The vibes were vibing at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, on Saturday night, even despite Gotham FC's 1-1 draw with the Boston Legacy FC.
An announced crowd of 11,308 fans turned out on a night that included VIP guests including United States women's national team coach Emma Hayes and New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Everyone was in the house, from former Gotham players Josefine Hasbo and Ella Stevens, who received their 2025 NWSL Championship rings, to many of the Bats' mothers, who participated in a "Mom Tunnel" for their daughters ahead of the game in honor of Mother's Day.
They all got to see Gotham take on Boston in what is quickly blossoming into a rivalry, though Gotham's Midge Purce admitted she doesn't feel the rivalry quite yet, but in her own words, "My standards are a little high."
Jaedyn Shaw opened the scoring with a goal off a rebound in the 37th minute, though Boston's Alba Caño quickly followed it up with a goal in the 40th minute to tie the match. The match finished that way, and while Gotham only walked away with a point, head coach Juan Carlos Amorós was pleased with the performance.
"Games are defined by details," he said. "[Boston] cleared two balls off the line, we hit the post, and there were situations that maybe could have gone another way. But we can only control what we do. I was pleased with the determination of my team and think we’re working in the right direction."
This post is free to all readers. Consider becoming a paid subscriber to support our continued coverage.
Although the play on the pitch was physical and engaging, the sidelines proved to be where most of the action was at.
Hayes arrived at Sports Illustrated Stadium to watch Gotham and Boston players alike. She received a jersey from Gotham FC's general manager Yael Averbuch West and participated in Gotham’s pregame torch lighting ceremony wearing a shirt bearing the quote "I'm living my memoir, I don't need to write it" by Karl Lagerfeld.
The current USWNT head coach and former local coach of the Iona Gaels and the Long Island Lady Riders capped off a weeks-long tour of the United States in her "spiritual home" of New York. This came after Hayes traveled the nation to watch several players as she develops her list for the women's national team ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
"When you're monitoring players on a regular basis, we're looking at things that relate to the very things we're looking to develop in our game model," Hayes said. "Of course when you come and see things first-hand, you see the behaviors of players not just in terms of preparation, but what it looks like when it's going well, when it's not going well, or when they're involved or when they're not involved."
Following a series friendlies against Japan in early April, the London-native traveled to Denver, Colorado, to meet up with Denver Summit FC head coach Nick Cushing and to watch a game. She also watched the Seattle Reign, Portland Thorns, Angel City and the San Diego Waves play matches while her staff observed training sessions.
Hayes admitted that her goals extend to the 2031 FIFA Women's World Cup, wanting her team to remind the world when they come to the US that leading the way on the global front isn't just what they're doing on the field.
"It's about what you do for the very people who access the sport," she said. "And our goal is to ensure that every little girl in this country and beyond, if they enter the world of soccer, that they stay in that if they choose to do so, that they're not driven out because there is a lack of knowledge about how best to support them, to coach them, to nurture them, to mentor them."
Hayes was not the only much-anticipated spectator in the stands.
New York City Mayor Mamdani came out to support the Bats, sitting among the Cloud 9 supporters and later acquiring one of their scarves. He also linked up with WNBA legend Sue Bird and former Gotham player Ali Krieger, who gifted the mayor one of the club's black varsity jackets as well as a customized jersey with his last name on it.
Video Courtesy of the NWSL
The mayor's arrival at the game followed the extension of his campaign to "make soccer more affordable for everyone," partnering with Gotham to offer 1,000 $5 tickets for Saturday's match. According to The Athletic, the $5 tickets sold out in under an hour.
"Our sport should be accessible to everyone," Hayes said of the mayor and Gotham's initiative. "I think being deliberate about being inclusive and being reminded that soccer is and will always be a sport that everybody can access. I think it's a fantastic initiative for everyone here at Gotham, and obviously, to do that with the mayor, is so New York, and so we would like to see more of that, without question, because bringing different audiences to the game should very much be the future of soccer within the country."
The partnership with Mayor Mamdani is a part of Gotham's broader push to embrace New York City. On Saturday, the club wore their Lady Liberty kit, which was designed with a Statue of Liberty print in orange and blue as a tribute to the colors of New York City's flag.
Laura Petro, Gotham FC vice president of brand and fan experience, said in a statement when the kit was released in February that it was "A statement about who we are and where we come from. It reflects the bold, iconic spirit of the market we represent and the bold path we’re forging as a club."
Gotham get another big chance to connect with the city of New York later this summer when they play the Queens Classic at Citi Field, which the club says has surpassed 16,000 tickets sold, already setting a Gotham ticket-sales record.
Maybe Mayor Mamdani will return to the Gotham supporters’ section when the Bats make their Queens debut on July 15 against Washington Spirit.
