Dear Readers,
Itβs with enormous sadness that I’m writing to say goodbye. When I took over Hudson River Blue late in the 2021 season, New York City FC hadn’t yet won a title, and the team’s stadium saga was all frustration and dead ends. The media landscape was different, too: HRB was a part of SB Nation, and Twitter was a solid source of news.
Fast-forward to 2026, and NYCFC have a star above the badge and a gorgeous stadium under construction in Queens. HRB also evolved, and it was an honor to help it transform and grow.
But now itβs time for me to step away from HRB.
I can’t speak to the future of the site, but I encourage you to follow the people who have made it so exceptional these past few years.
First and foremost, there is Andrew Leigh, who brought so much wit and analytical acuity to his posts β I always enjoy reading what he writes. There is the core group of NYCFC contributors, John Baney, Matthew Mangam, and Mark Radigan, three writers who know the team inside out and cut their teeth writing in these pages. There is Michael Battista, whose encyclopedic knowledge of lower-league soccer and love of the US Open Cup is unmatched. Finally, there is Megha Gupta, who leveled up our Gotham FC coverage, and Tyrese Allyne Davis, who did the same for Brooklyn FC. My advice? Keep tabs on them and their work.
Thank you for your support, and for reading HRB.
Sincerely,
Oliver Strand
Sadness but thank you for these years of great reads.
this is a huge loss. thank you so much for everything
sorry to see ya go, pal. thanks for such inspiring & relentless support/contribution to the site and the nycfc community. the best luck!! π€π€π€
wait. does this mean the end of the HRB at all? :O
apparently so. I got an email about a refund
saw Mark Radigan attend the post game conference with the coach Jansen, him ‘identified’ as HRB. had no see this coming. must be something on a whim? bummer to lose almost the only ‘proper’ entity to NYCFC from almost the beginning… would love to contribute if needed to revive it, not to lose it at all…
Oliver – I have really enjoyed reading all of the great content and listening to the HRB podcast. You have done a great job. Whatever the challenges may be, please know that we all have faced our own professional hurdles, obstacles, and setbacks – and those are not what define us. Move forward with purpose! Us soccer sickos will still be here.
Thank you to the whole team for all of the hard work over the years. Would love to get a farewell podcast episode or see if the name could live on in a weekly podcast format. Cheers
Just another thank you – my son and I have enjoyed your work on this site. Sorry to see you go and wishing you the best going forward.