Lexington Sporting Club building soccer-centric stadium in central Kentucky

A brand-new, state-of-the-art soccer stadium is coming to central Kentucky as soon as 2024.

On Tuesday morning, Lexington Sporting Club — an American professional soccer team part of USL League One — announced that the club is in the process of building a soccer-centric stadium in Lexington. The stadium is already under construction and is located off Athens Boonesboro Road near Interstate 75. According to the club’s press release, the initial fan capacity will be set at 5,000 with the potential to expand to as many as 11,000. The name of the stadium has not yet been announced.

“We are so excited to build our new home right here in the beautiful city of Lexington,” Lexington SC Majority Owner Bill Shively said in the club’s press release. “The goal from day one has been to build an incredible stadium in Lexington that our fans and the entire community can be proud of. I believe we are well on our way to accomplishing that feat.”

The total investment will cost $82 million and will be used by both the professional team and the club’s youth programs. It is expected to be open ahead of Lexington SC’s USL Super League opener in 2024. Lexington SC played their inaugural season in 2023 in Toyota Stadium at Georgetown College.

Welcome home, Lex 💚🏟️#LexGo pic.twitter.com/4PJrMi3t14

— Lexington Sporting Club (@LexSporting) October 10, 2023

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton, and USL Super League President Amanda Vandervort were all in attendance for the announcement on Tuesday. Governor Beshear expressed optimism that the new stadium will generate upwards of $50 million in direct spending over the course of the next 10 years.

“Lexington Sporting Club’s investment builds on the economic growth we are seeing all across the Commonwealth,” Beshear said in the release. “Constructing this new stadium means that we are taking another step forward in building a better Kentucky – one where our kids don’t ever have to leave home to chase their dreams – or in this case their professional soccer dreams.”

Lexington SC was founded in Oct. 2021 as an expansion team for USL League One, which is the Division III league operated by the United Soccer League. The USL is the primary rival for Major League Soccer (MLS), which is considered the top level of competition in North America. The USL League One season (postseason included) runs from March to November.

The 2023 regular season is already nearing a close for Lexington SC. With one match left on the schedule, they sit on a 7-14-10 overall record, including a 6-4-6 mark at home. They have been eliminated from playoff contention, which begins next month.