Official Gotham FC Watch Party Draws Packed Crowd

Gotham FC supporters gathered at Legends sports bar in New York City on Saturday night to watch the Harrison-based team secure its second National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) championship in three years.

The Nov. 22 event, organized as one of the team’s official watch parties, began at 7:30 p.m. and was open to all fans. Attendees who RSVP’d received a free drink ticket, and the evening also featured music, raffles, giveaways, and a designated floor dedicated to the match.

By kickoff, the downstairs section of Legends NYC, located at 6 W 33rd Street, was standing-room only. Fans in full Gotham FC apparel packed the space, drinks in hand and food on the tables, cheering as national analysts predicted a Gotham win.

The energy surged when Esther González scored what appeared to be the opening goal within the first five minutes. The celebration was short-lived, however, as the goal was disallowed for offsides, drawing a loud, collective groan.

The crowd stayed locked in throughout the match, reacting to every play until Rose Lavelle fired a shot into the bottom corner from outside the box, sending the room into celebration once more. For the final minutes, fans shouted instructions and calls to the referee, anxiously waiting for the final whistle.

After the win, some fans reflected on the experience and shared their MVP picks.

“Super stressful to watch,” said Kaitlyn Keel, a 2026 season ticket holder, who declined to choose just one standout, adding, “I would be happy with any of them.”

Victorio Matias, who identified as a former bandwagon fan, rated the performance “10/10.”

“It was gritty and they did what they had to do,” Matias said. He named Emily Sonnett as his MVP “because she was locking it down on defense.”