Citi Field Sellout Crowd…

FLUSHING, N.Y. — The vibrant blue skies that jazz legend Louis Armstrong vividly sang about were replaced with a muted, hazy orange on Wednesday at Citi Field, as smoke from Canadian wildfires created a surreal atmosphere reminiscent of Batman. Nevertheless, Gotham FC achieved their goal in launching into a new and thrilling phase as they prepare to make their mark in the borough.

With a reported sellout crowd of 42,175 (though a few seats were conspicuously empty), fans gathered to witness the NWSL team’s inaugural match in Queens, clinching a 1-0 victory over the Washington Spirit in a rematch of last year’s championship.

Just across the street, visible from the outfield concourse, stood Gotham FC’s future venue, Etihad Park. The team recently announced its planned move to this soccer-specific stadium in 2028, marking a shift from New Jersey after nearly twenty years in the state across various leagues.

The unique atmosphere of Wednesday’s game cannot be replicated. The crowd, swelling beyond 40,000, came for a one-time event amid a surge of soccer enthusiasm sparked by the men’s World Cup final in New Jersey on Sunday. “Serendipitous” timing, as NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman put it, “puts us on the map in a different way,” she remarked to reporters during halftime.

Several elements outside Gotham and the league’s control are hoped not to repeat. The discolored turf over the baseball infield became a secondary talking point, overshadowed by extreme heat and hazardous air quality, leading the league to implement hydration breaks for the first time this season and for both coaches.

“That’s showbiz, baby!” Gotham star and goal scorer Rose Lavelle joked post-match.

It was evident why Gotham and NWSL officials are optimistic about the team’s impending transition to Queens.

The turnout was the second largest in NWSL history and set a record for women’s sporting events in New York City. It was by far the biggest crowd for Gotham FC, which struggled for a decade in central New Jersey before relocating to what is now Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison. Attendance improved there but still ranked middling in the league.

An ESPN source mentioned that approximately 80% of Wednesday’s attendees were at their first Gotham FC match. The stadium was filled with promotional activities aimed at converting these newcomers into 2028 season-ticket holders, including booths on the concourses and staff walking through the stands promoting ticket sales.

Gotham aims to secure approximately 8,000 season-ticket deposits by the time they move to Etihad Park in 2028, an admission figure equivalent to their current average in Harrison.

The event was well-organized to ensure that new attendees enjoyed the experience, featuring a World Cup semifinal watch party, fan engagement opportunities like creating trading cards, and a giveaway bobblehead depicting Lavelle and her beloved dog, Wilma Jean Wrinkles.

Wednesday’s match felt surreal for a team once recognized as Sky Blue, often criticized for its on-field and off-field issues. Players endured cold showers often served in plastic containers, while training facilities lacked basic amenities. They played in a suburban college stadium before small crowds that often fell into the hundreds.

The most profound reflection of Gotham’s advancement lies in attendance: the crowd at Citi Field surpassed the total attendance for all 12 home games during the 2019 NWSL season, including two matches in Harrison and the remainder at Yurcak Field on Rutgers University’s campus in Piscataway, New Jersey.

“I find it hard to express the feelings in words,” stated Gotham defender Mandy Freeman, quickly correcting herself to note this was not merely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity since they would return again. As Gotham’s longest-tenured player since joining the team in 2017, Freeman has witnessed the challenging years firsthand.

Success in New York is never straightforward. This is a market that seeks superstars, but ultimately, fans crave championships—something Angel City has learned in Los Angeles. Gotham clinched two of the last three titles and also won the Concacaf continental championship last year.

Gotham continues to attract top talent, much to the concern of rival NWSL executives. Australian forward Sam Kerr made her return from the bench on Wednesday, receiving the loudest cheer from the audience. Kerr departed Sky Blue FC nearly a decade ago after winning both the NWSL MVP and Golden Boot awards, followed by a successful stint in both the NWSL and England‘s Women’s Super League before rejoining Gotham this summer, with a contract extending through 2030, well into the upcoming Queens era.

Lavelle scored the decisive goal on Wednesday, replicating her performance in last year’s NWSL Championship against the Spirit. After cleverly nutmegging an opponent, she executed a stunning chip shot from a challenging angle. Lavelle jested about her good fortune, having chosen not to pass, while Gotham head coach Juan Carlos Amorós hailed her skills as “magic.” Lavelle remains an exceptional talent and a crucial free agent, whom Gotham hopes to keep in the fold as they transition to Queens.

The competitive atmosphere heightened Wednesday’s match due to the Spirit’s proximity as rivals and last year’s finalists. Washington has transformed into the NWSL’s traveling spectacle, largely credited to forward Trinity Rodman, who has made the Spirit a frequent visitor in the league’s most-attended games.

“I think it’s fantastic; this will be an amazing location with a great stadium, and I’m really excited for the league,” Rodman remarked. “However, the air quality was challenging tonight. I do appreciate coming here most of the time and am eager to see how the stadium feels moving ahead.”

Nonetheless, not everyone in Gotham’s fan community is supportive of the move. Historically, the team has been associated with New Jersey, building a connection with the region often overlooked by teams seeking to repurpose the “New York” brand. For most of its existence, Gotham FC was predominantly owned by former New Jersey governor Phil Murphy and his wife, Tammy.

Fans’ feelings about Gotham’s upcoming transition to Queens are entirely understandable, even if the club and Berman assure that accessing Etihad Park will still be convenient in the future. Gotham possesses the data suggesting that the move will propel their business forward, which bodes well for the team and the greater NWSL.

While it is unlikely that every Gotham match will attract 40,000 fans in the future, a realistic goal is to fill the 25,000-seat Etihad Park regularly, capitalizing on strategic marketing and consistent on-field success, similar to the Spirit’s successful transition from the suburbs to packed Audi Field in Washington, D.C.

Gotham will also be regarded as a primary tenant in Queens, a status they lacked in Harrison, where they operated in a stadium designed for MLS’ New York Red Bulls. They will have dedicated locker room space in the new stadium and plans are in place to shift signage from NYCFC to Gotham on match days, tailoring the venue to their identity.

This is an experience that has been rare, not just for Gotham, but across the entire NWSL. What could the potential of more matches in Queens lead to?

“More events like this,” Gotham midfielder Jaedyn Shaw expressed enthusiastically. “New York really showed up for us. I found it truly remarkable to see how many people were present for their first Gotham game.”

That vision for the future is now tangible for the NWSL club, presenting a realization few could have envisioned a decade ago. Across from Citi Field, Etihad Park is rapidly taking shape, marked by steel beams, poured concrete, and a roof, looking more like a completed stadium every day.

Soon, this will be Gotham’s new home. The excitement for that future was palpable on Wednesday, despite the smoky skies.