The year 2027 will “prove to be one of the most transformative” for MLS, both “on a broad scale and locally” in N.Y. with NYCFC, according to Christian Arnold of the N.Y. POST. The league will “flip its schedule on its head, falling in line with the top European leagues,” and NYCFC will “end its nomadic existence” and move into its new home next to Citi Field. Add in NYCFC’s current run in the MLS Cup playoffs, and there is “plenty to smile about” for team President & CEO Brad Sims. He said, “Our fans and new fans are paying attention to MLS and to New York City FC. This is the time of year we always see engagement on social media spike and brand awareness is the highest in October, November and when we’re playing in December, which hopefully we’ll be this year.” Arnold wrote it is momentum that the club is “surely hoping to ride through 2026″ -- a year the FIFA World Cup will also be hosted in part by the U.S. -- and into 2027 when Etihad Park “opens at some point in the spring.” He noted the club is “still determining a firm opening date” and the transformation of the MLS calendar is “adding a wrinkle to the equation.” NYCFC is determining whether it “will play any matches at Etihad Park during the short transitional season that the MLS will hold in the spring of 2027″ or “wait until the fall-to-summer calendar takes effect later that year” to play matches at the new facility. Sims said that there were not “many changes that needed to be made to the stadium” with NYCFC, and the rest of the league, playing games in the colder months. Sims: “The pitch is heated. We have undersoil heating. That was already kind of planned anyway” (N.Y. POST, 11/21). Arnold in a separate piece wrote NYCFC advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals with an “upset” 1-0 win over the Union “sets the stage” for the club to face Inter Miami, led by F Lionel Messi (N.Y. POST, 11/23).
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