Worst. Off Season. Ever.
New York fans are today left reeling with news that the Ironworkers have handed in their tools. The club has joined the Toronto Arrows in folding suddenly before the 2024 Major League Rugby season. A long-rumored deal to sell ownership of the club has fallen through.
Unlike Toronto and Atlanta, the demise of New York is not related to the tragic death of a majority owner. Since joining the league in 2019 as Rugby United New York, the team has gone through multiple name changes and five different home venues. None have succeeded in capturing a strong home audience.
What a disappointment. I had a chance to go to two of their games (each time in a different stadium). I always saw engagement from people there to be pretty good. I’m sad for them that they didn’t get matching energy from a bigger portion of the community outside game day stadium attendees.
Beyond the look of entire teams folding, it’s awful for so many players to now be without a team. Like is the league going to waive salary caps to disperse all these players onto other teams. Can the other teams even afford to contract more players regardless of the cap?
I think the league would struggle to absorb one team, let alone two now. And the international-based players who had put time and money down to move themselves and possibly family to Toronto or NYC, ouch.
I hope fans of remaining teams really turn out this season. It’ll be my first as a season ticket holder (bought at the end of our 2023 season).
@baronvonj @usmlr until covid I went to every single Old Glory home game, and a decent number of New York ones. I intend to keep that up as much as possible.
@baronvonj @usmlr I’d also really like to make it to a San Diego home game. What a gorgeous stadium!
Nice! Come on down for a SaberCats game if we play here and we can grab a pint! Or vice versa if I’m in DC!
@baronvonj @usmlr totally! I’m excited for Old Glory’s new home field, which is much more convenient to me!