The view from.. New York

Arsenal NYC are representing the continent of North America in our week of global blogs ahead of the FA Cup final. Here, Kurtis Powers tells us about overflowing bars, experiencing a Fever Pitch weekend last year and why certain streets are red.

July 26, 2014. I’m walking west on 14th Street in New York City. I’m behind a guy and a girl. The girl asks: “Why is everyone wearing red over here?” The guy replies: “It’s for Arsenal. Fourteenth Street is all Arsenal.”

I started Arsenal NYC with Brett Chase back in 2007. At the time there were just a few of us who turned up multiple times a week, regardless of day and time, to watch the Arsenal at the only pub in NYC that regularly showed the football. Pay-per-view or not, you knew you could watch your match.

Fast forward to 2014, after what felt like an eternity, our boys in red and white lift the FA Cup at Wembley following a tense final against Hull City. I was there that day. Despite the buzz of being present and enjoying what felt like the film Fever Pitch all over north London the following day, the texts from home telling me how many pubs were overflowing with Arsenal stretching across 14th Street, bleeding into every pub that had a TV from Avenue A to Union Square, I somewhat wished I was able to see that as well.

There were an estimated 2,500 people in the pubs over here that day. Needless to say, New York City knows about the Arsenal Football Club. Even those walking down 14th Street in July when we were celebrating the arrival of Arsenal in America for the first time in 25 years knew why we’re all wearing red.

For the FA Cup final this year, I’ll be here. With all of Arsenal NYC. And with all those that come to experience Arsenal for the first time. We’ll have yellow ribbons from Union Square on 14th Street. We’ll be at Blind Pig, The Winslow and O’Hanlons. Though, like last year, when the pubs were at capacity two hours before kick-off, we also have some overflow pubs planned in advance. We’ll also be at Woodwork and The Highbury Pub in Brooklyn. Others will be at Legends in Midtown, and likely any pub showing the football. There’s one thing that you can be certain of, you will see Arsenal all over NYC come Saturday.

And all over cities in this large country, you will see much of the same. Miles away from London, but right there with you all in passion and spirit. We’ll all be singing “And it’s Arsenal, Arsenal FC. We’re by far the greatest team, the world has ever seen!”

She wore…!

C’mon you Gunners!