SOCCER BUSINESS: Paze named 1st founding partner of Etihad Park and official online checkout and digital wallet

QUEENS, N.Y. – New York City FC and Early Warning Services on Tuesday announced a multi-year partnership naming Paze the first founding partner of Etihad Park and the official online checkout and official digital wallet of the Major League Soccer club.

As the official online checkout of the team and stadium, Paze will be showcased on club channels and throughout the venue, including the newly named Paze City Square. The partnership begins in 2026, prior to the venue’s 2027 opening.

“Etihad Park is going to be a game changer for soccer in New York City and the United States. It will be a future-forward venue focused on providing an unparalleled matchday experience before you even enter our doors, and Paze is going to play a vital role in helping us realize this goal,” NYCFC CEO Brad Sims said in a statement. “Paze will help us enhance the fan experience for everyone inside Etihad Park with their innovative product. We cannot wait to welcome everyone when Etihad Park and Paze City Square open in 2027.”

Paze City Square will be home to the “Five Boroughs Food Hall,” which will feature the diverse flavors from across the five boroughs via local vendors and suppliers for fans to enjoy. On non-matchdays, Paze City Square will be open to the community and accessible through entrances on public walkways.

“Etihad Park represents the future of live sports experiences, and we’re excited that Paze will be a part of that vision from day one,” Paze general manager Serge Elkiner said in a statement. “Paze City Square will bring fans, local merchants and innovation together in one truly dynamic space. Our role is to simplify checkout – making it fast, frictionless, and with added security – so fans can focus on what matters most: the match and the moments around it.”

Etihad Park will be the country’s first fully electric outdoor sports stadium, with a seating capacity of 25,000. Privately funded and constructed entirely by union labor, the project anchors a 23-acre neighborhood development at Willets Point, Queens. It features 2,500 new affordable housing units, a 650-seat public school, a brand-new hotel, and more than 150,000 square feet of public open space.