Let me start out with this. I was against “NY2.” I thought it was a bad idea all around. Why not put your efforts behind expanding into under-served markets like the Southeast, or throw your considerable weight behind existing, core franchises that are struggling with sub-par home stadiums to help them find a better solution (DC? New England?), or how about just not treating the New York Red Bulls like a cousin who you don’t like very much but tolerate at the Thanksgiving table because it’s easier than getting into a fight at holiday time?

But, with yesterday’s announcement of the formation and addition to MLS of New York City FC, a joint venture between Manchester City of the EPL and the New York Yankees of the MLB, all of the argument above — all of it — becomes moot.

They’re Here, With an Emir, and They’re Proud.

Immediately following the announcement ,the RBNY fan base reacted online — as is our wont — with a combination of panic, resignation, anger, and above all, angst and fatalism.

Well, as usual, I’m here to help you out, fellow fans. Let’s try not to get ahead of ourselves here and assume that the world is coming to an end. Let’s take a longer view and add some perspective to the proceedings. After all, NYCFC will not play their first game until 2015. That’s a long time to keep up the level of anxiety some have been able to reach in less than 24 hours. Let’s take a deep breath and consider a few items, shall we?

It’ll be two and half seasons until we see a member of NYCFC step onto the field (although I’m sure they will call it a “pitch”). They have no logo, no uniforms, no front office, no coach and no roster. There’s a long, long way to go before we see what their approach will be. I recommend you go with the flow here. There’s going to be attention for this new club and it’s going to come in waves. If they know what they are doing, they will time their announcements (like today’s intro of Claudio Reyna as Director of Football) to keep attention on themselves, parceling out little bits at a time.

The good news is that today is probably the peak of the mainstream media attention they will get until they find a stadium location or step on the field (whichever comes first). Did they get a multiple page story in the New York Times sports section today? Yes, but read it closely and you’ll see it’s 80% about the stadium controversy in Queens. That’s still the focus of the story for the mainstream media because, soccer and MLS? Well, it’s not all that important to them, as we know.

The surprise part of yesterday’s announcement was the involvement of the Yankees in all of this. Smart move by Man City? Yes, especially in terms of knowing the local market and having the right political connections.

I’m fascinated by this partnership and it sounds really smart in the abstract, but it’s just a little bit…goofy. Let’s take an organization that knows nothing about MLS and the US soccer environment and pair them up with…a baseball team? You can already see the signs of tone deafness in the branding: New York City FC? I know they play in NY, so what’s the team’s NAME? You know, like every other American sports franchise. Is it the New York New York City FC? Maybe New York City FC of Queens?

And the “FC” … well, c’mon. As many on the Internet pointed out yesterday, can we call it Soccer anymore?

Although I call it tone deafness, it’s clearly premeditated. That’s because they are positioning themselves as the hot new thing. The Yankee-fied team for Eurosnobs, hipsters and front-runners. Hop on the bandwagon now! Look and and listen to the comments from Man City fans and you’ll hear how this EPL team will inject a “breath of fresh air” into MLS.

This is going to be the team for people that hate MLS.

I have news for them. We have plenty of fresh air, thank you very much. And, by the way, I didn’t hear anything about them being exempt from the salary cap, or how they are going to be playing opponents that are not already in the league. So, we welcome you to OUR world.

Even with all the above coursing through my big, round soccer ball head all day yesterday, the line of thought that tweaked me most (and if you’ve been following along with my posts here it won’t be very surprising) was the one that went as follows: RBNY are doomed. We are going to be the “little brother.” We are now destined to be the “New Jersey Devils” of the NY soccer market.

My question back to those with that viewpoint is, “Why?” We were here FIRST. We are an original MLS franchise (yes, we are, regardless of what your fancy track jacket says). THEY are the newcomers, they are the ones that have to establish their MLS bonafides.

People, we are not the Devils in this equation, we are the Rangers! We are here now, and have been for 17 years. Let’s act like it!

So, should we be worried about NYCST ™? My answer is certainly not now. And probably not later. After all the hoopla dies down; after the NY Times goes back to covering BOTH teams by publishing AP News Briefs; after they find some sliver of land that’s so underpopulated and undesired that they can get a stadium agreement (Fresh Kills Landfill on Staten Island, anyone??), New York City FC will still be an expansion team with owners that have no MLS experience, in the most crowded and competitive sports and entertainment market in the world.

We look forward to facing and beating your collection of Man City reserves and EPL retirees wearing powder blue and pinstripes.

Bring it on.

When New York City FC ownership states they are looking at all possibilities for both a transitional and a permanent home, they aren’t kidding!

While Yankee Stadium has been an obvious stop-gap facility for the team to consider, the fledgling side has also reached out to an unlikely partner for a quick fix to their stadium needs; the New York Mets.

Both Manchester CEO Ferran Soriano and Director of Football Operations Claudio Reyna spoke about the possibility of finding a temporary home in Citi Field; mere blocks from Major League Soccer’s long sought after Flushing Meadows Park site.

“It’s been stated that we will be looking for a field, a stadium and more importantly a home,” Reyna said. “That’s very important for us as a club in New York City. To start off as many teams have done, we need to find a home, and that possibly could be either Yankee Stadium or Citifield. We still haven’t figure that out.

“There have been discussions with a few, both the Yankees and the Mets, and I think there is nothing concrete yet but we will find a home in time,” he continued. “We do have a little bit of time but I know these discussions will be ongoing and it’s impotant that we find something that makes sense for us and we feel welcome. That’s the most important thing.”

Reyna and the New York City FC ownership group continuously referenced the importance of feeling welcomed by the community. It is a lesson they have learned from Major League Soccer who have encountered nothing but resistance since stating their goal to land an arena in Flushing Meadows Park.

While the Mets would still likely balk at a stand alone stadium being built in their own backyard, a rental situation would simply mean more revenue for the organization.

That certainly has a different appeal.

“We have spoken with the Mets over the last few months and have discussed the possibilities,” Soriano said. “Today, all options are open. It’s day one. Give us some time and we will find a place to play on a transitional basis and eventually, a proper home.

“We will consider all options.”

When Manchester City began the process of searching for a Director of Football Operations for New York City F.C., they pointed to three ideal, if not impossible, attributes they would like to see; a person with local roots, a foundation in U.S. Soccer and perhaps some history with their club as well.

That, in a nutshell, describes Claudio Reyna, who was presented to the media on Wednesday as the club’s first front office hire.

“Finding the right person for this role and getting him in place from the start was a priority,” said Manchester City CEO Ferran Soriano. “The football culture of New York City FC will be built from this decision, and we believe Claudio is the man who uniquely understands what New York soccer should mean, and how it can benefit from the relationship with Manchester City FC.”

“Having had the privilege of playing both for my country here in the US and for Manchester City FC in England, I could not have hoped for a more tailored-made opportunity in soccer,” Reyna said. “I am incredibly excited to again wear City’s ‘Sky Blue’ as part of the expansion of the MLS and the growth of soccer in the United States, and am honored to have been offered this opportunity. With a large fan base through the New York area, prime television rights and distribution, sponsorship commitments, and the Yankees as a US partner, the New York City Football Club has everything in place to succeed.”

The New Jersey native made 87 appearances at Manchester City from 2003-2007. US Soccer officially announced his departure as Youth Soccer Technical Director just as Reyna revealed his role with Major League Soccer’s 20th franchise.

“During his time U.S. Soccer’s Youth Technical Director, Claudio helped modernize the approach to youth player development in this country and put us on a path to success,” said U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati. “We appreciate all his hard work and dedication. We certainly understand this is a unique opportunity for Claudio and his family, and wish him continued success.”

By any measure, Major League Soccer rocked the American soccer landscape with the announcement of New York City F.C. From the Manchester City investment to the New York Yankee involvement, media has been dissecting the deal from all angles – with mostly positive reviews.

Here on EOS, we covered the many reasons why New York City F.C. spells the end of the Flushing Meadows Park initiative and also gave reaction from both the New York Cosmos and the Red Bulls.

Here are a few more links to go with your morning coffee:

- The Daily News says New York is once again ready for professional soccer.
- Dana Rubenstein at Capital New York expands on why Flushing is now a non-starter.
- New York Times – A team is born, but not all cheer.
- Also in the Times, Jack Bell does a masterful job of tracking Ferran Soriano, the Manchester City executive who has pursued New York for years.
- Over on Soccer by Ives, Don Garber reassures that New York City FC will be a good thing for the Red Bulls as well.
- Filip Bondy gives his two-cents, saying New York City F.C. needs to truly be “Major League.”

Have a few more good stories? Feel free to link them in the comments section.

The headlines will read “New York Yankees and Manchester City bring professional soccer to the Big Apple,” but there is more to the narrative than just that.

Give Major League Soccer it’s due; they have managed to align themselves with the most respected sporting franchise in the country for the leagues most ambitious business endeavor of all time. Attaching the New York Yankee brand to the vast wealth of Manchester City’s Abu Dhabi ownership group is a sure fire homerun for all involved (no pun intended of course).

However, the glitz and glamor of this announcement also hides a glaring truth; Major League Soccer is abandoning it’s hopes of landing a soccer specific stadium within the confines of Flushing Meadow Corona Park.

One need only dissect the league’s press statement and the content of their ensuing conference call to draw that (logical) conclusion.

Take the announcement at it’s surface as your first clue. Fred Wilpon and the New York Mets wanted to usher in this project before the Bernie Madoff scandal all but took them out of the running. Since then, MLS has plowed forward, seeking a home within the proper limits of Flushing Meadow Park – with or without them.

The fact is, Flushing Meadow cannot happen without the Mets. Why? Because parking space would have to be shared. MLS would need to expand on their already ample 13 acre request to build the necessary roads and lots to accommodate 25-35k visitors a match. With local opposition already balking at the current area projections, the league would then be forced to turn to the Mets.

Now, do you think Wilpon will want to accommodate the New York Yankees in his own backyard?

Reading further into the press release, there are other clues. Here is Manchester City CEO Ferran Soriano offering a visible tell.

“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.”

“Listening first” is a nod to the overwhelming opposition MLS has received within the Park project itself – one not lost on the Fairness Coalition of Queens.

“We welcome Major League Soccer to New York City. We are pleased with their new willingness to consider other sites in New York. The proposal for a stadium inside the heart of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park is deeply flawed and would irrevocably damage a vital community resource,” they said in a statement. “We look forward to finding a more appropriate home for the team that does not sacrifice public parkland and that does not giveaway parkland to a documented human rights abuser. Lets make this a development that all New Yorkers can be excited about.”

For the first time since aggressively pursuing this initiative, Major League Soccer and their latest franchise are leaving the door open to other, perhaps more suitable options for a stadium within the City limits.

“The club says it will continue the discussions already under way 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,” reads the release.

That was emphasized by Garber in Tuesday’s conference call. The Commissioner deflected questions about a Queens stadium to new Manchester City and Yankee ownership despite the millions of dollars spent by the league in lobbying politicians to land a home on the site of the former World’s Fair. With that, the league washed their hands of the entire affair and put the onus on New York City F.C. to get the job done.

For their part, neither the Yankees nor Manchester City were willing to commit to building upon the work MLS has established over the past two years, but instead, pleaded for patience as they looked to carve their own road.

“We are just starting the process here,” Yankees President Randy Levine noted during Tuesday’s conference call. “A lot of work has been done in Queens. A lot of reasons to be in Queens but we are going to step back – not step back, step forward – because this is the first day for the Yankees.”

This would go a long way in explaining why MLS hasn’t filed for a stadium permit within the City limits. Sources within the New York City Planning and Development board have told Empire of Soccer the league hasn’t even applied a request for land – the first step in any ULURP (Uniform Land Use Review Procedure) process.

Finally, changes in the league’s timeline should also raise red flags. New York City F.C. will begin play in 2015. Venue? To be determined. Timeline for a soccer specific stadium to be secured? None given.

For the past two years, MLS has targeted 2016 as the year they would not only field their 20th New York franchise, but unveil the club’s soccer specific arena. Their release purposely omits what has been a rigid and guiding timeline.

When New York City F.C. takes the field in 2015, it won’t be in their own proper home. Have recent friendlies and exhibition games in Yankee Stadium encouraged the baseball brass to allow a field sharing deal as they did long ago with the New York Cosmos (Levine seems to think so)? Or will New York City F.C. be forced into the confines of Metlife Stadium, bringing the league back into the swamp that it took 14 years to crawl out of?

No one can deny how important it is for this growing league to continue to add quality ownership groups to an already impressive stable of operators. They should be applauded for their success in luring both Manchester City and the Yankees into the fold.

However, their addition is also a reset in the leagues original expansion plans. MLS chose a difficult path towards a nearly unattainable location. Can New York City F.C. continue their quest for the park? Sure. Will they look for a home in Queens? Perhaps.

What is certain is this; MLS now leaves two years of effort in the hands of an ownership group that is – on the surface – ambivalent about those established goals to begin with. And the possibility always exists that they can settle on the cheaper alternative – setting roots in Yankee Stadium for good.

No matter which direction the franchise seeks to go, Flushing no longer looks like their final destination.

In one of many upsets during the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup tournament, Premier Development League side Reading FC held on to a 9th minute Mario Pinto goal and stretched out their fortunes to beat Harrisburg 1-0 at Don Thomas Stadium.

The victory now moves Reading into the third round of tournament competition where they will face the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena on May 28th at 7:30 p.m.

It will be the first time Reading has advanced to the third round and the first time they face New York.

Red Bulls Season Ticket Holders will get complimentary general admission tickets for this match and will be offered preferred pricing seats for guests as well.

Goals, assists … those are usually the kinds of achievements that earn you recognition in the world of soccer.

That is what makes Sky Blue FC defender Christie Rampone’s honor so special.

The team captain and veteran US Women’s National Team star earned NWSL Player of the Week honors after leading Sky Blue to their third consecutive shutout victory. Rampone played the full 90 minutes for Sky Blue FC’s two games in Week 6 (both on the road), defeating the Portland Thorns 1-0 and earning a 3-0 win against Seattle Reign FC later in the week.

To her credit, the 37 year old defender has also played every single minute for the club this season.

“Both wins on the road last week were a tribute to quality team defending, and Christie is our leader on defense,” said Head Coach Jim Gabarra. “We are very fortunate to have her as an allocated player to provide us leadership and stability.”

Rampone is the second Sky Blue player to earn the honor this year. SBFC keeper Brittany Cameron took home the honors in week one with a shutout win over Western New York at Yurcak Field. The team has allowed a all of four goals in their seven matches this season, catapulting them to a first place tie with NWSL favorites, the Thorns.

“With these individual awards, it really reflects on how well the team is playing as a group,” Gabarra noted.

Rampone is set to join the US Women’s National Team for their friendly match against Canada on June 2nd at BMO Field in Toronto. She is the second most capped player in US history and the highest capped active player in the world with 280 appearances on the international level.

New York City F.C. has taken the soccer landscape by storm, but what do the current players in the New York market think of their inclusion?

Well, the response has been a lukewarm salute to both the league and the coming Manchester City/New York Yankees ownership group.

Both the New York Red Bulls and the New York Cosmos of the NASL have offered statements on the coming City franchise.

“We are supportive of MLS expansion, as it illustrates the growing interest of soccer in North America,” Red Bulls General Manager Jerome de Bontin said. “We also want to congratulate MLS and the League’s new ownership group which is injecting additional resources to help develop our sport across the country.

“Today’s announcement is one of many steps in the exciting and challenging process of building a competitive MLS club.”

Notably, he failed to address the club by name.

While de Bontin offered his congratulations, he also focused his attention towards the fans of his team.

The message? Stick with us.

“Our club’s energy is focused on winning a championship for the League’s most loyal and passionate fans, many of whom have steadfastly backed this organization and MLS since its inception and come from all over the tri-state area,” he said. “We are committed to continue to build an organization that is the flagship club for Major League Soccer around the world and a club that soccer fans across the region can be proud to support.”

Meanwhile, the New York Cosmos, who have long been linked to Major League Soccer, offered their own measured praise for the new club while touting their own debut.

Unlike the Red Bulls, the Cosmos acknowledged the coming team as well.

“We’ve known about Manchester City and Major League Soccer’s plans for many months,” Cosmos COO Erik Stover said. “We believe any investment in soccer in North America is great for the sport.

“We remain focused on our home opener on Aug. 3 and our plans to build a stadium at Belmont Park. As a storied New York club, we welcome another rival in New York.”

Major League Soccer has it’s 20th franchise in New York City.

In a surprise announcement, MLS has revealed the addition of their newest club – New York City Football Club – which will be owned and operated by Manchester City and the New York Yankees. They are expected to debut during the 2015 MLS season in a venue that is yet to be determined.

“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.”

“New York is a legendary sports town, as well as a thriving global city with a rapidly expanding soccer fan-base,” said Ferran Soriano, CEO of Manchester City. “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 team’s majority owner while the Yankees will take an “active role in the ownership group.” What their stake in the team is yet to be known but they will lend the service of current President Randy Levine as a point man for the club.

A statement game? New York Red Bulls head coach Mike Petke didn’t seem to think so.

“Well I mean I don’t believe I said it was a measuring stick in a way,” he noted. “I think, like I said, it was the potential for three points.

“You know, losing today is not going to put us in the bottom; winning today is not going to show us to the MLS Cup. It’s a very good quality team and I’ve watched LA for years now like everybody has. They’re very good at what they do. I think that come August, September, they’re going to make their run again. They can only get better. Just watching the way Bruce [Arena] has them playing and their off-ball movement especially is impressive and I think it gave us fits in the first half. Second half, like I said, I think we came out with a better mentality and we possessed the ball better than we did in the first half and got the ball moving.”

On the surface, he is right. After all, the season is young and New York are still coming together as a team. However, a win against the defending MLS Cup Champions always carries a bit more weight.

It wasn’t a dominating performance for the home side, nor was it all that memorable – well, at least until that Tim Cahill header. However, it was consistent with the team’s recent play – ugly, resilient and effective. That formula has the team on a six game unbeaten run.

What can be taken from the result? We break it down for you in our “Five Lessons:”