New York City FC vs NY Red Bulls: what is the Hudson River Derby?

Saturday’s Hudson River Derby brings together New York’s two MLS sides - New York City FC and NY Red Bulls - with a place in the playoffs and local bragging rights on the line.

NY Red Bulls, previously known as the New York/New Jersey MetroStars, were one of MLS’ founding teams in 1996 and have remained in the league ever since. For years they were the sole representatives from the United States’ biggest city; that changed in 2015 when New York City FC played their first MLS fixture against Orlando City.

In 2019 supporters from both sides of the New York soccer rivalry came together to create the Hudson River Derby Foundation, an initiative designed to help grow the game in the city. Saturday’s match between the two sides will decide who takes home the inaugural Hudson River Derby trophy.

Here’s the story of NYC’s MLS derby...

Origins of the Hudson River Derby

Four years ago fans from the city’s most prominent supporter groups banded together to promote soccer in New York. RBNY fans from the Empire Supporters Group and Viking Army worked together with NYCFC-supporting The Third Rail to promote the fixture.

They have resisted the temptation to search for corporate sponsors, deciding instead to rely on donations from the city’s burgeoning fanbase. However their efforts were disrupted by the covid-19 pandemic, which derailed league fixtures and put supporters’ plans on hold.

Fans from the three supporters groups persevered and this season they were able to launch the initiative in earnest. They commissioned the creation of the Hudson River Derby Trophy, which will be awarded on an annual basis to the aggregate winner of the teams’ two regular season MLS fixtures.

The inaugural winners of the trophy will be decided by Saturday’s game at Yankee Stadium.

Hudson River Derby “one of the most intense games” for fans

In a city with limitless alternatives, MLS has to wrestle for the attention of sports fans. But the global game is growing in the Big Apple and Saturday’s derby clash will be one of the league’s most widely-viewed fixtures this weekend. Fans of the teams involved will hope that victory against the local rivals can be the turning point in largely underwhelming campaigns so far.

Speaking to AS USA, Hudson River Derby Foundation President Danny Chediak explained: “The Hudson River Derby definitely means a lot to our fans. No matter how our respective teams are doing, it tends to be the most intense games of the season.”

“Fans from both sides of the river look forward to this game as they end up being the most-attended games,” said Chediak, a NYCFC fan who is also Vice President of supporters group The Third Rail.

RBNY came out on top in the first fixture between the two teams this season, meaning that they need just a draw to be crowned Hudson River Derby champions for 2023. However NYCFC will be hopeful of overturning the deficit in front of their home crowd.

The battle for New York bragging rights

A derby game is always significant for supporters but this year’s has particular importance. Both teams have underperformed their pre-season expectations; New York City and NY Red Bulls are 12th and 13th respectively.

But NYCFC are just four points away from the Wild Card playoff places and NY Red Bulls are only a point behind them, meaning that qualification is still possible for the winner for Saturday’s derby. For the loser, they will suffer the ignominy of having their playoff hopes dashed by the local rivals.

It looks set to be a fascinating game with a place in the post-season on the line. But, for NYFC fan Chediak, victory over the local rivals is reward enough.

“Being able to say ‘New York is Blue’ means a lot to NYCFC fans,” he said. “Like most diehards, I’ll be at Yankee Stadium for the match, praying that we beat the Red Bulls and have bragging rights for the year.”

You can watch NYC FC take on NY Red Bulls in the Hudson River Derby with the MLS Season Pass from AppleTV.