FC Barcelona Supporters Club in New York City receives Club delegation at Smithfield Hall

After the event with UNICEF at the headquarters of the United Nations, the Club’s delegation moved to Smithfield Hall on West 25th Street, the pub that serves as a meeting point for members of the FC Barcelona Supporters Club in New York City. At the place which is also well known to soccer lovers of the city, Josep Maria Bartomeu, Jordi Cardoner and Ronaldinho were received by Jordi Getman, president of the supporters club, along with around 150 of the group’s members. Together they shared an informal lunch where Bartomeu announced to supporters the strategic lines designed by the Club with its arrival in the United States.

It should be noted that the social aspect is one of the priorities of the Club in this country. A goal of the opening of the Club's office in New York is to get closer to its members, supporters and fans in order to strengthen their sense of belonging to FC Barcelona and meet their needs.

The Penya FC Barcelona New York City, the official name of the supporters club, has been around for 15 years and has a very active social presence that tends to promote a wide range of activities. Its more than 250 members meet at Smithfield Hall to watch every Barça game, sharing experiences and supporting their club more than 6,000 kilometres away from the Camp Nou.

Statement from First Vice President Jordi Cardoner:

“To promote Barça in America is important and to do so in New York is even more important, nevertheless, we have other supporters’ clubs in areas such as Washington, Chicago, San Francisco…, all in all, this feeling comes from people such as the president of the New York Supporters’ Clubs. Jordi Getman, Catalans who are living in New York who want to be close to their club, Barça, and the Club wants to get closer to them.”

“The growth of the supporters’ club is in line with the growth of the Club. Sporting excellence and social excellence from our club at the end of the day is reflected in the make of the supporters’ clubs, so it is normal for one to accompany the other.”

“We would like Barça’s presence on the continent, starting from the opening of the office in New York, also had an influence on the supporters’ clubs. We have to start bringing ourselves closer, not just for our presence in New York but also in the US in general, and next year we would like to have a supporters’ club congress on the continent, that is something that we are working on.”