New York City is riding its summer of soccer into another marquee moment, this time in women's sports. Gotham FC will host the Washington Spirit next week in a match billed as the Queens Classic, and the city is stepping in to make thousands of seats affordable for fans who want to be there.
The game carries a historic distinction. According to ABC7, it will be the first-ever women's sporting event held at Citi Field, the Queens ballpark best known as the home of the Mets, giving women's soccer a major-league stage in the borough.
To fill those seats, the city is slashing prices dramatically. Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that up to 4,000 tickets are being made available for just 15 dollars, offered on a first-come, first-served basis through Gotham FC's website.
Demand was already strong before the discounted tickets were announced. More than 34,000 tickets have been sold for the match, according to ABC7, a figure that speaks to the growing appetite for women's soccer in the New York area.
That level of interest has the event on track to make history at the gate. The match is on pace to set a new attendance record for a women's sporting event in New York City, building on the momentum that has surrounded the sport in recent weeks.
Officials framed the ticket initiative as a way to open the moment up to as many fans as possible, letting families and newcomers experience a top-flight women's match without the usual cost barrier.
The Queens Classic is scheduled for next Wednesday at 8 p.m. at Citi Field, and the match will also be broadcast on ESPN, extending its reach well beyond the ballpark to viewers across the country.