The New York City Football club took another embarrassing shot in the PR department when it was announced that their upcoming match on Saturday against Columbus would be moved to next month to do “field conditions” — which is PR code for “the pitch looks like it just lost a bar fight.”
While fans were gearing up for another tense and crucial home clash, the abrupt shift throws yet another logistical wrench into an already chaotic 2025 season. NYCFC, whose nomadic stadium tour continues across the five boroughs (and sometimes beyond), has had to deal with venue juggling for years, but this particular rescheduling highlights the downside of not having a dedicated soccer-specific stadium… yet.
Citi Field, home to the New York Mets, concerts and occasional pinch-hitter for NYCFC’s “home” games, has taken some wear and tear this year so it’s not exactly shocking that the surface couldn’t hold up.
Fans with tickets for this weekend’s now-defunct match will be automatically reissued valid passes for the new date. The club has apologized for the inconvenience, though many supporters have already started adding “Citi Field turf expert” to their résumés.
The rescheduled match is now set for September 17, giving NYCFC a bit more breathing room in an otherwise congested fixture calendar. Whether that extra time proves helpful or just adds more rust to shake off remains to be seen.
Until then, the club will continue to be mocked for it’s lack of a stadium until 2027 when Etihad Park opens.
