NJ/NY Gotham FC to Host Washington Spirit Sat. Aug. 9, 2025 @ Noon

In a departure from the usual evening kickoff, Gotham FC will host the Washington Spirit at noon this Saturday, August 9, at Sports Illustrated Stadium—formerly known as Red Bull Arena—in Harrison, New Jersey. This early start promises an electric atmosphere on the pitch and some disruptions off it.

A Tale of Two Clubs

Gotham FC, originally founded in 2006 as Jersey Sky Blue (later Sky Blue FC), competed in the WPS before becoming a founding member of the NWSL in 2013.

Today, they call Sports Illustrated Stadium their home—boasting a seating capacity of 25,000. Gotham markets itself as NJ/NY Gotham FC, which, unlike the Red Bulls organization, does not pay homage to the location of its home stadium. The Red Bull Organization, despite calling Harrison, NJ, home, holds its youth training camps in Florham Park, NJ.  The towns of Harrison and its neighboring Town of Kearny have produced World Cup players.  It would be ideal for a future World Cup player to be able to walk to a Red Bulls training camp.

Washington Spirit emerged in 2012, succeeding the D.C. United Women and began play as one of the original NWSL franchises in 2013. Their home is Audi Field in Washington, D.C., which holds 20,000 spectators.

Noon vs. Night: A Scheduling Curveball

Though Saturday matches typically kick off at 7:30 p.m., Saturday’s game kicks off at Noon.  A Noon start time forces an earlier influx of fans that brings with it a ripple effect beyond the stadium gates.

Residents in southern Harrison must contend with road closures, traffic jams, and police-escorted routes for ingress and egress. These direct escorts, while vital for maintaining safety and order, disrupt normal routines in a way that a traditional evening match might not. The Harrison Police Department has indicated it will issue a Traffic Bulletin ahead of the game, outlining detours and timings for affected streets.

What to Know Before Heading Out

• Match: Gotham FC vs. Washington Spirit
• When: Saturday, August 9, 2025, at noon, early compared to the usual evening start
• Where: Sports Illustrated Stadium, Harrison, NJ (capacity: 25,000)
• Teams:
  • Gotham FC — founded 2006 (joined NWSL in 2013), plays at 25,000-seat Sports Illustrated Stadium
  • Washington Spirit — founded 2012 (NWSL original member, 2013), plays at 20,000-seat Audi Field
  • Looking Ahead

Fans are advised to plan ahead: leave extra travel time, watch for the upcoming traffic advisory from Harrison Police Department, and expect that navigating around the southern end of Harrison may require alternate routes—even if just a short walk.  It is highly recommended to take the PATH train into Harrison, NJ.  The Harrison PATH Station is just down a large city block from the stadium.

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