Murphys’ Gotham FC Eyes Move to New York City, Fueling ‘So Much for New Jersey’ Criticism
HARRISON, N.J. — If taxes are your number one concern, then New Jersey is not the state for you. It seems the cost of doing business in New Jersey is too great, even for former New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and his wife Tammy’s soccer team, Gotham FC.
In preparation for the move, the NJ/NY Gotham FC officially removed the NJ/NY name from the team this season. If you remember, this team used to be Sky Blue FC, that team that complained about living and pay conditions for its female players a few years ago.
Gotham FC, the women’s professional soccer club co-owned by former New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and former First Lady Tammy Murphy, is reportedly in advanced talks to move its home matches from New Jersey to New York City — a potential relocation already drawing criticism from fans questioning the couple’s longtime branding around New Jersey pride.
Was it all just politics?
The reigning National Women’s Soccer League champions currently play at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, but ESPN and multiple reports say Gotham FC is exploring a move to Etihad Park, the new $780 million soccer-specific stadium being built for NYCFC in Willets Point, Queens.
If finalized, the move would reportedly begin with the 2028 season.
For critics, the optics are hard to ignore.
After years of publicly championing New Jersey identity, economic development, and state loyalty, the Murphys now find themselves connected to a high-profile sports franchise potentially leaving New Jersey entirely for New York City.
Gotham FC Has Deep New Jersey Political Ties
Tammy Murphy serves as a founding owner and board chair of Gotham FC, while Phil Murphy is also part of the club’s ownership group.
The team rebranded from Sky Blue FC — a club long associated with New Jersey women’s soccer — into Gotham FC as part of an effort to expand its regional identity and visibility across the broader New York metropolitan market.
The ownership group also includes lead owner Carolyn Tisch Blodgett, managing owner Ed Nalbandian, and founding owner Steven Temares.
While Gotham FC’s branding has always leaned heavily into the “NY/NJ” identity, the club has physically played its home games in New Jersey.
A move to Queens would mark the franchise’s first permanent home inside New York City limits.
Move Reflects Broader North Jersey Sports Reality
The possible relocation also reflects a long-running reality in North Jersey sports and business: major teams frequently market themselves as “New York” brands despite operating in New Jersey.
The NFL’s Giants and Jets play in East Rutherford. The Red Bulls play in Harrison. Yet New York branding often dominates nationally and internationally.
Supporters of the move argue Queens could provide Gotham FC with a more centralized fan base, stronger attendance opportunities, better transit access, and a modern soccer-focused venue designed specifically for the sport.
But critics see another example of New Jersey building infrastructure, hosting teams, and supporting development while marquee brands ultimately gravitate toward New York prestige and visibility.
Key Points
• Gotham FC is reportedly in talks to move from Harrison, New Jersey, to Queens in 2028
• Former Gov. Phil Murphy and Tammy Murphy are part of the club’s ownership group
• Critics argue the move undercuts the Murphys’ longtime public embrace of New Jersey identity
Questions Remain About Future in Harrison
No final agreement has been publicly announced, and Gotham FC has not officially confirmed a relocation timeline.
The team currently shares Sports Illustrated Stadium with Major League Soccer’s New York Red Bulls.
Etihad Park, NYCFC’s future home stadium, is under construction in Willets Point near Citi Field and is expected to become one of the premier soccer venues in the region.
A Gotham FC move there would further cement New York City as a growing center for professional soccer ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and continued expansion of the women’s game.
Still, for some New Jersey fans, the possibility stings.
The Murphys spent years publicly promoting New Jersey as an economic engine and destination for sports, entertainment, and business investment. Now, one of their own marquee sports ventures could soon leave the state behind.
Whether the move ultimately happens or not, the discussion has already reignited a familiar debate across North Jersey: when it comes to sports and branding, New Jersey often hosts the teams while New York gets the spotlight.
