Maybe it's a good thing that capacity at Citi Field for the Eastern Conference Semifinal between New York City FC and New York Red Bulls is limited to just 25,000 when the two teams play on Saturday, November 23 at 5:30 pm. The first-ever Hudson River Derby edition of the MLS Cup Playoffs will be played on a day when there will be no 7 Trains running in Manhattan due to planned work on the line's drainage system.

The 7 Train is the only subway line that reaches Citi Field, and despite the disruption in service you can still use it to get to the game. (See below.) But note that the station will be plenty busy that day, as Circus Vazquez is currently in residence in the stadium's Southfield parking lot, on the other side of Roosevelt Ave. The circus will hold three performances on Saturday, at 1 pm ET, 4 pm ET, and 7 pm ET.

Read on to learn more about the full range of transit options available: We're here to help you make it to Citi Field in time to see NYCFC and Red Bulls face off in the Eastern Conference Semifinal.

Mets-Willets Point by subway

You will still be able to get to Citi Field via subway from Manhattan, but you will need to transfer at Queensboro Plaza or 74 St-Broadway/Jackson Hts-Roosevelt Av. As for those of you traveling from Brooklyn, plan on a long commute.

• From Manhattan

• The 7 Train will be running between Queensboro Plaza, the transit hub in Long Island City, and Mets-Willets Point before terminating at Flushing-Main St
• Travelers from Manhattan can take the N or W Trains and transfer at Queensboro Plaza, or take the E, F, or R Trains and transfer at 74 St-Broadway/Jackson Hts-Roosevelt Av

• From Brooklyn

• The 7 Train will not be in service at Court Square, which means it will not provide a transfer point with the G Train
• Travelers from Brooklyn will need to take the E, F, N, W, or R Trains through Manhattan and transfer in Queens
• Alternately, travelers from Brooklyn can take a bus that connects with the 7 Train

Mets-Willets Point by LIRR

The Long Island Railroad runs direct trains every hour between Penn Station and Mets-Willets Point, and Grand Central Madison and Mets-Willets Point. The trip takes just 19 minutes.

Note that Grand Central Madison is a part of the Grand Central Terminal complex, but the tracks are not accessible from the central concourse. Instead, you access Grand Central Madison from the Vanderbilt Avenue side of Grand Central Terminal — look for the signs.

Additionally, hourly trains from Penn Station connect with trains from Grand Central at Woodside. That trip takes 28 minutes outbound to Queens, and 32 minutes inbound to Manhattan.

LIRR Schedule | 11/23/24
Manhattan to Mets-Willets Point

* Transfer at Woodside

According to New York City FC, the LIRR will accommodate subway riders on at no additional cost.

LIRR Schedule | 11/23/24
Mets-Willets Point to Manhattan

Route	Dep	Arr
Penn Station – Mets-Willets Point*	2:54	3:22
Grand Central – Mets-Willets Point	3:03	3:22
Penn Station – Mets-Willets Point	3:28	3:47
Penn Station – Mets-Willets Point*	3:54	4:22
Grand Central – Mets-Willets Point	4:03	4:22
Penn Station – Mets-Willets Point	4:28	4:47
Penn Station – Mets-Willets Point*	4:54	5:22
Grand Central – Mets-Willets Point	5:03	5:22
Penn Station – Mets-Willets Point	5:28	5:47
Penn Station – Mets-Willets Point*	5:54	6:22
Grand Central – Mets-Willets Point	6:03	6:22

Route	Dep	Arr
Mets-Willets Point – Grand Central	7:22	7:41
Mets-Willets Point – Penn Station*	7:22	7:54
Mets-Willets Point – Penn Station	7:55	8:14
Mets-Willets Point – Grand Central	8:22	8:41
Mets-Willets Point – Penn Station*	8:22	8:54
Mets-Willets Point – Penn Station	8:55	9:14

* Transfer at Woodside

Citi Field by Car

Parking will be available for the game, but the lots will likely be busier than usual because of the service disruption to the 7 Train, Red Bulls fans traveling into New York City from New Jersey and elsewhere in the region, and people attending the 4 pm ET and 7 pm ET performances of Circus Vazquez.