RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Kickers earned a major victory off the field on Monday night as the Richmond City Council approved an agreement for the team to lease the city-owned City Stadium for 40 years. The club has pledged to make $20 million-worth of upgrades to the facility over the length of the lease at the historic venue, which has been the Kickers’ home since 1995.

The Kickers will pay a nominal fee to the city for the lease to the venue, and will also pay property taxes to the city over the terms of the lease. The club will now take on the responsibility for all upkeep, utilities and taxes on the facility. The first phase of the redevelopment will see upgrades to landscaping, fencing, seating, the field and irrigation and the venue’s parking lot that would be completed by 2020.