NYCFC Lights Empire State Building

 

Maxi Moralez, Andrea Pirlo, and Matt Freese. Photos by Jason Schott. 

New York City Football Club celebrated its 10th anniversary in style at the Empire State Building on Wednesday afternoon.

Andrea Pirlo, the Italian soccer star who played for NYCFC from its inaugural season in 2015 through '17, joined current players Maxi Moralez and goalkeeper Matt Freese ahead of the building being lit blue that night in honor of the club.

They all pulled a lever to light up a model of the building in the blue that would be shown that night, and they each received a model of the Empire State Building. 

Matt Freese, Maxi Moralez, and Andrea Pirlo next to the lit model of the Empire State Building. 

NYCFC CEO Brad Sims with Freese, Moralez, and Pirlo.

Moralez, Pirlo, and Freese with their models of the Empire State Building.

Matt Freese next to the lever they pulled to light the building.

NYCFC's home opener is this Saturday night at Yankee Stadium against Orlando City FC, with kickoff at 7:30 p.m. NYCFC played their first two games on the road, as they earned a 2-2 draw in Miami on February 22 before losing a tough one, 1-0, to LAFC last Saturday night.

Sims pointed out that it will be the 10th anniversary of when they played their first game on March 8, 2015.