boutique hotel
Retail space and restaurants
Residential units
Office towers
New USL soccer headquarters
Tampa Bay Sun plans for Waterfront Stadium in Ybor Harbor: Project Status
Construction Cost: To be determined
Timeline: To be determined
Funding Structure: Public-private partnership approach
Municipal Support: Endorsed by Tampa Mayor Jane Castor
Read also: Chicago Fire Unveil New Renderings for $650M Riverfront Stadium at The 78
