PURCHASE, N.Y. - Things are getting kicking as the city's newest Major League Soccer franchise has their inaugural home opener this weekend.
The New York City Football Club will play the New England Revolution at Yankee Stadium on Sunday.
The team practiced at SUNY Purchase in Westchester County on Friday, working out on a field cleared of snow.
The club drew 1-1 in the first game in its history, against Orlando FC last Sunday. Mix Diskerud scored for New York.
Orlando scored late in that match, leaving the feeling that NYCFC let a victory slip away, but head coach Jason Kreis said he's confident his club will only improve.
"I want to get better," Kreis said. "I've said a long time, for the past several weeks, that we shouldn't expect that this is going to be a finished product. I would never expect that we're going to be our absolute best in week 1."
The team is putting that game behind them and looking to play their best in front of their New York fans.
"I think every step forward is a positive step," said NYCFC midfielder Sebastian Velasquez. "Hopefully, we can get three points, and that'd be real exciting for us.
The Yankees are a minority owner in the team, but some Yankee players have expressed concern that so much soccer will leave the field torn up during baseball season.
Fans who spoke with NY1 say they're excited anyway.
"I really like soccer, I think it's great there's a team in the city nearby. I'm not a Yankees fan, so I don't care as much about the Yankees field controversy," said one fan.
"It's good for the revenue for the city. Anything that helps out the city is good, and hopefully it'll get more people interested in soccer and be a good experience," said another soccer fan.
Modells is the official retail partner of the New York City Football Club and is selling all of the team's gear.
For more information, you can call 1-855-776-9232, or visit nycfc.com.