It is now known when NYCFC will have their matches facing Costa Rica's AD San Carlos in the 2020 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Round of 16 games. An exciting time for both teams as they make their debuts in this hotly contested series of games. By virtue of taking the top spot in the Eastern COnference of MLS for the 2019 season, NYCFC punched their ticket, the Ticos did so by way of taking the Costa Rica Primera Division Clausura top spot for the first time in team history. Upon defeating AD San Carlos, NYCFC would then face the victor of the game with Tigres UANL of Mexico and El Salvadorean side Alianza FC in the Round of 16. Details for seating are to be released in the future. Other MLS teams in these games are Atlanta Utd., LAFC, MLS Title Holders Seattle Sounders and the Thiery Henry coached Montreal Impact.
NYCFC opens their play away on Feb. 20 and an 8p.m. ET kick, on the 26th they will host the 2nd leg in NYC at 6p.m. ET. Here is why they state in NYC and not a specific location. "All teams competing in Concacaf Champions League must go through a venue certificiation process. The Club is currently working with Concacaf to certify its preferred venue and once comnplete, a host venue will be announced." That is a quote from the team, what that means is rather uncertain. Perhaps their home field of Yankee Stadium does not fit the criteria for certification, maybe they are trying to figure out a way to have it fit? My bet is that they know it does not fit and they are figuring out possibly as they willl have some home games there in MLS play, whether Citifield fulfills the criteria. Given that there are only but so many places in NYC that are able to host it, I would be certain they have not painted themselves into a corner by stating it will be in NYC. The stadium or lack thereof is not their fault, entirely at least as NYC is a very difficult place to get anything done, trumor has it that another sports franchise undermined the Jets at Hudson Yards, but NYC is horrible to deal with, again see the Jets and their inability to get the bathrooms at Shea renovated decades ago. But it is felt by many that their failed attempt at Belmont Park was them just going through the motions, yes it would have put them outside of NYC, across the Cross Island Parkway, yet with the NYPD I was there for the Belmont Stakes? What's in a name anyway, New York Red Bulls, New York Jets & New York Giants?