Athletic Club Boise (aka Boise Professional Soccer), in partnership with the United Soccer League (USL), is bringing professional men’s and women’s soccer to Idaho’s Treasure Valley, transforming a portion of Expo Idaho into a mixed-use sports and entertainment hub. The project will host a performance soccer pitch, practice fields, refurbished grandstands, and modular spectator and team facilities.
Details
Location
Garden City, ID
Partners
Athletic Club Bosie Owner Group
Ada County
Okland Construction
Cushing Terrell Architects & Engineers
Engineering Consultants Inc.
Year Completed
Ongoing
Delivery Method
Construction Management/Design-Build
Context
Context
This project represents a historic milestone for Boise, marking the city’s first professional soccer teams. Located at Expo Idaho, the 27-acre site was previously home to horse racing and public events. The project is unique because it combines adaptive reuse of historic facilities with new soccer-specific infrastructure, requiring careful coordination to meet professional league standards and local zoning codes. Key challenges include designing field lighting and scoreboards that satisfy television broadcast requirements while minimizing impacts on the surrounding community, synthetic field designed to FIFA and USL League specifications, and spectator amenities (bleachers, concessions, etc.) designed for immediate use and future growth.
Process
Process
The Land Group is providing civil engineering, landscape architecture, planning, and surveying services throughout the project. Our team is working closely with Ada County to refine the Master Site Plan to accommodate the performance pitch, practice fields, grandstand refurbishments, modular team and spectator facilities, and updated site lighting and fencing. The design process requires careful attention to existing site conditions, FIFA field design specifications, and broadcast-quality lighting standards. We coordinated with architects, engineers, and the ownership group to ensure the design met league and community requirements while navigating the county’s permitting process.
Solution
Solution
To address lighting challenges, the team designed field lighting up to 120 feet tall for the performance pitch and up to 65 feet for the practice fields, ensuring proper illumination for safe play and national broadcasts. Modular facilities, including restrooms, concessions, and locker rooms, were integrated to minimize footprint and adapt to the site’s historic use. Fencing, gates, and a scoreboard were carefully designed to meet both code requirements and functional needs while maintaining aesthetic compatibility with existing structures. Site modifications preserved a low overall lot coverage and respected surrounding community uses.
Impact
Impact
The completed project will provide a state-of-the-art venue for professional men’s and women’s soccer, elevating Boise’s national sports profile and enriching the local community. It supports youth and amateur soccer programs, hosts tournaments and special events, and transforms an underutilized historic site into a dynamic community asset. By combining professional sports, entertainment, and public access, AC Boise contributes to the region’s rapid growth and vibrant sports culture.