The MLS has announced the league’s 20th club: New York City Football Club (NYCFC). The founding of the team was three years laying the groundwork, as Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber announced on Tuesday that the new club is the product of a collaboration between English Premier League 2011/2012 Champions Manchester City FC and Major League Baseball’s legendary New York Yankees.
The new team will be named and is expected to begin play in 2015.
While it’s not exactly surprising, for those of us that follow the beautiful game, especially in the US’s league, this is important news for it’s a testament to the growth of the sport and what’s best is that New York proper, the capital of the world, will be home to the club. I’m no Man. City fan at all, but when my country’s soccer league shows (major) growth, it’s something worth being proud of.
Read more on what’s been reported of New York City FC below.
“We proudly welcome two of the most prestigious professional global sports organizations to Major League Soccer,” Garber said in a statement released by the league. “This is a transformational development that will elevate the league to new heights in this country. The New York area is home to more than 19 million people, and we look forward to an intense crosstown rivalry between New York City Football Club and the New York Red Bulls that will captivate this great city.”
Ferran Soriano, CEO of Manchester City, said: “New York is a legendary sports town, as well as a thriving global city with a rapidly expanding soccer fan-base… We are thrilled to contribute to the energy and growth of New York City Soccer. In the Yankees, we have found the absolute best partner for developing a world-class sports organization and a winning team that will carry the New York City Football Club name with pride.”
Manchester City will be the majority owner, according to the league’s announcement, while the Yankees will play an active role in the ownership group, with Yankees President Randy Levine playing point for the ballclub. Due to the advanced nature of the announcement, NYFC will begin play in 2015 in an interim stadium until its own gets built within the city. So far the proposed stadium plans show the new club will be calling the Queens borough home. The club says it will continue the current discussions it has with the City of New York, local residents, community and business leaders, and soccer leagues about a possible new stadium in Flushing Meadows Corona Park (FMCP) in Queens, while also continuing to look at other potential sites.
“New York City FC will have a permanent home in the City in the great traditions of New York sports and world soccer — a home that must be a sports, commercial and civic success,” Soriano said. “But in considering any stadium site, we will listen first. This is what we have always done in Manchester and what we will do in New York. Only in this way, can the Club truly represent the City whose name it will carry.”
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Follow more news on the team’s website: http://www.nycfc.com/
