IMAGE, MATT KREMKAU FOR EMPIRE OF SOCCER

by DAVE MARTINEZ

This weekend’s Hudson River Derby match at Yankee Stadium will have a much smaller red section than last year’s installment.

In conversations with leaders of the South Ward, as well as league contacts, EoS has learned the New York Red Bulls traveling support will suffer a 50% reduction in available seats for this year’s first New York City FC match at Yankee Stadium due to “behavioral issues.”

NYCFC have reduced the allocation of tickets to just 600 total seats for traveling Red Bull supporters — down from the originally planned 1,200 seat threshold.

For the sake of comparison, the exact number of tickets allocated to Red Bull supporters last season was 1,435 seats.

Much like NYCFC’s traveling support last season, which saw their original allocation of seats at Red Bull Arena slashed due to behavioral issues during the very first Hudson Derby, NYCFC brass have cited similar issues at the root of their decision.

However, that accusation rings hollow with Red Bull supporters.

In a statement from New York’s oldest supporters’ group, the Empire Supporters’ Club, ESC leadership claims such issues were never brought to light by NYCFC following any the three Hudson River Derby matches last season.

In fact, the original message from club brass on either side of the Hudson ran counter to NYCFC’s present day assertions.

From the club’s statement:

We believe the decision cut our allocation is unfair considering the positive feedback we received from our [front office] and their [front office] regarding our behavior and organization after our trip there last year. The reasons given to us were in regards to incidents that occurred before and during last year’s game, yet none of these were mentioned during post game communications in the days immediately following. It seems they are using small incidents, due in large part by their own inability and inexperience at handling soccer fans, to keep our numbers smaller. They may be trying to tilt the numbers in their favor but in reality they are simply allowing RBNY fans to spread all over the stadium which will ultimately end up causing them more trouble and will put our fans at a greater security risk. In the end, we will go there with whatever number they give us and will still be louder than them. NY is Red.

EoS has learned that the ticket allocation will be reviewed following this weekend’s encounter. Until then, expect a much smaller, concentrated section of traveling South Ward denizens in the Bronx this Saturday.