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F.C. New York to join USL-1 in 2010

FCNewYork

                             Photo by Damion Reid/FiveBoroSports.com

BY DYLAN BUTLER

With the theme "bringing the greatest sport in the world to the greatest city in the world," F.C. New York was officially introduced as New York City's lone professional soccer team at a press conference at the Yale Club in Manhattan on Wednesday morning.

The club will be the 13th United Soccer Leagues First Division team and will play its first game in the 2010 season.

"This is a long time coming," said Doug Petersen, who along with Jo-Ellen Treiber, heads the club's ownership group. "This has been about two years in the planning and the next thing is grinding it out with the city of New York, it's formalizing what I'll call our foundational partner. From there, our plan is to establish more than casual relationships with a number of clubs around the world that meet the commercial operations of the team."

The team, for at least one season, will play at Shuart Stadium, Hofstra's 13,000-seat football stadium, and hopes to open its own soccer specific stadium in Queens, where Petersen was born. One possible area is near John F. Kennedy Airport and Aqueduct Racetrack, according to sources. The team is likely to use other venues inside the five boroughs, including Icahn Stadium on Randall's Island and Columbia University's renovated Baker Field for a handful of games next season.

"We need to be in our facility in order to be profitable," Petersen said. "We're not putting all this money in and in two years say it isn't working. We need to get our own place."

The next step for F.C. New York will be forming a partnership with a European-based club, an ongoing trend in the USL. Sources indicate the club is likely in England and could have at least part of its name as part of the team's official name, e.g. F.C. New York Wanderers. According to Petersen, the USL has a rule that says each team must have a nickname, using F.C. Miami Blues as an example.

"I shouldn't say the name is not for sale because everything has a price, but a partnership is just that," Petersen said. "There's certain things they'll learn from us and we'll learn from them."

United Soccer Leagues president Francisco Marcos and executive vice president and chief operating officer Tim Holt were also on hand for the press conference. F.C. New  York will be the first team to play in the USL's highest level since the Long Island Rough Riders and Staten Island Vipers in the late 90s.

"We are thrilled to welcome F.C. New York as the newest addition to the USL First Division," Holt said. "Their ownership group's impressive and ambitious plans to develop a complete soccer club with a strong international partner and privately-financed future stadium will boost the profile of our league in one of the world's largest and most diverse markets."

Petersen also poked fun at the New York Red Bulls, the other professional team to call New York home. Although he has yet to name a coach or a single player, Petersen already issued a challenge to the Major League Soccer side, showcasing a trophy for what he hopes is an annual "Grapple for the Apple" exhibition game.

"We're throwing down the gauntlet to our brothers from the other side of the river and over there in that other state," Petersen said.

And Petersen said he's got the perfect location for such a game.

"Let's have it on the Great Lawn in Central Park," he said.

While the organization is still very much in the planning stages, Petersen has a vision for where he'd like to see F.C. New York in five years.

"In five years, our plan is to be in our own place, have a productive team that's competing in CONCACAF (Champions League) and winning championships," Petersen said.

Season ticket deposits of $50 are now being accepted. For more information, e-mail yourteam@fcnyemail.com or call 866-827-0154.

What do you think of F.C. New York? Are you excited about supporting a team that calls New York City home? Is there room for two professional teams in New York? Looking foward to a derby match in Central Park? Let us know.

Comments

  1. haha I’m not a big RBNY fan, and would love to have a team in NYC – Queens would make a great home – but this operation is second rate at best. That shield is a joke, the fact that the name is for sale, but hasn’t been sold yet, is hilarious. Talking smack about the Bulls being Jersey’s team, then saying you’re going to be a vagabond franchise playing on Long Island and astroturf field throughout the five boroughs leaves me to wonder who these amateurs are. They’ll last two seasons max.

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  2. they would probably build their house around where the shea stadium is. still, if they want NYC backing them up, don’t put queens colors in it, or just zone it to one area of the city. put the city’s colors, they city’s flag, or come up with something better. they won’t get my money, i live in the bronx!

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  3. “The FC New York shield is representative of the Queens flag, which was adopted June 3, 1913. The blue background with a horizontal white stripe is symbolic of its first Dutch governor William Kielt, who acquired the area from the Native Americans. The area’s first settlers are represented by the two flowers – the tulip, emblematic of the Dutch, and the double red and white rose of the English. The Queen’s crown signifies the name of the county and borough in honor of Queen Catherine of Braganza.”

    So why didn’t the all it FC Queens? I would think if it’s FC New York than it should incorporate NYC’s flag, colors and emblem (including windmill).

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  4. I like that “NYC’s Team” has Queens’ colors, and they’ve already laid bare any illusions as to their own integrity with the phrase “I shouldn’t say the name is not for sale because everything has a price.”

    So, the FC New York ‘your-name-here’ Arsenals will be way more “authentic”, thus allowing all of those people put off by red bull to get their soccer jones and still respect themsevles in the morning. As if.

    There is no need to be threatened by this team; the same lazy ass bunch of snobs and zeroes that were too busy making excuses to get off their ass and watch a metro game twice a month over the decade they were around will, in a year or two, come up with another raft of crap excuses why they can’t support this team either (no great players on team, no marketing on the side of the M79 bus, stadium beers are warm, E train runs local on weekends and takes forever…etc).

    Just like they never made it out to Rough Rider games.

    RBNY should not dignify this team with a response. The Mets don’t have a rivalry with the Newark Bears, no reason for it to work in the reverse.

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  5. all signs point to failure. why not play their games at St. John’s U in queens rather than out in long island? plus for me it’s only a few blocks away from by house :]

    agreed that badge is a complete embarrassment. i hope it’s temporary.

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  6. I for one love to have a good metro rival so I don’t know what some of these RB fans are complaining about.

    That said, there are some serious gaffes in that press announcement and the Ukrainian colors are, dare I say it… weak!

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  7. we already have a team…. many people find across-the hudson-new jersey more NYC than long island… and I have to agree.

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  8. Alright, I’ll be that guy. Fair warning.

    NEW YORK ALREADY HAS A CLUB! GO SUPPORT YOUR MLS CLUB IF YOU CALL YOURSELF A FAN OF THE GAME!

    People in the 70’s had no problem traveling to the Meadowlands so New York soccer fans should have no issues traveling there and the new Red Bull Arena.

    Ironically, it kind of reminds me of this situation in Austria http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SV_Austria_Salzburg Not a good trend for Red Bull.

    Posted by: KCB | April 01, 2009 at 06:06 PM
    “””””

    No. New Jersey already has a club. New York does not.

    Dear everyone-

    New Jersey =/= New York.

    The crest is good. The crown and the flowers are from the borough flag of Queens, you know, things that actually have symbolism native to the area.

    Not a european energy drink.

    Have a good day.

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  9. In order to survive this team needs to be profitable, in order to be profitable they need their own venue. Looks like they’ll fold in less then 5 years.

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  10. Is this NY/NJ MLS team # 2 in 5 years? Kinda impressive talk from the ownership group. The more soccer in the US the better in my opinion.

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  11. it is a laughable team which is why we are discussing it or at least laughing at it, i think it is obvious chase if u read our comments that none of our threaten. I don’t see how you and naxself can possibly think the more teams the better, we can’t even support one team. A city full of 8 million poeple with a metropolitan population of 16 million people cant support 1 soccer club that is just sad and yet u think it is a reasonable and good idea to make another club with no stadium, no players, no coach yet that seem to have the nerve to challenge the red bulls the whole thing is one big joke. I hope u go to their games chase and please tell me how it was, that is if u can get to the game all the way on long island. How do these idiots think they can call the red bulls new jersey’s team i mean honestly is long island any more new york?

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  12. Are RBNY fans really this insecure? Does little ol’ FCNY’s ambition scare you?

    The more teams with money and ambition, the better.

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  13. For such a “laughable” team, you guys are sure having quite the hissy fit over them…

    This is exactly what NYC needs. You guys can support more than one team.

    Though I agree, that crest better be temporary, it looks like a six year old put it together with MSWord clip art.

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  14. “Ummm how can anyone play a professional soccer match on the ‘Great Lawn’? Is this guy silly or is it just me.”

    Apparently someone is not familiar with rhetorical flourishes.

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  15. “Sources indicate the club is likely in England and could have at least part of its name as part of the team’s official name, i.e. F.C. New York Wanderers”

    … that should be e.g. not i.e.

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  16. Ideally, they’ll do well, not impact the RBNY fan base & be in MLS in 5 years with a 15,000 -18,000 stadium. Don’t know if it’ll happen, but goo dluck to them.

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  17. “@sack CONCACAF CL teams like Puerto Rico and Montreal? Oh.

    Posted by: Bobby | April 01, 2009 at 06:17 PM”

    Those teams aren’t American clubs so they have different rules. The only way an American USL club can get into CCC is to win the Open Cup.

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  18. you said it barrymore – that crest is comical. i live in manhattan, so it’s been tough to support the Bulls – but plan to give them another chance next season once the new stadium opens. Not remotely interested in minor league soccer, especially a team with lame colors/logo and no home stadium.

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  19. Bobby, obviously the New York team can’t get in to the CCL the way Montreal and Puerto Rico did. They only way they get in is if they win the Open Cup, which is EXACTLY what sack said. Pay attention.

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  20. So the team talking smack about RBNY because it plays in Jersey is going to play … on Long Island.

    High comedy. You can’t make this stuff up.

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  21. KCB well said, im tired of these 14,000 fans per game crap, we r in new york so come to the games if im gonna get my ass to the meadlowland from the middle of no were in new jersey than im sure you new yorkers can do it as well. This can only hurt soccer in the city. First get enough people to support the team you already have, once that fan base is established than by all means attempt to create a rival team or whatever you think oh and good luck getting a stadium inside the city. Ha what a friggen joke

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  22. I’ve seen a few people say places like St Louis should start a USL1 team if they want a MLS team down the road. To me that seems like what this is about. I’ll bet their plan is 3 years in USL and then into MLS.

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  23. is this an April Fools joke?

    that crest is WEAK. a minor league team is never gonna make it in NYC unless they got some serious style…

    bring back the COSMOS!

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  24. The NYC-Long Island-Westchester-NJ-CT area is just too big for one central club located anywhere. The BEST way for soccer to work for MLS and USL is for each borough and area to have their own clubs one day and fight for bragging rights of the area … just too big for one. London has Tottemham, West Ham, Arsenal, Chelsea, Charlton, Fulham, etc etc. … ie:

    Long Island

    Queens

    Brooklyn

    Bronx

    Harlem/Manhattan

    Staten Island

    Westchester

    New Jersey (done … Red Bulls)

    Everyone needs to stop pretending to represent all of NY, that is not possible. Even the Giants/Jets … Yanks/Mets can’t.

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  25. Ummm how can anyone play a professional soccer match on the ‘Great Lawn’? Is this guy silly or is it just me. So you come up with an arcane logo that looks amateur and than you want to sell yourself/name/brand to an overseas club … great FC New York Middlesbrough. I’m sure that will last a season. Come on, think this stuff thru!

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  26. Alright, I’ll be that guy. Fair warning.

    NEW YORK ALREADY HAS A CLUB! GO SUPPORT YOUR MLS CLUB IF YOU CALL YOURSELF A FAN OF THE GAME!

    People in the 70’s had no problem traveling to the Meadowlands so New York soccer fans should have no issues traveling there and the new Red Bull Arena.

    Ironically, it kind of reminds me of this situation in Austria http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SV_Austria_Salzburg Not a good trend for Red Bull.

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  27. They’re a NY team as much as the Islanders are if they’re playing next to the Vet.
    Another NYC wanna be team, good luck getting a stadium inside the city limits, good luck pulling off something the Jets weren’t able to.

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  28. CONCACAF? wouldn’t that require winning the US Open Cup? something a USL team has pulled off once in the past 16 years? seems a bit unlikely, but a nice goal none the less.

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  29. HAHA @ Using Red Bull to gain status- Red bull is the biggest embarrassment in the history of minor league soccer

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  30. I think this could be a great derby. I think their goal of CONCACAF CL is a little ambitious. But if they can win the Open Cup and qualify, more power to them.

    I believe this also lays to rest any MLS expansion in the near future in NYC.

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  31. Also if im Red Bull i tell them to go pound sand. They just want to use MLS and NYRB’s status to get them money. Screw them, we got bigger fish to fry like DC and the CONCACAF CL teams.

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