With the home opener just over 6 weeks away, it is time to get in touch with Metro North about improving train service to and from our home games. I encourage everyone to go to the website below to request direct train service as is done for Yankee games. I've also set forth more details about how all this works below for those who are interested, along with the suggested wording of your message. Even if you don't live in Metro North territory, you will be doing your club and its fans a big favor if you send a message.
http://mta-nyc.custhelp.com/app/ask
---
To summarize, there are 3 main Metro North lines - Hudson, Harlem and New Haven. There is a Yankee Stadium stop on the Hudson Line that can also be accessed by the Harlem and New Haven lines by track located just north of the Harlem River Bridge. For several years now, Metro North has offered special Yankee Clipper trains when the Yankees are playing at home. All three Metro North lines have trains that go directly to the Yankee Stadium stop , with return trains leaving at specified intervals after games. They are unquestionably the best way to get to a Yankee game from Westchester and Connecticut.
For NYCFC games, however, the MTA took a different approach last year. They did not run special direct trains. Instead, they added a few extra trains shuttling from the Harlem station up to Yankee Stadium. This meant fans living on the Harlem and New Haven lines (the two biggest) had to go to 125th Street, wait around, and then transfer to a new train. Worse was after games because the extra shuttle trains didn't leave at convenient times. Add to this that most games were on weekends, when there are far fewer trains, meaning there was a long wait time - basically the whole thing didn't work.
Our club and its fans deserve to have direct trains to the games. I understand the MTA holding off a year ago since nobody really knew what fan support for our club would be like. Now, the data are in. We averaged 29,016 fans per game last year, compared to 39,922 for the Yankees. Yes, it's less, but not a lot less, and there is every indication we will have more fans in 2016. Our average attendance over the last half of the year was 31,232, and we have a more attractive home schedule. Those kinds of numbers can clearly support direct train service to the game.
Here is the text of the message I will send to the MTA. Feel free to adapt it for your own message.
Hi. I am writing in regard to the coming season for NYCFC at Yankee Stadium. The home opener is coming up quickly on March 13.
I request and strongly encourage you to improve Metro North service for these games, including direct trains to Yankee Stadium from all three Metro North lines, as is done for NY Yankee games. I understand Metro North taking a "wait-and-see" approach last year, but the fan support for NYCFC has been terrific and clearly justifies running a few game day trains. NYCFC averaged over 29,000 fans at home games last year, including over 31,000 fans over the last half of the season. Plus, there is every reason to expect strong fan support to continue, with season ticket sales strong, and a very attractive set of home games in 2016.
Last year, Metro North was kind enough to offer extra shuttle trains to and from Harlem/125th Street. While these are appreciated, they weren't very convenient for travelers, especially on the frequent Sunday games, when connecting service on the Harlem and New Haven lines was infrequent. Frankly, there is no substitute for the game day trains that take fans directly to and the stadium. As a season ticket holder who lives on the Harlem line, I can assure you that plenty of riders would love to take advantage of this service for NYCFC games.
Thanks much.
http://mta-nyc.custhelp.com/app/ask
---
To summarize, there are 3 main Metro North lines - Hudson, Harlem and New Haven. There is a Yankee Stadium stop on the Hudson Line that can also be accessed by the Harlem and New Haven lines by track located just north of the Harlem River Bridge. For several years now, Metro North has offered special Yankee Clipper trains when the Yankees are playing at home. All three Metro North lines have trains that go directly to the Yankee Stadium stop , with return trains leaving at specified intervals after games. They are unquestionably the best way to get to a Yankee game from Westchester and Connecticut.
For NYCFC games, however, the MTA took a different approach last year. They did not run special direct trains. Instead, they added a few extra trains shuttling from the Harlem station up to Yankee Stadium. This meant fans living on the Harlem and New Haven lines (the two biggest) had to go to 125th Street, wait around, and then transfer to a new train. Worse was after games because the extra shuttle trains didn't leave at convenient times. Add to this that most games were on weekends, when there are far fewer trains, meaning there was a long wait time - basically the whole thing didn't work.
Our club and its fans deserve to have direct trains to the games. I understand the MTA holding off a year ago since nobody really knew what fan support for our club would be like. Now, the data are in. We averaged 29,016 fans per game last year, compared to 39,922 for the Yankees. Yes, it's less, but not a lot less, and there is every indication we will have more fans in 2016. Our average attendance over the last half of the year was 31,232, and we have a more attractive home schedule. Those kinds of numbers can clearly support direct train service to the game.
Here is the text of the message I will send to the MTA. Feel free to adapt it for your own message.
Hi. I am writing in regard to the coming season for NYCFC at Yankee Stadium. The home opener is coming up quickly on March 13.
I request and strongly encourage you to improve Metro North service for these games, including direct trains to Yankee Stadium from all three Metro North lines, as is done for NY Yankee games. I understand Metro North taking a "wait-and-see" approach last year, but the fan support for NYCFC has been terrific and clearly justifies running a few game day trains. NYCFC averaged over 29,000 fans at home games last year, including over 31,000 fans over the last half of the season. Plus, there is every reason to expect strong fan support to continue, with season ticket sales strong, and a very attractive set of home games in 2016.
Last year, Metro North was kind enough to offer extra shuttle trains to and from Harlem/125th Street. While these are appreciated, they weren't very convenient for travelers, especially on the frequent Sunday games, when connecting service on the Harlem and New Haven lines was infrequent. Frankly, there is no substitute for the game day trains that take fans directly to and the stadium. As a season ticket holder who lives on the Harlem line, I can assure you that plenty of riders would love to take advantage of this service for NYCFC games.
Thanks much.