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Sky Blue FC have announced that their league match against Reign FC on August 18th is being moved to Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ.
The club previously announced they had sold out Yurcak Field, with a capacity of 5,000, for that game. With fans still clamoring for tickets, the team made the decision to move the game to the 25,000 seat home of the New York Red Bulls.
BIG NEWS | IT’S HAPPENING! See you all at @RedBullArena!
— Sky Blue FC (@SkyBlueFC) August 5, 2019
| https://t.co/r500cGbC0y#SBFC @NWSL pic.twitter.com/lca45okyNF
In a statement, club general manager Alyse LaHue said the decision was a direct result of overwhelming demand..
“This is a big moment for our club, our players and fans,” LaHue said. “We asked our fans if they would support this idea and they very definitively said yes. We’re always listening to and looking for ideas that enhance the fan experience as we push this club forward.”
Team captain and USWNT forward Carli Lloyd also hyped up the game and what it means for the club.
“We’re beyond excited that we have to move the game to Red Bull Arena because fan interest is so high,” said Lloyd. “This will be a great experience for my teammates and another opportunity for Sky Blue to continue building toward a successful and sustainable future.”
This announcement is part of a wave of attendance bumps across NWSL, following on from a World Cup that’s generated increased interest in women’s soccer. Given that Sky Blue tends to hover near the bottom of the league in terms of average attendance, the fact that they’re able to generate this level of interest is an objectively positive development— both for the club and NWSL.