Red Bull Arena Hacks: 5 Things you should know

Editor’s note: This is an update of Michael Battista's legendary post from last year, with so-fresh-it's-still-moving info added for 2024.  As always, we’re grateful for his valuable insight into America's semipro and amateur soccer scene, and how best to experience the charms of Red Bull Arena.

Good News: New York City FC advanced in Leagues Cup and will play Liga MX side Tigres UANL in the Round of 16 tomorrow! Bad news: The game is being played on my side of the river at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ.

After years of using the New York Red Bulls’ stadium as their secondary venue, this will mark the first time this year that NYCFC will make the trip across the Hudson River. The club has made a concerted effort to play their games in New York City at either Yankee Stadium or Citi Field, but with the Leagues Cup's short turnaround and both ballparks occupied this week, that means it's Jersey or bust.

Regardless, it might be helpful to give some quick advice for those new to the best soccer-specific stadium in the New York Metropolitan Area. It’s not like I have much local lower-league soccer to keep me busy.

1. Take the PATH for the love of God

I said it last year, and I’ll say it again: Don’t drive. It's no surprise that a majority of NYCFC’s fanbase is going to have to commute to this game. The best way to get to Harrison has, and always will be, the Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) train.

The fare is just $2.75, and now all stations accept contactless payments.

Tuesday is a weekday, which means getting to Red Bull Arena will see the trains running on a standard weekday schedule. World Trade Center trains depart for Newark every five minutes, while the 33rd Street to Journal Square trains depart every five to ten minutes.

As RBNY fans and more complain about the infrequent PATH weekend frequency, we can all appreciate one thing about this stupid Leagues Cup scheduling.

There is one drawback, however. The game is set to kickoff at 8 pm ET, and if the match drags on then you run the risk of facing a long wait to get back to New York City. (See schedule below.) On weekdays, trains run every 10 minutes until 9:18 pm, then every 15 minutes until 10:47 pm. You better make it to the platform before then because that's when the schedule falls apart and you're waiting 35 minutes between trains. There's one at 11:22 pm, another at 11:57 pm, then 12:32 am.

At the end of the day, it's up to you how you handle your priorities. But no one is gonna look down on you leaving early if it’s a blowout or if you have work early the next day.

PATH | Weekday Schedule
New York City to Harrison

PATH | Weekday Schedule
Harrison to New York City

* Transfer at Journal Square

2. Or park in the Harrison Parking Center

If you decide to drive, the best advice I can give you is where not to park.

Do not park at the lot on the corner of Frank E Rodgers Blvd and Guyon Dr, to the left of the stadium. Everyone uses it, including non-soccer commuters. Once the game ends, all traffic empties onto Frank E Rodgers Blvd, and sometimes the Harrison cops make you turn right towards I-280. It becomes a bottleneck.

Do not park at the lot directly across from the stadium (the dirt patch). It has two exits. However, the Harrison cops will sometimes direct southbound traffic across the Jackson Street bridge into Newark. Northbound traffic is caught behind cars headed onto Frank E Rodgers Blvd.

Do not park at the shopping center parking lot or you will get towed. There’s a guy in a green tow truck who assembles a team to target any out-of-state license plate during game day. It’s a well-oiled machine. Honestly, you gotta admire the speed at which this man and his team ruin people’s nights.

My advice: Use the Harrison Parking Center garage next to the PATH station. It is a little more expensive, yes. And there are moments where it bottlenecks if the game is too crowded. However this is a weeknight game on short notice, so it should be fine.

Enter the garage from the entrance on South 3rd Street. When the game ends and you exit back that way, you have two options:

• Go onto Frank E Rodgers Blvd with everyone else
• Go straight onto Burlington Street, turn right onto South 2nd Street, and you’ll find another entrance for I-280

However, let me warn you: If I can’t find a spot on the third floor near the elevator because I see too many New York license plates, I will key your cars.

Let's be frank, there’s a solid chance New York City fans are matched or outnumbered by Tigres fans. This game is in another state from the team’s home base and it's late. I expect most of the Liga MX supporters to drive and they will be closer to the stadium.

3. Where to get a bite outside RBA

If you work a traditional 9 to 5 and you head straight to the stadium, you will have time to kill after you get to New Jersey. Red Bull Arena’s location means there aren't a ton of fantastic options.

If you need a quick bite and just don’t care, the Five Guys or Wendys not far from the PATH station is going to serve you well. For those of you looking for something with a little more character, I have a few recommendations.

There are two Italian restaurants in the area that can have you in and out before kickoff, and each has a different vibe. Ah' Pizz is just down the street from the stadium (330 Angelo Cifelli Dr) and is slightly more bougie than it is pizza joint. There’s a lot of variety in the type of pies you can get, all Neapolitan-style, and the prices reflect that. You won’t hate going there, the food is good, and there are TVs along the wall. But it isn’t my top choice.

Instead, consider Nino's (442 Bergen St), which is more like a joint. It doesn’t have a bar, or wall-to-wall TVs, but the pizzas taste good. Honestly, it probably has the best Sicilian pizzas outside of L&B Spumoni Gardens in Brooklyn.

If you want to grab a beer or a drink, try The Station at The Element Harrison (the bar in the hotel next to the PATH station), or the bar at Joia Restaurant (1100 Frank E Rodgers Blvd S).

4. What to eat at RBA in 2024

If you get to the stadium later, or are still peckish once you have your ticket scanned, there are some good options inside Red Bull Arena.

There is a plethora of new additions to the RBA food lineup that, if available, should be considered. In particular, I suggest:

• Buffalo Chicken Egg Rolls (Located at The Coop near Section 128): Slow-braised buffalo chicken wrapped in a crispy egg roll wrapper.
• Bodega Bites (Located at the Bodega near Section 112): Gluten-free fried cheese bread.

Delaware North, the company that controls concessions at RBA, has a hit-or-miss record when it comes to food, but these have been consistently good.

Last year, I made a point to say that Brisas Empanadas were the way to go at RBA. In good conscience, I can’t stand by that anymore.

When the empanadas originally debuted at the arena, the food came directly from the Brisas Colombianas Bakery in Elizabeth. After Delaware North took control of production, it really wasn’t the same. Look, you aren’t going to regret eating the empanadas if you get the chance, but they just aren't as good as they once were.

At the end of the day, it's still stadium food. Depending on how the game is going, it’ll either be the best thing you’ve had or you’ll taste the price with every bite.

One thing that hopefully won’t be an issue is long lines, because…

5. Download the Red Bulls App to make eating at concessions easier

Make a fake email if you have to. I don’t care, I’m just trying to help you out. The New York Red Bulls App is annoyingly simple and a good thing to have while at Red Bull Arena.

Red Bull Arena, like Yankee Stadium, has express pickup lines at concession stands. However, unlike in the Bronx, Uber Eats isn’t the main option. Instead, it’s the Red Bulls app, which will allow you to place an order from your seat and pick it up when it’s ready.

You need to tap the top of the app to switch from Red Bulls New York mode to Red Bull Arena mode. That is where you make orders and such.

The app can also be used at Gotham FC games, too.