Starting an expansion franchise is hard enough. Gaining a foothold in a city that already has an established, rival club is even harder.
But New York City FC, heading into their second season in Major League Soccer, are doing a remarkable job connecting with its growing fanbase.
Take NYCFC's creative jersey reveal, for example. Whereas most clubs opt for a routine, mundane kit presentation with a couple of players in front of a room full of journalists, New York's newest sports team asked a few of its biggest stars to personally surprise some fans at their jobs and present them with the club's new secondary kit for 2016.
The three fans chosen were under the impression that they were simply being filmed for a documentary, when suddenly Andrea Pirlo, David Villa and Kwadwo Poku showed up to make their day. Take a look at this outstanding video:
Really well done. Respect!
As for the new jersey itself? Well...
