MLS Franchise To Play In Yankee Stadium

The New York MLS expansion team will play their home games at Yankee Stadium for the next three seasons according to the New York Times. The New York City Football Club, which is co-owned by the New York Yankees (who own 25% of the team) and Manchester City, is the second soccer franchise in the area joining the New York Red Bulls.

The NYCFC tried to find a permanent home in Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens but could not lock down a deal and now will spend their next three seasons in Yankee Stadium. In this time the Yankees will gain money off the concessions, parking, and such and the NYCFC will have to find a stadium spot and build one in that time.

The problem, which I am sure was worked through before this was announced, is the MLS season runs from March until October, sound familiar? Temporary grass will be laid over the infield and the NYCFC will play in Yankee Stadium while the Yankees are on the road.

MLS plays 34 games so the Yankees would have to give way to their stadium about once or twice a week if I had to guess. The Yankees organization do not seem worried about wear and tear in the infield or the constant tearing down and rebuilding of the pitching mound due to all the technology available these days. NYCFC will start their franchise during the 2015 season.

Yankees Donate $50,000 To Harlem Explosion Victims

The New York Yankees have been referred to as the Evil Empire by the Boston Red Sox and by ESPN time and time again but still continue to do the right thing. The Yankees have never been shy about donating money when others are in need, see Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy for instance, and today the organization donated $50,000 to the victims of the Harlem building bombing. The Red Cross will receive the money that will help with the rebuilding of the building that exploded and took the life of eight people and injured at least 70 more.

The New York City Football Club, an MLS team co-owned by the Yankees, have also donated an additional $15,000 to raise the donation to a big $65,000. So much for an evil empire huh?