Bethlehem Soccer Stadium
The Bethlehem Soccer Stadium is an association football stadium in Upper Bethlehem, St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands.[1] The stadium is home to the US Virgin Islands national football team while the larger complex also includes the offices and technical center of the U.S. Virgin Islands Soccer Federation.[2] The stadium can accommodation 1,200 total seated spectators on two grandstands.[3]
Location | 23-1 Estate Bethlehem Upper Bethlehem, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands |
---|---|
Coordinates | 17.725396°N 64.7978536°W |
Capacity | 1,200 |
Surface | Artificial turf |
Construction | |
Broke ground | 2017 |
Opened | August 11, 2019 |
Tenants | |
US Virgin Islands national football team |
History
The transition of the U.S. Virgin Islands Soccer Federation offices to Bethlehem Estate began with FIFA Goal Project funding in 2015.[2] Construction of the technical center was scheduled to begin the following year and the national stadium in 2017. The stadium was constructed to address a lack of footballing infrastructure and a proper national stadium.[4]
The stadium was officially opened on August 11, 2019 with a ceremony that included guests such as FIFA President Gianni Infantino and CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani.[5][6] However, the stadium was already in use as the USVI olympic team hosted its qualifying matches for the 2020 Summer Olympics the previous month.[7]
The stadium was scheduled to host the senior men's national team for the first time on September 5, 2019 for a 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League C match against the Cayman Islands.[8][9]
References
- "Bethlehem Soccer Stadium". gotostcroix.com. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- "USVI SSoccer Association Announces New Office Location". VI Consortium. Archived from the original on 10 August 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- Wilby, Ryan. "Grandstand Seating for the United States Virgin Islands Soccer Association". Sport Systems Canada. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- Williams, Sean A. "Minnows US Virgin Islands yearn for football respect". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- "Sunday August 11 FIFA and Concacaf Presidents will be visiting the US Virgin Islands". United States Virgin Islands Soccer Association. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- "USVI Soccer Association Invites Community to Masters Tournament on Aug. 11". St. Croix Source. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- Murphy, Kyle. "USVI Soccer Association Announces Slate of Games in July". St. Croix Source. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- "Schedule Confirmed for the Inaugural Round of CONCACAF Nations League Group Stage Matches". CONCACAF. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- "New Home a Big Boost for US Virgin Islands in Nations League". concacafnationsleague.com. Retrieved 2 September 2019.