Photo by Damion Reid/FiveBoroSports.com
BY DYLAN BUTLER
Acquista Trattoria, a quaint family-owned Italian restaurant in the shadows of St. John's University in Queens, was the scene for the first meeting between owner and supporters' group as Doug Petersen of F.C. New York, the United Soccer Leagues First Division expansion franchise in 2010, met with the Borough Boys, the previously unaffiliated New York City-based supporters' group.
A number of topics were discussed over the course of two hours, from the Borough Boys role with the club, to plans for the club's home to the possibility of joining MLS in the future.
You can read my FiveBoroSports.com story here, but here are a few highlights of the meeting and my discussion with Petersen afterward.
As he indicated at a midtown Manhattan press conference a week ago, Petersen told the supporters that Hofstra will serve as a temporary home. "We don't want to be there for more than a year or two." And while 13,000-seat Shuart Stadium allows F.C. New York to play in a facility that meets the USL-1 standards, there is nothing to stop the club from playing a number of home games inside the city limits. That includes possible home games at Belson Stadium at St. John's University, Columbia's Baker Field and Icahn Stadium on Randall's Island.
A coach and a technical staff will not be hired until the club forms a partnership with a European-based club and Petersen is currently negotiating with four different teams there. While there is no salary cap in USL-1, as is the case in MLS, don't expect F.C. New York to break the bank on players.
"We're going to do the best we can with the budget we have knowing that we have to start small," Petersen said. "It would be less than prudent to spent money unbridled because we're looking over the long term."
Petersen called the past week "berserk" and said his office has been flooded with resumes. He also indicated a "two-time member of the nationa team" knocked on his door asking to get involved. Hmm, could it be Chris Armas?
What's my take on the new team? I know there's already a war of words between the supporters of F.C. New York and the New York Red Bulls, but it's a good thing to bring another team to New York. However, I think the club would be better served finding a New York City-based home from the beginning, establishing themselves as a Big Apple team rather than play in a 13,000-seat stadium that, let's face it, isn't likely going to be half filled although I hope I'm wrong.
The perfect venue would be Belson Stadium on the campus of St. John's Univeristy. Sure it seats less than 3,000, but it's a great place to watch a game and the atmosphere would be fantastic every matchday. From there, go ahead and play select games at Icahn or Baker Field.
Enough about me, what do you guys think? Is there enough room to support two New York-based teams? Are you excited about the USL-1 coming back to New York? Do you want an Acquista Trattoria menu? Let us know.
Dont care about the war of words here, but why is this news exactly? Hey Ives I’m meeting with the FO next Tuesday shall i send you the notes to post it up on the site?
Whatever, in other news i agree with them on one thing.. the name sucks and their “ethos” is an embarasment.
I love it. The rivalry is already in full swing.
Signed,
A Brooklyn resident, with RBNY season tickets, who also signed a BB petition to try and get a team in NYC.
yea long island is were the “real New yorkers” are lol
lou dont waste your time, let them have fun in USL playing somewhere out in Long Island 😉
first of all daniel, i’ll do what i want thanks very much and secondly if you go to games and still don’t have a relationship with the club than who’s fault is it really?
I go to the games and i don’t have that problem so what makes me and you different.
Many teams change colors, badges, stadiums see colorado rapids as an example, whatever it doesn’t make a difference for me and many others, the fans make up the team everything else is superficial. Red bulls putting their name in front of this team is no different than let’s say best buy putting a giant advertisement on the front of chicago’s jerseys.
You say you have met many disgruntled red bull fans, how is mastershake one? He is defending his team and opinion against you who says the team is completely different. If anything you’re the disgruntled fan.
disâ‹…grunâ‹…tled
   /dɪsˈgrʌntld/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [dis-gruhn-tld] Show IPA
–adjective
displeased and discontented; sulky; peevish: Her disgruntled husband refused to join us.
how does that definition fit mastershake or myself. Do you even know us? Because to me you are the one making judgment calls. You were displeased with the team, and now you are trying to find something else to suit you, ok fine, but look at the definition above and you’ll see you’re the perfect match for it not mastershake.
Ha i’m petty and juvenile ok again there you go with the assumptions at least i know how to fit words into my arguments properly.
Reid, not at all…of course they might say otherwise. but half of BB were never Metrostar fans to begin with.
I really look forward to playing for FC New York next year, provided my boss at the car wash lets me take the time off.
ignorant new englander here…. were the BB’s formed out of red bull taking over metro?
I hope they succeed. As a Chicago Fire fan, I believe that the only way we are going to get relegation and promotion in this country is if MLS has to someday merge with USL. My thinking is as follows….if USL consistently competes with MLS or even regularly beats in them in Champions League, this may lead to an NFL/AFL type merger because MLS would rather co-opt the competition than lose market share/revenue to them. At that point you would have a top league of around 40 teams and that is unworkable. MLS would be forced to figure out some way to have a first and second division…….and then we get relegation and promotion. As an MLS fan, I am really rooting for USL to improve and put MLS’s feet to the fire so our league can begin to work more like the rest of the world. My two cents from Chicago. Fantasy maybe, but not completely out of the question.
you’re right, that makes it ok..sorry.
Mastershakes clearly you have no clue about the BBs or who supports their cause.
Some (like myself) supported the Metros for many years.. Hell I think my original ESC card was numbered 017. I chose not to be a supporter of a company that came in and destroyed my team’s colors, badge and name. If you want to be a waterboy for an energy drink , go ahead. Don’t tell others who they should or shouldn’t support.
..and what is your point…and yes i did know that.. but i don’t get your logic..if you said they changed the name of the team to Emirates Arsenal..then i would understand
in case you didnt know daniel,Emirates stadium was named after a major ariline in the middle east.
Once again “polish clown” signing as NYCF .. Clearly you haven’t talked to any actual NYCF members about their feelings about FCNY ..
I don’t tell you who to support mastershake, i would hope to find the courtesy back..obviously you are just a disgruntled RB fan..if i had a nickel for every time i met one of those..
..when were we talking about Arsenal? that was way out of left field..but i digress…you are right mastershake..you got us.we are gory hunters who just want to see trophys in the case..wow.. case closed..you are just like Sherlock Holmes!! *clap clap clap* seriously, if RBNY already won like 4 MLS Cups..and we still formed this group.. would you even care?
to put it frankly, you wont find heart or feel for RBNY because you DONT WANT to. you will find any excuse you can to justify yourself (Giants staidum, RB marketing..etc etc) but the truth of the matter is, you dont want to follow a team that hasn’t won anything (not like NYFC will..)..just admit that you’re all a bunch of glory seeking bandwagon riders.
Oh and btw next time you “true soccer fans” are at Emirates stadium, please let everyone there know just what kind of marketing sheep they truly are..
lou, do you know me? i have been to RB games, even back when they were the metro stars.. i wasn’t a season ticker holder no, but i did go to games when i had the time. I never felt a connection with the club, honestly i did try..just could never get into their team..don’t call me out saying i am not a true soccer fan because i don’t go to RB games.. petty and juvenile
daniel how are you supposed to build a relationship with the team if you don’t go to the games, at least the FO is trying in their own way but i can say the same for most of the soccer fans in this area.
Is their no “line-crossing” with Red Bull New York, or do people see that as their American soccer ceiling?
Let’s go ahead and further reiterate the stupid American soccer stereotype. You’re ruining it for all of us.
haha if you say so kpugs..be the sheep and follow blindly. good advice for everyone. FOLLOW YOUR LOCAL TEAM THAT YOU HAVE NO HEART FOR AND FEEL NO CONNECTION WITH! THOSE ARE TRUE SOCCER FANS! great advice
same kpugs well said
I think the Borough Boys are a cool idea.
Having said that there is no argument here. Going to Giants stadium can be an extreme hassle to anyone living in ANY of the 5 boroughs.
BUT…there has been a local, top tier soccer team there for nearly 14 years now. If they were true fans of the sport we would be reading about them breaking off from ESC to form a new supporters’ club for the new minor league team in NYC. Instead I read that they were formed in 2007 and have gone approximately two years as a supporters’ club WHO DIDN’T SUPPORT A TEAM.
As far as I’m concerned I wish them well, and laugh at any argument to the contrary on here. Bottom line is they are a bunch of lazy bums. Put it this way, if the Red Bulls played in Queens or on Staten Island I’d still be a guy who has had season tickets since MLS existed despite living in north Jersey. The simple fact that these guys shunned a top tier local team makes me better than them.
That’s right, I said it.
Playing at Hofstra is very shortsighted. I hope they find a way to play somewhere in the city near a dependable subway line. Otherwise, I can’t see myself supporting this club, which is a shame because I’d like an NYC team to support.
“Red Bull owns a team and named it after itself, fact. Cheesy? Corny? Narcissistic? Most def. But can you really say corporate sponsorship on the shirts and around the arenas of every team around the world subjects supporters to any less of a narcissitic corporate marketing blitz whereby fans are pushed to buy/use/ said products?”
*Head-shake-to-slow-“face-palm”*
And the “OWNED” was a play on words. Did I really need to explain it?
USL2 =/ USL1
“lou…nyfc is usl. nyrb, mls. i WILL be a few years if fcny moves to mls. in the meantime, rbny should figure out their heads from their behinds. if theyre not selling out rb stadium by then, they’ve got serious issues and deserve the local pressure of another team.”
Jtd i know that and i’m not one of the people that are always on the side of the red bulls because the management has pissed me off several times in just this past week, but for anyone to say they aren’t trying or that the fans not coming to the games is entirely their fault is being unrealistic. A team that pays for a 200 million dollar soccer stadium all by their self is obviously working hard to win the fan base over. Sure they may have the lamest marketing ideas but the lameness of that is far out shadowed by this stadium. It things still aren’t working out in a few years for red bull and they end up competing with fc new york for fans all that will happen is that their will be even worse attendance at the games. For those people saying that red bull is jersey’s team, the red bulls play in new jersey and practice in new jersey. Do you know who else does that exact same thing? The jets and giants. How is the red bulls playing in new jersey any worse than this new joke of a team playing in long island?
Pleasantly Surprised, Red Bull owns a team and named it after itself, fact. Cheesy? Corny? Narcissistic? Most def. But can you really say corporate sponsorship on the shirts and around the arenas of every team around the world subjects supporters to any less of a narcissitic corporate marketing blitz whereby fans are pushed to buy/use/ said products? You’re talking semantics when you say OWNED when in fact the only thing OWNED is you by Shake and JC. Get over your it. 😉
Those aren’t the teams FC NY will be competing against. With a true academy system and eventually NYC location, I’ll take my Rhinos and Islanders thank you.
Anyone who screams “Go Red Bull” in the stands has been OWNED since 2006.
Pleasantly Surprised you just got OWNED by JC, what do you have to say for yourself??
JC,
That’s USL2
“We don’t have a coach or a technical staff – hell, we don’t even have a team, but I just pooped a golden apple this morning so at least something’s going our way!”
Oh wait – I thought this was this week’s caption contest.
How can there be a war of words between supporters groups? How could FCNY have supporters, they don’t have players, a coach, a home stadium, a schedule, etc.???
Just because there are a handful of people who are apathetic about the Red Bulls or USL apologists doesn’t mean the new team has any kind of base.
And I agree, NJ isn’t convenient, but all of NY’s football teams play there as well. I understand not going to Giants Stadium, but the real fans should be there next year at the new park.
Pleasently Surprised: yeah, the USL is probably the league for you. They don’t have teams called Crystal Palace Baltimore or Real Maryland. Heck, they would never have a team called the Red Bulls since they already have the Ragin’ Rhinos.
“Ohhh please draw us in the cup ,NYCF away…would be beautifull..we would teach those non loyal/traitor fans (BB)how you really support the team.
PolishPete
ESC/NYCF”
Non Loyal?? to what…a corporate marketing arm of a soft drink? Out in Rutherford?
Ya..ok…. Polish Pete….
btw, you’re NYC Firm traitors too?
Because last time I checked, most of them still hate RedBull.
“Huh? Have you been there? It’s one stand, with one gate, the field has chain link fence on three sides, and the only concession stand twelve years ago was a trailer. And it was closed. It’s nothing like BMO Field.
It is convenient, and there are great views of but even if the one stand were filled, the place would be a tomb. ”
You’re thinking of the SSS field, not the AF field. But the BMO Field comparison is still a stretch, but a crowd equal to Red Bulls home opener wouldn’t be.
As a New Yorker, I take my soccer seriously. And it’s hard for me to seriously follow a team called Red Bull. I wonder if the USL has always been my league with the absence of the Real Salt Lakes and Chivas USAs, and the possible Barca Miamis and Arsenal Colorados.
Where is MLS heading?
lou…nyfc is usl. nyrb, mls. i WILL be a few years if fcny moves to mls. in the meantime, rbny should figure out their heads from their behinds. if theyre not selling out rb stadium by then, they’ve got serious issues and deserve the local pressure of another team.
New York* already has a club, but good luck to FCNY anyway. Would make for an interesting US Open Cup match.
*Yes they play in Jersey, but so did the Cosmos.
for all of you saying i’ll be there at the first fc new york game why not instead or in addition to, go to a red bull game, god knows they are pumping enough money into this club they are paying for red bull arena with their own money and yet can’t get a bigger turn out than 14,000 people for a home opener. Where are all you soccer fans on game day for the red bulls
I hope everyone who is saying that they will go to fc new york games already goes to red bull games is essentially what i’m trying to say because to me there shouldn’t be more soccer fans in the city than their are coming to and supporting red bull and it is obvious this isn’t the case.
sure it will be great to have two new york teams to build a rivalry like the jets and giants, nets and knicks, devils and rangers but see the problem with this is that all these teams have established fans. NYRB’s attendance is always going up and down and never more than 18,000, before competition can be introduced into soccer in this area there needs to be a loyal and sufficient fan base because if not i have a feeling alot of these red bull fans are going to be jumping in between these two teams.
FC New York should also be starting out in new york if they really want to be considered new york’s team, they critiqued what they called NJRB but than say they are going to start in a long island stadium that they will never come close to filling.
This is a bad idea all around, knowing how fickle and picky red bull fans are (because i am one) i no many fans will leave this club for NY fc as soon as things go bad with red bulls (which seems to be all the time)
Wait a few years, when the day comes that red bull arena is a prominent fixture and we are selling out every game and we have some big name players than by all means bring FC new york in.
“Baker field is identical to Toronto FC’s and is a 5 min stroll from the 1 Train.”
Huh? Have you been there? It’s one stand, with one gate, the field has chain link fence on three sides, and the only concession stand twelve years ago was a trailer. And it was closed. It’s nothing like BMO Field.
It is convenient, and there are great views of but even if the one stand were filled, the place would be a tomb.
As a non area resident who supports both DC United and Puerto Rico Islanders this is already getting interesting and more than a bit entertaining. Having travelled to see United play at Giants stadium, I am looking forward to adding heading up to see the Islandsers face FCNY.
Now just get the Rought Riders back up in the USL2 and you can get my money three times over so that I can travel to see Crystal Palace Baltimore play up there as well…
Steve B, if you go on worldstadiums.com and type in the name of any stadium you will get two pics of any stadium(as long it seats more than 10,000 people). if that doesnt work, google images isnt a bad way to do it, lol.
I have been to Belson Stadium and actually played on the field during the summer for a camp. Its a great place to play a game. Maybe FCNY can get Dr. Masur to be the coach. He is a genius.
Yeah, the St. Johns locals weren’t too crazed about hosting a minor-league baseball team there a few years ago for a year either. Baker Field has very little parking so I’m not sure that would work as a solution to this situation either. I still think Met Oval is the place to go…
Ohhh please draw us in the cup ,NYCF away…would be beautifull..we would teach those non loyal/traitor fans (BB)how you really support the team.
PolishPete
ESC/NYCF
Beautiful. That restaurant is two blocks from my house! good food and soccer is always playing in their tv. i wonder how they felt about the framed Red Bull jersey hanging from the ceiling.
if they played a few games at St. John’s i’d come and watch. my neighborhood won’t be happy about that however, St. John’s has been getting A LOT of smack ever since they built Belson Stadium… mostly from the noise and lights at night.
How can you call it a war of words between Red Bull and FCNY supporters? Its just a bunch of nerds on a soccer forum Web site, which I don’t think speak for all of the soccer communities in NJ and NY.
I believe both sides want to see two teams in this area because it a New York derby would bring attenion to our league, even from outside of the MLS. The more soccer around here, the better.
Congrats to all NYers from a NJ fan.
Baker field is identical to Toronto FC’s and is a 5 min stroll from the 1 Train.
You are 100% right, FC New York should play within NYC from the get-go. How else can they build grass-roots support? The suburban model has failed time and time again.
I think Columbia is the ideal spot. Easy to get to from within Manhattan, and easy for peeps from The Bronx, Upstate, CT, Queens, and North Jers as well.
What about Keyspan Park in Brooklyn? The Cyclones have no problem drawing 7,000 to Coney Island.
Starting in L.I. will doom this franchise. Again, what’s the point? It’s been tried and failed, whereas no one has tried to make it work within NYC.
Anyone have links to the different potential stadium sites with pics?