The basics:

• Gotham FC will move home matches from Harrison to Queens in 2028
• Club will become permanent tenant at NYCFC’s Etihad Park
• Team building 27,000-square-foot training facility in Whippany
• Move follows Gotham FC’s second NWSL championship in three seasons

Gotham FC will relocate its home matches from Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison to New York City FC’s new Etihad Park in Queens beginning in 2028.

The reigning National Women’s Soccer League champions made the announcement July 7. The team spent nearly two decades playing home matches in the Garden State before heading across the Hudson River.

The move ends the club’s tenure in Harrison. Gotham FC has played at the Hudson County stadium since 2020, after moving from Rutgers University’s Yurcak Field in Piscataway. Founded in New Jersey as Sky Blue FC in 2007, Gotham FC rebranded in 2021.

The Queens migration also marks another major – and recent – investment in Gotham FC’s future.

It comes less than a month after the club unveiled plans for a dedicated 27,000-square-foot training facility in Whippany. That hub will serve as the team’s permanent soccer operations headquarters beginning in 2027. The plans also follow Gotham FC’s recent partnership with Sports Illustrated Tickets, which signed on as official fan experience and ticketing provider for matches at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison.

“We are proud of the years shared together at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Also, grateful to have played a role in so many memorable moments including two NWSL Championships and the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Their achievements will always be a part of the stadium’s history,” Sports Illustrated Stadium told NJBIZ in a statement.

“We congratulate Gotham FC on its exciting next chapter,” Sports Illustrated Tickets told NJBIZ. “We look forward to building on our partnership and wish the Club continued success in its future home in Queens.”

Building an icon

The agreement gives Gotham FC a permanent home in New York City’s first soccer-specific stadium. It also continues the club’s broader strategy of investing in long-term infrastructure on both sides of the Hudson River.

Etihad Park is now under construction in Willets Point. The 25,000-seat venue is scheduled to open in spring 2027 as the home of New York City FC. Gotham FC will begin playing there the following year.

The transfer builds on a transformational stretch for the club. Gotham FC recently captured its second National Women’s Soccer League championship in three seasons and first continental title, while simultaneously investing in facilities to support its long-term growth.

“From day one, our ambition has been bigger than championships,” said Carolyn Tisch Blodgett, governor of Gotham FC. “We are building one of the world’s most iconic clubs and helping define the future of women’s sports. Our move to Etihad Park reflects that ambition, and we are deeply grateful to New York City FC for their vision and commitment to helping make this historic moment possible.

From day one, our ambition has been bigger than championships.
—Carolyn Tisch Blodgett, governor, Gotham FC

“World-class athletes deserve world-class environments, and this move allows us to keep raising the standard for our players, supporters and the game itself. Gotham FC is showing what is possible when you invest boldly in women’s soccer, and we are committed to building an experience worthy of the fans who have believed in this club from the beginning.”

At Etihad Park

Club officials said Etihad Park will provide Gotham FC with:

• Dedicated locker rooms
• Permanent branding throughout the venue
• Customized merchandise locations
• Matchday experience designed specifically for the reigning champions

The stadium also offers expanded transit access through the MTA’s seven subway line and Long Island Rail Road. Sports Illustrated Stadium sits less than 1 mile from the Harrison Street PATH Station.

“Etihad Park and this historic agreement provide us with a foundation to further establish Gotham FC as a premier global club,” said Mark Zarthar, Gotham FC president of business operations. “This is a pivotal moment that drives our commercial expansion, fan and partner engagement, and our capacity to create a matchday environment befitting our elite players and supporters. The support of the New York-New Jersey community has propelled this club to two championships, and this is the world-class matchday experience our players, fans and partners deserve.”

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul welcomed the move. She said the club’s arrival further strengthens the state’s sports landscape.

“New York State is home to some of the world’s greatest sports teams, and we couldn’t be more excited to officially add the reigning NWSL champion Gotham FC to our ranks,” Hochul said. “Now residents and visitors alike will be able to experience our premier women’s soccer team right here in New York City at our first-ever soccer specific stadium — giving players and fans the world-class experience they deserve.”

A win …. for NYC

New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani called the relocation a win for both fans and the city’s economy.

“From Sam Kerr’s legendary four-goal comeback to Midge Purce’s championship-clinching heroics, Gotham FC has given us some of the greatest moments in women’s soccer,” said Mamdani. “Now the next electrifying chapter of that story will be written in New York City.

“Bringing Gotham FC to Queens means that the young girl kicking a ball around Jackson Heights, Jamaica or the South Bronx will be able to take the train and watch some of the best players in the world in her own city. It means more customers for neighborhood restaurants, more visitors filling our hotels and, most importantly, a permanent home for world-class women’s soccer in the greatest city in the world.”

Supporters can begin placing season-ticket deposits for Gotham FC’s inaugural 2028 season at Etihad Park immediately. Existing season-ticket members who renew for the 2027 season will retain priority access.

While Gotham FC’s home matches will move from Harrison to Queens, the club will continue to maintain deep ties to New Jersey through the Whippany training center. The club expects to begin renovations on that former Red Bulls training facility later this summer. The performance center is slated to open in 2027. Beyond operations, it will also focus on player development and community programming.

Together, the Whippany project and the move to Etihad Park represent the largest infrastructure investment in Gotham FC’s history, allowing the club to keep its operational headquarters in New Jersey even as its matchday home shifts to New York City.

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 4:10 p.m. July 7, 2026, with a statement from Sports Illustrated Tickets.