NYC Mayor Mamdani, Gotham FC offer $15 tickets to provide affordable access to Queens Classic

A day after Gotham FC announced its move to Queens in 2028, New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani has partnered with the NWSL club to offer a limited supply of $15 tickets for next week’s Queens Classic against the Washington Spirit at Citi Field.

There will be up to 4,000 tickets available at the discounted price beginning Wednesday at 10 a.m. ET, with tickets distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets are available on Gotham’s website.

The match between the 2025 NWSL champions and the Spirit is on track to break the attendance record for a women’s sporting event in New York City — a high mark set in 2023 when 28,143 fans witnessed Coco Gauff’s first major title win at the U.S. Open final at nearby Arthur Ashe Stadium. Gotham has already sold more than 30,000 tickets.

This is the second time Mamdani has partnered with Gotham on affordable ticketing. In April, they released 1,000 $5 tickets for the club’s May 9 match against Boston Legacy at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Those tickets sold out in less than an hour.

“The biggest events in our city should be affordable to the people who make this city run,” Mamdani said in a statement to The Athletic. “Whether it’s the World Cup, a championship celebration, or The Queens Classic, our goal is the same: make sure working New Yorkers have a chance to be there. This ticket offer will help thousands more fans cheer on one of the best clubs in the world as Gotham FC makes history.”

More recently, Mamdani secured $50 tickets to World Cup matches at MetLife Stadium for city residents through a ticket lottery after negotiations with FIFA president Gianni Infantino. The get-in price was a steep drop from what fans have paid to attend World Cup games this summer. It set off a wave of other elected officials pushing to secure similar deals for their own constituents.

“Gotham FC is proud to partner with Mayor Mamdani’s office on an initiative that opens the doors to one of the biggest nights in our club’s history,” Mark Zarthar, Gotham’s president, said in a statement. “The Queens Classic is about more than one match. It is about bringing New Yorkers together, growing the women’s game and creating a moment that reflects the energy, ambition and diversity of this city.”

Next week’s match is a rematch of the 2025 NWSL Championship and marks the first regular-season match to be played in New York City. It will also be a preview of what’s to come for Gotham, which will be playing across the street from its soon-to-be home.

The club announced on Tuesday it will play all its home games, beginning in 2028, at Etihad Park, the $780 million future home of Major League Soccer’s New York City FC. Gotham’s initial lease at the 25,000-seat venue will be for five years with an option to extend for up to 15 years, a club spokesperson confirmed to The Athletic on Tuesday.

The Queens Classic on July 15 was timed to take advantage of the existing momentum in New York City next week. The match takes place days before the World Cup final at nearby MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

For New York City, hosting the Queens Classic and eventually welcoming Gotham is part of growing the sport on the heels of this summer’s World Cup – while also looking ahead to future opportunities like the 2027 Women’s World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Etihad Park was among the MLS venues selected to host men’s and women’s Olympic games.

“One thing we’re really focused on is making sure that the legacy of the World Cup extends past the final whistle,” Maya Handa, New York City’s first-ever World Cup Czar, told The Athletic.

“The prior World Cup in the U.S. led to the creation of the MLS, and we view this as an opportunity to make sure that soccer can continue to grow in New York City.

“Especially ahead of the Women’s World Cup next year, we really want to make sure that folks know that they don’t have to wait four years to get world-class soccer. They can go to a really affordable, accessible, high-quality game right in their backyard.”

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Gotham FC, Washington Spirit, NWSL, Sports Business, Women’s Soccer

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