Hudson River Derby


The Hudson River Derby, also known as the New York derby, is the name given to the soccer local derby between the two teams based in the New York metropolitan area, New York Red Bulls and New York City FC. First played in 2015, the rivalry between the two started almost as soon as the announcement was made of the formation of NYCFC in 2013.
Early on in the rivalry's history, the Red Bulls dominated the fixture, winning the first four games in the all-time series including one 7–0. Since this game, however, New York City has gained traction in the derby, winning four of the last seven games in the season series and taking points in three straight league games in 2017. This derby for the most part is contested for bragging rights of being the best side in the New York metropolitan area during the current MLS regular season. The teams do not compete for a trophy like many of the older MLS rivalries, although one is planned for the 2020 season. Despite both teams appearing in the MLS Cup Playoffs since 2016, the teams have not yet met in a playoff match.
On July 12, 2019, three supporters groups—Empire Supporters Club and Viking Army from the Red Bulls, and The Third Rail from NYCFC—announced the formation of the Hudson River Derby Foundation, a non-profit corporation two years in the making, that will "grow, manage, and administer the annual Hudson River Derby competition" between the two clubs, and will develop a physical trophy to present to the annual winner.

History

has a significant history with top level club soccer including the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League, the most successful team in that competition's history. With New York's position as the most populous city in the United States, it was likely that when Major League Soccer was founded in 1993, with play due to start in 1996, one of the founder clubs would play in the New York metropolitan area. This club, initially named as Empire Soccer Club, eventually started play in the 1996 MLS season as the NY/NJ MetroStars.
Since its start, MLS has engaged in a steady process of expansion from its initial ten clubs until 2010, when the league announced its intention to award its 20th franchise to New York City. Unlike the MetroStars, which were renamed as the New York Red Bulls following the franchise's purchase by Red Bull GmbH in 2006, the plan for the second New York franchise was for it to play in the city – the MetroStars began their existence playing in Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, before moving to a purpose built soccer-specific stadium in Harrison, Red Bull Arena. The 20th franchise was eventually awarded in 2013 to a consortium of the City Football Group and Yankee Global Enterprises, with the new club being given the name New York City FC.
New York City FC began play in the 2015 MLS season. The first league meeting with the Red Bulls was scheduled for May 10 at Red Bull Arena. The buildup to the game saw an increasing level of antagonism between both the clubs and their respective supporters groups, with the Red Bulls emphasizing their history from the start of MLS as opposed to the new club, while NYCFC pointing to the fact that they are the only club to play within the five boroughs. The first meeting between the two, in front of a capacity crowd, saw striker Bradley Wright-Phillips score the first goal in a 2–1 win for the Red Bulls. Subsequent to this game, there were two further league meetings between the teams, at Yankee Stadium and Red Bull Arena, both resulting in wins for the Red Bulls. NYCFC won their first game against the Red Bulls at the fifth time of asking on July 3, 2016 at Yankee Stadium. The Red Bulls 7–0 win at Yankee Stadium in 2016 is tied for the highest victory margin in MLS history. During a 3–2 New York City FC victory, David Villa recorded the derby's first ever hat trick on August 6, 2017.

Fans

A variety of supporters clubs and groups have grown around the Red Bulls since the team started. The first of these was formed in 1995, prior to the inception of the team itself, as the Empire Supporters Club. 2005 saw the creation of the New Jersey-based Garden State Supporters, now the Garden State Ultras. The 2010 season's influx of personnel with a Scandinavian background led to the creation of the Viking Army Supporters Club. The Red Bulls have designated some sections of Red Bull Arena as supporter specific. These included sections 101 for the Empire Supporters Club, 102 for the Viking Army, and section 133 for the Garden State Supporters. Sections 133, 101, and 102 are collectively known as the "South Ward".
New York City FC's first official supporter group, The Third Rail, began to form after the club's announcement in May 2013, when fans met through social media, and through member drives and viewing parties for 2014 FIFA World Cup matches. It had registered 1,000 members by September 20, 2014. Although the group operates independently from the club, it was recognized as the official supporter group and has received exclusive access to two sections in Yankee Stadium. Group president Chance Michaels said the name reflected the group's desire to "power NYCFC" the way the third rail powers the New York City subway system. Since the team started, unofficial supporters groups have sprung up, including Brown Bag SC and Hearts of Oak.
Even from the beginning of NYCFC's time in MLS, the rivalry between the supporters has been intense, with social media used extensively by both sets of fans to exchange insults and vitriol. Following the first meeting between the two sides at the Red Bull Arena, the Red Bulls cut the ticket allocation for away fans by two thirds for the next meeting at the venue, as a result of the behavior of NYCFC fans; NYCFC fans were equally damning of Red Bulls fans during their first visit to Yankee Stadium. Prior to their third and final league meeting of the 2015 season, the first reported incident of violence between the two sets of fans occurred at a gastropub in Newark frequented by members of the Garden State Ultras.

Transactions

To date, only one trade has occurred between the two teams. On December 11, 2014, the Red Bulls sent Ryan Meara on a one-year loan to NYCFC for the rights to Sal Zizzo, who had been selected from Sporting Kansas City in the 2014 MLS Expansion Draft the previous day. Meara returned to the Red Bulls after the 2015 season.

Results

No.DateCompetitionVenueHome TeamScoreAway TeamGoalscorersAttendance
1.May 10, 2015MLSRed Bull ArenaNew York Red Bulls2–1New York City FC Wright-Phillips
Mullins		25,217
2.June 28, 2015MLSYankee StadiumNew York City FC1–3New York Red Bulls McNamara
Wright-Phillips, Duvall, Miazga		48,047
3.MLSRed Bull ArenaNew York Red Bulls2–0New York City FC Wright-Phillips, Felipe
25,219
4.May 21, 2016MLSYankee StadiumNew York City FC0–7New York Red Bulls
McCarty, Wright-Phillips, Muyl, Verón, Baah		37,858
5.July 3, 2016MLSYankee StadiumNew York City FC2–0New York Red Bulls Harrison, Villa
33,613
6.July 24, 2016MLSRed Bull ArenaNew York Red Bulls4–1New York City FC Wright-Phillips, Zubar, Kljestan
McNamara		25,218
7.June 14, 2017Open CupRed Bull ArenaNew York Red Bulls1–0New York City FC Royer
11,311
8.June 24, 2017MLSRed Bull ArenaNew York Red Bulls0–2New York City FC
Harrison Sweat		25,219
9.August 6, 2017MLSYankee StadiumNew York City FC3–2New York Red Bulls Villa
Wright-Phillips 		33,679
10.MLSRed Bull ArenaNew York Red Bulls1–1New York City FC Verón
Moralez		25,219
11.May 5, 2018MLSRed Bull ArenaNew York Red Bulls4–0New York City FC Kaku, Valot, Wright-Phillips, Etienne
25,219
12.June 6, 2018Open CupRed Bull ArenaNew York Red Bulls4–0New York City FC Bezecourt, Long, Royer
9,496
13.July 8, 2018MLSYankee StadiumNew York City FC1–0New York Red Bulls Moralez
30,027
14.August 22, 2018MLSYankee StadiumNew York City FC1–1New York Red Bulls Villa
Wright-Phillips		30,139
15.July 14, 2019MLSRed Bull ArenaNew York Red Bulls2–1New York City FC Royer
Héber		20,128
16.August 24, 2019MLSYankee StadiumNew York City FC2–1New York Red Bulls Moralez, Héber
Muyl		28,895
17.August 23, 2020MLSRed Bull ArenaNew York Red BullsNew York City FC

Statistics

Summary of results

MatchesNYRB winsDrawsNYCFC winsNYRB goalsNYCFC goals
Major League Soccer147252916
U.S. Open Cup220050
Total169253416

Top goalscorers

Players currently playing for their respective Hudson River Derby club are in bold
PositionNameTeamGoals
1 Bradley Wright-PhillipsNew York Red Bulls12
2 David VillaNew York City FC5
2 Daniel RoyerNew York Red Bulls5
4 Maximiliano MoralezNew York City FC3
5 Jack HarrisonNew York City FC2
5 HéberNew York City FC2
5 Dax McCartyNew York Red Bulls2
5 Thomas McNamaraNew York City FC2
5 Alex MuylNew York Red Bulls2
5 Gonzalo VerónNew York Red Bulls2

Players who played for both clubs

Players currently playing for their respective Hudson River Derby club are in bold