Manchester City fan's trip to America
The moment Jann stepped into the room, the cheers of the City fans rang out instantly. They greeted him enthusiastically, with a glint in their eyes as they praised that fourth jersey - the players' first appearance in an Inter Milan match.
The crowd was slightly cooler today. Usually, the early weekend games attract many fans, especially at the end of the season when the high stakes intensify the viewing frenzy. But even so, the bar was filled with dozens of fans in front of the nine televisions. Some are in groups of three, some are alone. They peeped into the game while intently operating their laptops - a sure reminder that this was happening on a weekday afternoon, 8 p.m. in England, which is exactly 3 p.m. in Manhattan.
The decline in viewership may be related to fans choosing to watch games at home or in the office, epitomizing the challenge media organizations face with changing consumer habits.
Univision's president of global sports, Olek Löwenstein, had told TA this summer that evolving consumer habits are forcing changes in the TV industry.
Levenstein said, "Now that we have a streaming platform, users can enjoy content anytime, anywhere. Interestingly, much of the content is watched silently, such as the Champions League during the day - meaning you're essentially watching it in the office while taking care of other business."
However, the great thing about watching a game live with your teammates is that you can turn up the sound and enjoy the excitement that comes with the game.
Sometimes you can even shout like a fan, thousands of miles away from the stadium.
At Amity Hall, you can join a group of strangers in chanting the classic Manchester City fan cheer, "We're not really here!" (translation: We're not really here!", which has been one of the iconic songs for City fans since the 1990s)
There's no denying that American audiences are getting more passionate about the Champions League by the day.
Last June's Champions League final drew about 3.62 million English/Spanish speaking viewers, according to the Associated Press. That number is up 6 percent from last year, according to Nielsen. The game was considered the most-watched sporting event in the U.S. on the day it was broadcast.
American fans have a unique perspective on European soccer. Perhaps it's because their families have deep historical roots in Europe, or like David Moncada, who was mesmerized by German goalkeeper Oliver Khan at the 2002 World Cup. At just six years old, Moncada is now a bartender at Pub, a soccer bar in Hoboken, New Jersey.
Mulligan's Pub is one of the most famous soccer bars in New Jersey and has been in business since 2000. Every Champions League game is held here.
The pub opens for business at noon on Wednesdays, although its website claims to be open 2 hours later. The streets are filled with flags and other apparel of traditional American sports teams, but Mulligan's Pub stands out.
The entrance to the bar features a wood-carved replica of the World Cup trophy. On the outside wall of the building is a mural from many years ago depicting some of the most iconic soccer stars of all time: Messi, Crow, Pele, Maradona, and others, as well as the current captain of the U.S. National Team, Pulisic, and Ireland's Paul McGrath. The museum displays a variety of soccer memorabilia, from a scarf from the 2024 Copa America to a scarf from the 2007 soccer cup final between Chelsea and Manchester United. The store also features logos associated with teams from around the world.
Anyone who enters Mulligan's Pub knows that multiple games may be on at the same time. That's why on Wednesdays, you'll see fans wearing Celtics and Miami International jerseys at both ends of the bar. When fans walk in and ask which TV will be showing which game, they're quickly assured that "no matter where you're sitting, the game (you want to watch) will be on there."
Moncada wears a Bayern Munich jersey and has been with Mulligan's Pub for almost two years. His Colombian heritage has given him a love for soccer, which he has played all his life. Since the announcement that the 2026 Men's World Cup finals will be held at MetLife Stadium a few miles to the north, Mulligan's has become an even more popular destination for local media.
Moncada said it has become the norm for people to use laptops while watching the game, or to watch the game with golf clubs while playing. This Wednesday's crowd was quieter than usual, at least at noon local time. He expects a bigger crowd today (Thursday), when Arsenal and Barcelona will be playing.
Back in Amity, it's a quick train ride from Hoboken. When the whistle blew for the end of City's 5pm match with Inter Milan, half the crowd quickly dispersed, presumably back to their daily activities. At least until Thursday's next Champions League match...
