New Mexico United’s passage to creating a permanent home at Balloon Fiesta Park took another step forward on Monday night when the Albuquerque City Council voted by an 8-1 margin to deny an appeal of the Land Use Hearing Officer’s decision regarding the construction of the multi-use facility.

The vote ended six months of legal wrangling which in February saw the city's Land Use Hearing Officer Steven Chavez remand the case to the Albuquerque Environmental Planning Commission for a second time after it was determined that notification to residents had been improperly issued.

Following a unanimous vote by the EPC in favor of the stadium in April, a second appeal to the city’s Land Use Hearing Officer in July was denied by Chavez, allowing the City Council to approve the plan that would permit one of the USL Championship’s best-attended clubs to create a permanent home, with the aim to open the facility for the 2026 season.

New Mexico United Owner and CEO Peter Trevisani welcomed the news.

“City Council has once again reaffirmed the notion of a multi-use stadium for this nearly 400-acre park, emphasizing that this project is not just suitable, but essential for Albuquerque,” said Trevisani in a statement. “This facility will serve as a vital asset for our youth, generate hundreds of new jobs – both full-time and part-time – and fulfill the long-term vision for Balloon Fiesta Park. As our city expands, it’s crucial that we develop amenities and community hubs to support and celebrate our growth and build projects that New Mexicans can be proud of for generations to come.”

New Mexico United is currently averaging 9,633 in attendance this season at Isotopes Park, which has been the club’s home since it launched in 2019. United is also currently on course for its best season in the USL Championship, having set a single-season club record with its 14th win of the campaign this past Saturday against Monterey Bay F.C. to sit seven points clear at the top of the Western Conference with 11 games to play in the regular season.