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Jeff Kassouf
Multiple Authors
Gotham FC is considering relocating to New York City FC’s upcoming Etihad Park in Queens for the 2028 NWSL season, according to a source who confirmed to ESPN.
Etihad Park, a 25,000-seat facility, will serve as the home stadium for NYCFC, ensuring a soccer-specific venue within city limits.
As of now, no final decision has been made regarding the team’s future location.
Sportico was the first to report that the NWSL club is in advanced discussions about transitioning to the new venue, which is scheduled to open in mid-2027.
The stadium is located directly across from Citi Field, where the MLB’s New York Mets play, and nearby the National Tennis Center, home of the U.S. Open each summer.
On July 15, Gotham FC will host the Washington Spirit at Citi Field, marking the team’s first game within New York City limits. Three days later, they will play at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island in Manhattan.
Since 2021, Gotham FC has held its home games at Sports Illustrated Stadium (previously Red Bull Arena) in Harrison, New Jersey. This move brought the team closer to New York City after spending the initial seven seasons of the NWSL (along with three seasons in a prior league) at Rutgers University in Central New Jersey. The transition to Harrison was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since relocating to Harrison, which is across the Hudson River from Manhattan, the franchise has strongly embraced its New York City identity.
In November, the team held a championship parade at New York City Hall and has engaged in expanded marketing efforts in the city in recent years.
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani attended Gotham FC’s home match against the Boston Legacy on Saturday. The club collaborated with the mayor’s office to offer $5 tickets for the match to 1,000 fans, which sold out quickly.
Over the past year, Gotham FC has referred to itself simply as “Gotham FC,” omitting the “NJ/NY” from its name. This change follows the team’s rebranding from Sky Blue FC in 2021, which originally emphasized its New Jersey roots by placing the “J” first.
This year, the club also unveiled a third kit dubbed “Lady Liberty,” featuring a silhouette of the Statue of Liberty adorned in the blue, white, and orange colors of New York City.
A Gotham FC representative provided the following statement to ESPN: “Like many clubs, particularly in the rapidly evolving NWSL, we continuously assess options to best serve our players, supporters, and organization. We currently have no updates to share.”
Gotham FC averaged approximately 8,900 fans per game at Sports Illustrated Stadium in 2025, ranking in the middle of the pack in the NWSL.
The team secured the NWSL Championship in both 2023 and 2025.
ESPN’s Lizzy Becherano contributed to this report.