MLS announced today that the 20th team to join the league will New York 2, which as chosen the name of New York City Football Club. NYCFC is projected to take the field for the first time in 2015. The team will be located in one of the five boroughs most likely Queens. This announcement was no shocker as New York was the front runner for the new franchise for months. The club is going to be co-owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the New York Yankees. Together the two come together to create the wealthiest team in MLS.
Currently this new club does not have a home; they are still searching for a place to build a soccer specific stadium. A long lasting rumor that may come true is building in Queens near the Mets Stadium. A soccer specific stadium is a must for all new teams if they want to join MLS. A stadium plan will have to be in the works soon. In the meantime the team will be looking to have a short term home based at Yankee stadium in the Bronx.
“This is a transformational development that will elevate the league to new heights in this country,” MLS commissioner Don Garber said. The commissioner has high hopes for the new club. NY is a vast diverse area that is host to over a million soccer fans. Ever since the leagues beginning the MLS has been trying to tap into the New York market. Metro Stars/New York Red Bulls have been a failure with 18 years and no cups mixed with poor attendance. But NYRB is located in Harrison, New Jersey which is a hike to get to from Brooklyn, Long Island, the Bronx, and Queens. So NY2 has a new market of potential fans.
Mansour is one world’s wealthiest men, coming from royalty in the United Arab Emirates. He currently is deputy prime minister but is more commonly know as the owner of Manchester City FC. He has poured 100’s of millions of dollars to make MCFC a powerhouse club. His wealth knows no limits and if he is committed, Mansour can easily buy a team with high quality players. With Man City’s involvement can turn this NYCFC into a feeder club which would bring high quality players to MLS.
What this means for the Union, is that they get a new rival. A new NY team to compete against and a team that represents wealth against the blue collar Union. This team is pretty much the anti-Union. I expect this rivalry will take off rather fast. A NY team that is rather wealthy, and associated with the Mets and Yankees will sure to make some sparks fly. The fans of NYCFC are going to have links to Red Bulls most of them will have attended games so their will already know the Union brand and what to expect when the Sons of Ben come to town.
Sheik Mansour is a whole new reason for Union fans (and all MLS fans) to dislike this new club. He is currently facing wide accusations such as he has used slave labor in UAE. He also is facing many accusations in violations of treatment of laborers and violations of human rights. The young Oil Tycoon comes from a family that has outlawed homosexuality and made it a crime punishable by death.
Today the Union have gained a new foe, a new team to compete against. This new rivalry will be an interesting one and something to look at after the 2014 World Cup. NY2 is official after the months of speculation. In the following years they will gain colors, a badge, jerseys, sponsorships, a stadium, players and eventually start playing. It will be a wild ride for MLS and the New York City Football Club organization.
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