NJ/NY Gotham FC has found itself in hot water with fans after winning the NWSL Championship match on Nov. 11.
The first-time champions defeated OL Reign and gave Ali Krieger the fitting end to her career that she deserved. But Gotham fans didn’t receive a celebration for their squad.
Gotham players and fans expressed their frustrations about the lack of a celebration for fans, and the club has finally answered.
The club will hold a trophy homecoming celebration at its home stadium, Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, on Monday night. The event will feature Gotham players, general manager Yael Averbach West and head coach and 2023 coach of the year award winner Juan Carlos Amorós.
Gotham’s event will be free to season ticket holders and Cloud 9 members to attend.
just announced tonight #nwsl https://t.co/tt956BW4fI pic.twitter.com/tfZKYQjzJF— Meg Linehan (@itsmeglinehan) November 18, 2023
just announced tonight #nwsl https://t.co/tt956BW4fI pic.twitter.com/tfZKYQjzJF
The club also issued an apology to fans after the team received criticism due to the lack of a celebration targeted at fans.
“We extend our sincere apology and recognize you deserved the chance to celebrate our champion athletes who brought the trophy home,” the club said in a social media post on Nov. 16. “We pledge to use the off-season to organize celebrations that befit a championship club and match the enthusiasm of the best fans in the world.”
NWSL teams have hosted events to celebrate championships in the past. The Portland Thorns had a rally for their fans at Providence Park and Washington Spirit held a delayed parade for their 2021 NWSL Championship win. Before Gotham announced its trophy homecoming event, some members of the team went on a trophy tour that included stops at the Empire State Building and ringing the morning bell at NASDAQ. Gotham has confirmed that the team will continue to bring the trophy around the New York and New Jersey area for more stops on the tour.
The NWSL Championship trophy will continue to appear at special events and landmarks throughout the offseason, making stops in both New Jersey and New York to showcase the new hardware to our fans in person ahead of a monumental celebration of the players leading into the (3/4)— NJ/NY Gotham FC (@GothamFC) November 16, 2023
The NWSL Championship trophy will continue to appear at special events and landmarks throughout the offseason, making stops in both New Jersey and New York to showcase the new hardware to our fans in person ahead of a monumental celebration of the players leading into the (3/4)