Gotham FC’s Historic Home Game
The most significant home match in Gotham FC’s history kicked off in an expected way, out on the road.
The usual venue for the NWSL champions, Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, is booked for Men’s World Cup events until the final on Sunday at the nearby MetLife Stadium.
This week has been pivotal for soccer in the U.S., particularly in New York, and it was assumed that the top women’s team in the area would have to play away. But then, a different approach emerged.
“We gathered and decided…we have to be part of this,” Gotham owner Carolyn Tisch Blodgett shared. “This is a moment we want to embrace. When soccer is at the forefront of cultural discussions, we want to be involved.”
That’s how the Queen’s Classic came to be.
This Wednesday night, Gotham will host a match at Citi Field, marking the first regular season NWSL game in New York City.
As of Monday, over 40,000 tickets had already been sold, which would surpass the franchise’s attendance record (15,569 from the 2024 playoffs) and the highest attendance for a women’s sporting event in New York City (28,144 during Coco Gauff’s U.S. Open final in 2023).
With a capacity of about 42,000, the stadium is within reach.
Gotham quickly chose Citi Field, situated across from where the team plans to move, as the best alternative venue, inspired by past NWSL matches held in baseball parks in cities like Chicago and San Francisco.
“We spoke to them early on about breaking New York’s women’s sports attendance record, and they were on board from the start,” Tisch Blodgett told the Post. “The entire Mets organization worked hard with us to make this happen.”
Gotham worked collaboratively to promote the Queen’s Classic as a standout event.
Laura Petro, the vice president of brand and fan experience, mentioned strategies like paid media campaigns, active social media outreach, influencer partnerships, and a ticket deal with the mayor to help boost attendance.
“We have a compelling story… I think that played a significant role in our success,” Petro remarked. “What resonates with me is the idea of making history and being part of something bigger.”
Petro noted that many of the tickets are being sold to new buyers and first-time fans, suggesting that the game’s uniqueness and its convenient location just off the Queens subway are appealing factors.
The matchup is expected to feature Sam Kerr, one of the prominent players, going head-to-head against Gotham’s biggest rival, the Washington Spirit. This is the team they faced in last year’s finals, where they sought redemption for a previous semifinal loss. Expectations are building.
There will likely be some Spirit fans present in the stands.
The 8 p.m. game will be preceded by an afternoon event dubbed ‘Hootie Fest’, hosted by USWNT alum Sam Mewes, which includes a watch party for the England vs. Argentina semifinal, a live recording of the ‘Welcome to the Party’ podcast with Julie Fowdy and Abby Wambach, plus a live DJ session.
“Our team has put in an incredible effort for months to create this special event,” Tisch Blodgett stated. “But at some point, we want it to be the standard that Gotham sells out each time they come to town. That’s our goal.”
