 Icahn Stadium, from across theHarlem River inManhattan. | |
 Interactive map of Icahn Stadium | |
| Location | Randalls Island,Manhattan, New York City |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°47′35.90″N73°55′31.23″W / 40.7933056°N 73.9253417°W /40.7933056; -73.9253417 |
| Owner | New York City Department of Parks and Recreation |
| Operator | Randalls Island Park Alliance (RIPA) |
| Capacity | 5,000 |
| Surface | FieldTurf |
| Construction | |
| Opened | April 23, 2005 |
| Construction cost | $42 million |
| Architect | RMJM, Zurita Architects |
| Structural engineer | Geiger Engineers |
| Tenants | |
| Adidas Grand Prix (IAAF Diamond League) (2005–present) New York City FC II (MLS Next Pro) (2024–present, part-time) | |
| Website | |
| randallsisland | |
Icahn Stadium is a 5,000 seattrack and field and multipurpose facility located onRandalls Island inManhattan,New York City. Designed within the former site ofDowning Stadium, it opened on April 23, 2005. Icahn Stadium is named after American businessmanCarl Icahn, who made a $10 million donation towards the construction of the new stadium.[1] The stadium features aWorld Athletics Class 1 certified running track with a 400-meter Mondo Super X Performance surface, and it has been the site of many international, national, and regional track and field events.
Icahn Stadium was built to replaceDowning Stadium, which was originally opened in 1936 as part of a largerNew York City Parks project that included the construction of theTriborough Bridge. The opening of Downing Stadium made history as the facility hosted the U.S. Olympic Trials in 1936, at whichJesse Owens qualified for two events in the upcomingBerlin Olympics. Downing Stadium also made history in 1939 as the site of the first televised college football game,Fordham vs. Waynesburg. The site was subsequently home to theNew York Cosmos soccer team, as well as various sporting events and summer concerts. The stadium lights, which had been taken fromEbbets Field after it was torn down,[2] were left in place to light the new field.
After years of use, the old facility was in need of renovation. In order to maximize the potential of the site, the old stadium was razed, and Icahn Stadium was constructed in its place along with Field 10, aFIFA-certifiedsoccer field, on the north side. The track and field built is one of only fiveInternational Association of Athletics Federations Class 1-certified tracks in the United States (along withHutsell-Rosen Track,Hayward Field,John McDonnell Field and Rock Chalk Park ). The 5,000 seat stadium is partially sheltered by a cantilevered roof, and is illuminated by a pair of lighting towers. In addition, the soccer field on the north of the stadium is outfitted with a scoreboard, fencing, lighting, and bleachers for spectator events.
Run by the Randalls Island Park Alliance (RIPA), Icahn Stadium serves the residents of New York City and beyond.[3] It houses some of RIPA’s various Randalls Island Kids (RIK) programs, including the Jesse Owens track club, RIK Dance programs, and components of RIK summer camp. RIPA was founded in 1992 as a public–private partnership to work on behalf of Randalls Island Park. The Alliance, in conjunction with City leadership and the local community, works to realize the Island’s unique potential by developing sports and recreational facilities, restoring its vast natural environment, reclaiming and maintaining parkland, and sponsoring community-linked programs for the children of New York City. RIPA runs free youth sports programs that bring over 14,000 under-resourced public school children fromHarlem and theSouth Bronx to the island annually.
Since its opening, Icahn Stadium has hosted more than 200,000 high school, college and professional athletes and spectators during the track season. Each year, the number of meets and events that are scheduled has grown, bringing larger numbers of people to the facility.[4]
In 2005, theReebok Grand Prix was created and held at the stadium. Currently known as the Adidas Grand Prix of theDiamond League, the annual summer tournament welcomes top runners from around the world. From its inception it has distinguished itself as one of top meets to feature Olympic and World Champions.[5]
In December 2012, theNew York Lizards ofMajor League Lacrosse announced that the team would play two home games at Icahn Stadium for the2013 season.[7][8] The team played at the venue on June 6 and 13, 2013.[9]
On June 27, 2013, the New York Cosmos revealed that their annualCosmos Copa NYC soccer tournament would hold its final at the stadium, as many of the games were held at Randalls Island.[10] Due to scheduling issues, the final was relocated.[11] However, the site was used as a venue for the 2014 Cosmos Copa group stages.[12]
In 2023,New York City FC donated $3 million to install a Kentucky bluegrass soccer field at Icahn Stadium. The club's reserve side,New York City FC II, will play part of itsMLS Next Pro schedule starting in 2024.[13] NYCFC will also host its annualNYPD/FDNY charity soccer match at Icahn in 2024.
Following the installation of the new field by NYCFC, rugby is set to be played at the stadium.[13]
Icahn Stadium was incorporated as a training center into theNew York City bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics.[14][15] Future Olympic bids will also potentially use the stadium as a training facility, as it already meets IAAF specifications.
Sports venues in theNew York metropolitan area | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active |         | ||||||||||||||
| Defunct |
| ||||||||||||||
| Under construction | |||||||||||||||
| Never built | |||||||||||||||
Sports teams based inNew York State | ||
|---|---|---|
| Baseball |
|  .jpg)    |
| Basketball | ||
| Esports | ||
| Football | ||
| Hockey | ||
| Soccer |
| |
| Lacrosse | ||
| Roller derby | ||
| Rugby league |
| |
| Rugby union | ||
| Team tennis | ||
| College athletics (NCAA Division I) |
| |
| College athletics (NCAA Division II) | ||
| College athletics (NCAA Division III) |
| |
| College athletics (USCAA) |
| |
| College athletics (NJCAA Division I) | ||
| College athletics (NJCAA Division II) | ||
| College athletics (NJCAA Division III) |
| |
 Diamond League venues | |
|---|---|
| Current (2025) |
|
| Former | |
