By Mark Baber
May 22 – A 20th MLS franchise has been announced for New York – New York City Football Club (NYCFC) – owned by Manchester City and the New York Yankees. The team is expected to make its league debut in 2015.
MLS Commissioner Don Gerber said: “We proudly welcome two of the most prestigious professional global sports organizations to Major League Soccer.
“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 cross-town rivalry between New York City Football Club and the New York Red Bulls that will captivate this great city.”
Manchester City’s CEO Ferran Soriano, who has been working on the project for the last nine months, said he saw a lot of commercial synergies between Manchester City and New York City with New York being “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 organisation and a winning team that will carry the New York City Football Club name with pride.”
Soriano confirmed that Manchester City would be the majority owner of NYCFC, while the Yankees, with whom City already have a commercial relationship through Legends Hospitality in Manchester, will be play an active part of the management of the ownership group.
Hal Steinbrenner, managing general partner of the Yankees said: “We are pleased to be associated with this major move by MLS to increase its presence in the New York market and to enhance the opportunity for New York soccer fans to enjoy high-level play in their own city.
“We look forward to the opportunity to work with Manchester City to create something very special for the soccer fans of New York.”
New York mayor Michael Bloomberg also gave his blessing to the project saying “Soccer is one of the world’s most exciting and popular sports, and it should be played on the world’s biggest stage – in New York City.
“New Yorkers are the greatest sports fans in the world, and they will welcome a Major League Soccer franchise with the full-throated and loyal support they are famous for.
“Manchester City has a great reputation for both winning teams and serious community investment, and that will help them fit in well with the excellent leadership of New York City’s other professional sports teams.”
The new team is expected to begin playing from a temporary home, but discussions have already been held over building a stadium in Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens.
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