2017 - MLS

March 12, 2017 Minneapolis, Mn

Inaugural commemorative

The 2017 MLS season opened with 2 new teams: Minnesota United FC and Atlanta United FC. Atlanta opened their inaugural season at home, Bobby Dodd Stadium, on March 5 against the Red Bulls. Atlanta would lose the game 2-1.

Minnesota opened their season with a 5-1 loss to the Portland Timber in Portland's Providence Park. Minnesota would have their inaugural home game at TFC Stadium, Minneapolis against Atlanta United with a 6-1 loss.

2013 New York Cosmos - NASL

2013.08.03 NY Cosmos v Ft lauderdale Strikers, Shuart Stadium - Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY

James M Shuart Stadium was home to the Cosmos 1972-1973...

The second coming of the NY Cosmos saw a late victory, 2-1 over the Strikers. The Cosmos scored first on Peri Marosevic's goal, the first in club history since 1984.

The Strikers came back in the 73rd minute to tie the game on a goal from Walter Restrepo. When it seemed the game would end in a tie, Alessandro Noselli snatched the victory in stoppage time before a capacity crowd of 11,929 fans.

Prior to the game the Cosmos honored former Cosmos players including Pele, Carlos Alberto, Barry Mahy, Shep Messing, the late Giorgio Chinaglia and former Striker Teofilo Cubillas...

Messing, Cubillas, Pele, and Alberto with the Strikers captains..

Flag honoring Pele flying over the field. Chinaglia, Beckenbauer and Alberto were also honored with their numbers flying high...

Barry Mahy

Scunthorpe United FC - 1963-1967

New York Generals  - 1967-1968

New York Cosmos - 1971-1975

United States National Team -  1973

Nelsi Morais

Santos (Brazil) 1970-1975

New York Cosmos - 1975-1980

Update 2013.08.12: I had sent an envelope to the Hempstead, NY postmaster requesting a cancelation for Aug 3 to commemorate the Cosmos Inaugural game. I picked up the mail this morning and added the art for the cachet. The cancel is not the best strike as the latter part of the city and the state are missing, but the date is clear. A nice cover that has plenty of space for an autograph should the opportunity arise...

2009 - Sky Blue FC - WPS Inaugural Game

April 5, 2009 Inaugural game Sky Blue Fc v LA Sol, TD Bank Ballpark, Somerset, NJ...In it's first two home games of the inaugural season of the Women's Professional Soccer League, Sky Blue FC played their home games at TD Bank Ballpark, home of the Somerset Patriots baseball team.

After the WUSA folded, a reorganization committee was formed to help found a new and stronger league...the Women's Professional Soccer league was formed with teams in New Jersey, Los Angeles, Washington, Boston, Chicago, Dallas and St. Louis.

In 2008 the WPS was announced and the league logo introduced, featuring the silhouette of Mia Hamm (in a much copied look from Major League Baseball).

Sky Blue would lose their first game to the Sol 2-0, as the Brazilian sensation Marta connected for both goals. It was strange to watch a soccer game in a baseball park, the dimensions of the field made the seating difficult. The atmosphere of the crowd however made the game enjoyable. At the end of the game, fans rushed to the railings to meet the players, many of whom were very accommodating in greeting their fans...

More than 6,000 fans were in the sell out crowd, Gov Jon Corzine welcomed the team and Julie Foudy and her daughter provided the ceremonial first kick.

May 31, 2009 first home game at Yurcak Field, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ

Making Yurcak Field their home pitch, facing the Boston Breakers...After playing their first two home games at a baseball field, Sky blue moved to Yurcak Field. In their first game Sky Blue would defeat the Boston Breakers 2-1 before 3,493 fans. Goals for Sky Blue came from Natasha Kai and Kacey White.

Sky Blue would finish in 4th place and earn a place in the playoffs, which they would go on to win becoming the first champions of the WPS.

2006 - Red Bull NY Inaugural Game

2006.04.08 Giants Stadium....Inaugural game

After purchasing the Metrostars, Red Bull decided to re-brand the team changing the name, colors and logo, although the majority of the players would remain the same. Red Bull also owns FC Red Bull Salzberg, Austrian Bundesliga; Red Bull Brasil, Serie A2; RB Leipzig, Regionalliga Nord (Germany).

The pre-match ceremony featured a tribute to the great's of New York and New Jersey's soccer past. In attendance were Cosmos' Pele, Giorgio Chinaglia, Shep Messing, Andranik Eskandarian, Carlos Alberto, Franz Beckenbauer, Werner Roth as well as past members of the Metrostars..the game ball was delivered by the Red Bull skydiving team. The half-time show featured Wyclef Jean and Shakira before a freexing crowd of 35,793. Shikara removed her winter coat before she performed!

Facing the NE Revolution, the Red Bull battled to a scoreless draw, as Taylor Twellmen of the Revolution missed 2 golden opportunities, while Amadao Guevara had his chances turned away by Rev keeper Matt Reis and Edson Buddle missed the open net on a wide shot.

1996 - Metrostars - Inaugural game

1996.04.20 Giants Stadium - Metrostars Inaugural Game...v NE Revolution.

Originally called the Empire Soccer Club, the team would switch to the MetroStars, which signed Tab Ramos, the first player to be signed to an MLS contract. Tony Meola and Italian player Roberto Donadoni from AC Milan would be added.

After losing their first game at Los Angeles 2-1, the Metrostars opening in Giants Stadium before a crowd of 46,826. the Metrostars' Nicola Caricola would score an own goal to give the NE Revolution the 1-0 victory with 13 seconds remaining in the game...

The MetroStars issued a free newspaper/program called Freekick that was distributed to all fans. Freekick featured Tony Meola on the cover, a Welcome to Major League Soccer from commissioner Douglas G. Logan and articles about the MLS, International Stars coming to the MLS, Individual team previews, Kellogg's association with the MLS, Tony Meola: Home At last, and Soccer Town, USA (Kearny, NJ)

In the Article: American Stars Coming Home by Brian Trusdell, Eric Wynalda is quoted "Two or three years from now, I think we should take our champion and play the best in Europe and I guarantee, we'll beat them."