New York City FC floats giant inflatable pigeon down Hudson River during FIFA Club World Cup
(NEW YORK) July 8, 2025 — New York City FC is today launching a five-story-high inflatable pigeon that will float down the Hudson River and through New York Harbor in a guerrilla-style activation, created by creative studio Tavern.
Timed to coincide with the FIFA Club World Cup taking place across the river in New Jersey, the installation – a.k.a. “The Five Borough Flight” – is New York City FC’s way of proudly repping the city and reminding fans of the home club in their backyard. The 700lb pigeon, a nod to New York’s most prolific resident and the Club’s unofficial mascot, was designed to stop soccer fans in their tracks during a peak moment for the sport and kick start the future of NYC football.
“We wanted to tap into the immense pride New Yorkers have in their city and in their home club,” said Lauren Scrima, Vice President, Marketing at New York City FC. “The pigeon is a tribute to the city that shaped us and a signal that the future of soccer is here in New York City.”
The pigeon starts its journey in Staten Island before sailing up the Hudson then ‘flying’ back down past all five boroughs before coming home to roost in Willets Point – the home of New York City FC’s new stadium, Etihad Park, set to open in 2027.
“Our goal was to create something impossible to ignore,” said Mike Perry, Founder and Chief Creative Officer at Tavern. “Our giant pigeon is a love letter from NYCFC to the city, and a proud wink to everyone watching it float by.”
The “Five Borough Flight” is part of a broader strategy by Tavern to bring New York City FC’s brand to life in unexpected ways and remind global soccer fans that New York has a club to be proud of.
