NEW YORK, NY — When the Mets are on the road, Major League Soccer’s New York City Football Club (NYCFC) are usually on the pitch at Citi Field, however that was not the case last week.
42,175 fans attended the National Women’s Soccer League’s Queens Cup between the Washington Spirit and Gotham FC held last Wednesday night at Citi Field. It marked the largest crowd to ever witness a women’s sporting event in New York City. The previous record of 28,143 took place across Roosevelt Avenue for a US Open women’s tennis final in 2023 between Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka.
Gauff prevailed in that match, while Gotham FC was victorious 1-0 thanks to a beautiful arching kick by striker Rose Lavelle in the first half.
The game was seen nationwide on ESPN. Given the poor air quality caused by the Canadian fires, combined with the oppressive heat, it is a tribute to the dedicated Gotham FC fans, and to the determination of the players who showed no signs of being affected by the harsh conditions.
It was not a coincidence that the Queens Cup was scheduled during the final week of the World Cup. Carolyn Tisch, the CEO of Gotham FC, was a panelist at the Playmakers conference sponsored by Telemundo at NBC headquarters last Wednesday morning. “The best female soccer players in the world play in the NWSL,” Tisch said.
While she did not mention the NWSL’s American male counterpart, Major League Soccer, whose commissioner is Bayside High School alum Don Garber, it was a clear knock on the fact MLS is the one American sports league in which the world’s best at their sport do not automatically participate. The quality of MLS players has improved over the years, however.
Image Credit: Gotham FC
Two weeks ago, Gotham FC announced it will be relocating its home games from Sports Illustrated Stadium (formerly Red Bull Arena) in Harrison, NJ to Etihad Park, the new home of the New York City Football Club which will open next summer. It is located across 126th Street from Citi Field. Gotham FC will not begin play there until the 2028 season.
Tisch said the NYCFC was fine with having Gotham FC as a tenant. She also told me New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill tried her best to keep Gotham FC in the Garden State but to no avail. The world’s game should be played at the highest levels in the world’s borough.
Telemundo’s Victory Lap
Telemundo hosted the Playmakers conference as a way of taking a victory lap for the record ratings it has garnered. The World Cup broadcasting rights are up for negotiation, and Comcast which owns Telemundo and NBC, is hoping to wrest away the English-speaking American rights from the incumbent, FOX Sports.
NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Llamas joked that it was hard for him to concentrate on prepping for his newscast because of the loud cheering at the World Cup fan hub at Rockefeller Center. “The fans were particularly adept at mimicking sportscaster Andres Cantor’s lengthy “Goal!” call!”
Fanatics Fest 2026 NYC, The Place To Be
The third annual Fanatics Fest, the four-day annual sports fans’ version of Comic Con, took place last week at Javits Center. Just as attendees frequently dress up as their favorite fictional entertainment characters at Comic Con, most folks I saw there wore some paraphernalia from their favorite college and professional sports teams.
Image Credit: Joel Rodriguez/Latino Sports
One of the participants in Shaquille O’Neal’s Dunkman league, Darius Clark, also known as “King DAC,” set a record-breaking 53-inch box jump wearing brand new Reebok Engine A 26 basketball shoes at Fanatics Fest.
Strong Mets presence at Fanatics Fest 2026 NYC
Legendary Mets third baseman David Wright took part in a sports trivia contest against a squad led by former Yankees great, and current Phillies manager, Don Mattingly. CBS News and Sports personality, as well as former NFL wide receiver, Nate Burleson served as host. Wright’s team emerged victoriously.
SNY “Baseball Night in New York” host Sal Licata hosted a panel which featured Mets Hall of Famers Darryl Strawberry and Keith Hernandez. Licata asked them why they thought shortstop Francisco Lindor is having such an awful year as evidenced by poor hitting, combined with plenty of physical and mental errors in the field. Neither man understandably wanted to speculate.
Image Credit: George Napolitano/Latino Sports
Keith Hernandez, who was one of the finest fielders to ever play the game, threw shade at the Mets, and President of Baseball Operations David Stearns’ philosophy of run prevention. “The Mets have committed 66 errors which is the second-worst in baseball. You are not going to win many games that way,” he told the audience in his usual no-nonsense way.
Two Mets icons who cannot be held responsible for the team’s awful 2026 season, Mr. And Mrs. Met, posed for photographs.
Despite Rough Season In Queens, Mets Still Make Hollywood
The Mets, despite their foibles this season, are still beloved by Hollywood studios. Last month, Universal hired Francisco Lindor for an ad for “Disclosure Day.” Last week, Sony Pictures contracted Juan Soto to do the same for “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.”
Since Peter Parker, the man behind the webbed costume, is from Forest Hills, shooting the humorous commercial at Citi Field makes perfect sense.
Remembering and Paying Tribute to Ron Hunt
I was saddened to learn on Friday of the passing of Ron Hunt who was the first Mets player to be named as a starter to the National League All-Star team. It was extra special because the game was played at brand new Shea Stadium in July 1964. He would also represent the Mets in the 1966 Midsummer Classic.
Hunt’s last visit to Queens was in April 2024 to honor the 60th anniversary of the opening of Shea. I asked him if he felt overlooked in Mets history because many people cite Tom Seaver as the first homegrown hero who other teams respected. Hunt smiled and replied, “I absolutely do.”
FOX’s outstanding production for 2026 MLB All-Star Game in Philly
The 2026 All-Star Game was not memorable, but the FOX pregame studio team did an outstanding job promoting America’s 250th birthday and creating a love letter to the city of Philadelphia. They had Kevin Burkhardt, Alex Rodríguez, Derek Jeter, and David Ortiz run up the “Rocky’ steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, as well as pose in front of the Liberty Bell.
City of Brotherly Love tourism officials had to be thrilled.
Image Credit: Latino Sports
In a nice, related touch, Major League Baseball shrewdly had the starting nine of both the American and National League teams sign the lineup card with a quill pen on a Continental Congress-style lectern as a baseball reenactment of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
One suggestion for Major League Baseball is to move the Futures Game from the obscure Sunday noon slot of All-Star Game weekend to Sunday evening when more people could be watching the stars of tomorrow.
This Weekend: Yankees visit The City of Brotherly Love
The Yankees make their biannual appearance at Citizens Bank Park this weekend as they take on the Phillies who are managed by Bronx Bombers icon Don Mattingly.
Image Credit: Pete Lerro/Latino Sports
The “NJ Turnpike Series” should be a good one, and it is as short a road trip to see the Yankees as you will find outside of the Subway Series.
On The Court and 2026 ESPY Awards: Knicks Win It All
To the surprise of no one, the New York Knickerbockers won the major ESPY Awards last Wednesday night. OG Anunoby won the Best Sports Play. Jalen Brunson was named Best Male Athlete, Best NBA Player, and won Best Championship Performance. The Knicks, of course, were named Best Team. Interestingly, reclusive team president Leon Rose took the stage when the Team Award was presented, but head coach Mike Brown was not at the David Koch Theater in Lincoln Center.
This marked the first time ESPN held their big summer extravaganza in the Big Apple since 1999. That certainly did not hurt the Knicks’ chances of getting plenty of stage and airtime.
The Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Champ and Owner of the Yellow Mustard Belt: Joey Chestnut
Although he was not nominated for an ESPY, congratulations to America’s greatest athlete, Joey Chestnut, for winning his 18th Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest and maintaining the most prestigious sports championship, the Yellow Mustard Belt.
Image Credit: Shea Communications
The July 4 ESPN Nathan’s broadcast team of Jeremy Schaap and Rich Shea were clearly having a good time. Schaap called Chestnut “the Michaelangelo of mastication.” Shea said Chestnut is an American hero who should be in the history books alongside George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln.
GBK Brand Bar teams up with Miles McBride of Knicks and Armand Membou of Jets
The GBK Brand Bar held last week in midtown Manhattan was a health and wellness products showcase which attracted an array of athletes including Knicks guard Miles McBride and Jets offensive tackle Armand Membou.
McBride said his life has been a whirlwind since the Knicks won the 2026 NBA championship. I asked him about the kind of reception he expects Mitchell Robinson, who is now a member of the Boston Celtics to receive when he returns to Madison Square Garden to get his ring. “I am sure the fans will give him a nice hand even if he is wearing an enemy uniform!” he chuckled.
Image Credit: NBA
Jets offensive tackle Armand Membou, who was the team’s first-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, and had a solid rookie season, said he has enjoyed working with new Jets quarterback Geno Smith. He was surprised to learn from me that his legal name is Eugene Cyril Smith III. “Really? I can’t wait to call him that and see his reaction!” he said with a hearty laugh.
Epiphanny Prince partners with GBK Brand Bar
Another GBK attendee was Epiphanny Prince who was one of the best, if not the best, female player in the history of New York City Public School Athletic League. Prince, who played for five seasons in the WNBA, is now an executive with the New York Liberty.
Antigua’s New Sports Drops Highlighting FIFA World Cup and Knicks
Among the apparel companies displaying at GBK were Antigua, which was promoting its USMNT-themed polo shirts, and Roots of Fight, which understandably was pushing its Knicks and soccer-themed jackets.
Image Credit: GBK Brand Bar
More and More Dulsa
Finding a healthy sugar substitute has become a holy grail in the nutrition industry. A company called Dulsa is promoting plant-based sugar which has probiotic benefits. The brownie I tasted at the GBK Brand Bar had me believing it was sugar.
GBK Brand Bar Backing A Good Cause: Swim Up Hill
Jamal Hill is a bronze-medal Paralympics swimmer who has dedicated his life to teach as many people to swim as possible. GBK is a backer of his foundation, Swim Up Hill, whose goal is to teach one million people how to learn how to swim. Jamal is looking forward to competing for the gold at the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics.
Beverages The Big Focus of 2026 Fancy Food Show
Beverages were understandably a big focus of the 2026 Fancy Food Show. Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice Company continues to be the industry leader with its wide array of fresh citrus juices.
Image Credit: David Aleman/F-Stop Photography
Soft drinks have come a long way since the cola wars between Coke and Pepsi. Fun Times Soda Pop uses cane sugar as opposed to fructose syrup. They have a wide assortment of fun flavors. Matcha is a tasty Japanese green tea which has digestive benefits. Shinzo Matcha has launched a line of matcha sodas.
Remembering and Paying Tribute to Freddy “Boom Boom” Cannon
Pop music lost a giant with the passing of Freddy “Boom Boom” Cannon on Saturday. Cannon, born Frederick Picariello, will never be recognized by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, but he made a lot of fun records. Hits such as “Tallahassee Lassie,” “Way Down Yonder in New Orleans,” and his most famous record, “Palisades Park,” merged a big band sound with pure rock & roll.
Freddy Cannon was 89.
