Hello NYCFC! Seems like a lifetime since your New York-based fans, press, and friends saw you play live. Probably feels like a long time for you guys too, especially after that unpleasantness in Atlanta. So a couple of things for you and the fans to think about before NYCFC returns to the Bronx on Wednesday May 31.<\/p>\n
When NYCFC returns to the Bronx to face the New England Revolution, the team will have traveled approximately 5,400 miles since the last home match. 5,400 miles! Rodney Wallace could have flown to San Jose, Costa Rica, hung out with his childhood friends and come back and STILL HAVE NOT TRAVELLED AS FAR. Do you know how many flights Alex Ring would have had to make in Finland or David Villa in Spain to cover that much territory? Of course you don\u2019t. NOBODY DOES. IT\u2019S NOT SOMETHING HUMANS HAVE THE COGNITIVE ABILITY TO CALCULATE.<\/p>\n
NYCFC played in three time zones in three successive weeks. How often did players like Jack Harrison, Andrea Pirlo, David Villa, Eirik Johansen, Frederik Brilliant, and Maxim Chanot have to play in three time zones in one league month in their home leagues? NEVER. BECAUSE THAT\u2019S MORE TIMEZONES THAN England, Italy, Spain, Norway, Luxembourg and France have COMBINED.<\/p>\n
During this road trip, NYCFC had the opportunity to pick up 12 points, against two Western Conference teams and two Eastern Conference teams. Teams against whom NYCFC had a historic record of two wins, three draws and eight losses. Or said another way, against sides they\u2019d only managed to take nine points from IN TOTAL EVER. And none of whom the side had ever beaten on the road. On this road trip alone, NYCFC took nearly half that many. Half as many as they ever had from these teams ever.<\/p>\n
Am I making excuses for the fact that when NYCFC returns to the Bronx they will have to only take four points out of that possible twelve? Nope. Just making the case why they should be damn happy to be coming home.<\/p>\n
But will they even recognize the place? They\u2019ve been away so long, maybe they\u2019ve forgotten what home even looks like! Therefore, a few helpful reminders.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s right! No more adjusting to jet lag because the Bronx \u2013 like most of New York City \u2013 is in the Eastern Time Zone. Which means that your next three matches \u2013 and even the US Open Cup event against the New York Red Bulls \u2013 will not require you to re-set your watches. Which most of you probably don\u2019t wear anyway. Okay, never mind.<\/p>\n
The next three MLS matches are all accessible by the B, D and 4 trains or Bx6 and Bx13 busses. Plus there\u2019s ample parking in official and improvised lots all around the stadium. And while there is <\/em>a metal detector to pass through before entering the stadium, it\u2019s certainly not as elaborate as the searches performed by the TSA. Nor are the lines as long.<\/p>\n No more running all over those massive pitches other sides have to struggle with. When NYCFC returns to the Bronx they\u2019ll find a pitch with all the comforts of a Manhattan sublet \u2013 small? Yes. Up to code? As far as you know. Rent controlled? Well\u2026 But look at the view! And so accessible to mass transit!<\/p>\n I know, I know, crazy, right? But after enduring the purple wall in Orlando and the five stripe army in Atlanta, it bears remembering that when NYCFC returns to the Bronx you\u2019ll be playing in front of literally tens of thousands of people who will be cheering FOR you and not AGAINST you. Although, of course, these are New Yorkers. You start dogging it and they will hurl an avalanche of invective down upon you. They\u2019re your fans, but they\u2019re not morons.<\/p>\n You played FC Dallas when they were arguably the hottest club in MLS. You played Orlando in the Purple Palace when they had never lost there. You faced off against Atlanta United when their midfielder Miguel Almiron had just scored a hat-trick, and won goal of the week. And you played RSL when, okay, that loss just completely escapes me.<\/p>\n But when NYCFC returns to the Bronx they\u2019ll face a Revolution side that are coming off of a tough loss across the river to the New York Red Bulls, and a Philadelphia Union team who were just shut out by RSL. A Philadelphia side who have failed to win ten of their last 11 road matches and a New England team that have failed to win their last nine road matches. And your records against them? NYCFC are 2-1-3 against New England and 3-1-2 against Philadelphia.<\/p>\n Now that you guys are back in the Bronx, you won\u2019t have to get on a plane until JULY when you fly to Vancouver. That\u2019s four games at home, all against teams with fewer points than you have. Four games in a place you\u2019ve failed to take points from only once this season. You know, home.<\/p>\nThe Pitch: It’s Comfy, Cozy and Convenient<\/h3>\n
Those People in the Stands: They’re on Your Side<\/h3>\n
Those Other Guys on the Pitch? They\u2019re Struggling<\/h3>\n
So Get Comfortable!<\/h3>\n