The Supporters Clubs of New York: Real Madrid at Mr. Dennehy’s
By Lorna Evio
What is so real about Real Madrid? It is a football club known for only buying superstars that have included the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo and David Beckham. The club is so commercialized that Real Madrid itself is a brand and has grown to become the second richest football club in the world.
The global presence of the club can be seen in the growth of the Real Madrid Supporters Club in NYC (Peña Madridista New York City), in just four years.
Founded in the summer of 2007, Real Madrid NYC (Peña Madridista New York City) is one of three official Real Madrid Supporter’s Clubs in the USA. The club’s President and Vice President are Elena Ponce and Sergio Carrasco respectively.
Real Madrid NYC is a non-profit club whose mission is to share their passion
for Real Madrid while building a large New York network of fans and friends. A group that initially started with just seven people now boasts a mailing list of 400 Madridistas (Real Madrid Supporters) in the metro area. Last year they reached 140 official paying members, an incredible record for a Real Madrid Supporter’s club, and one not easily matched outside of Spain.
The club meets for almost every Real Madrid game at their home Mr. Dennehy’s (63 Carmine St) in the Village. Their meetings are updated weekly on their website: www.realmadridnyc.com
Despite the stress that comes along with organising a huge supporters club, a highlight for Sergio has been “meeting amazing people, from every corner of the world”.
As Elena says, “it has been great seeing Americans embrace the sport that still has room to grow in this country.”
Real Madrid may have the money to afford the best and most popular players in the world, just do not compare them to other rich football clubs. As Elena points out,
“we are not a club that was purchased by a billionaire. Our history allows us to buy the best players”.
Real Madrid is actually owned by its members. When Florentino Perez became club President he sold many of the clubs assets to pay their debts, allowing the club to make expensive purchases every season as well as having the highest turnover in football.
Yet despite all the glamour and glitz that Real Madrid portrays, it is their supporters that give a bona fide feeling to the club. Once you are surrounded by the Madridistas of NYC, you can instantly feel that you are part of a family. Elena describes the family atmosphere as a “representation of the leadership team, this is what we wanted it to be”.
Love or loathe the Real Madrid football club, one thing for sure. You will love being around Peña Madridista, New York City. And before you know it, you may also be saying Hala Madrid.
Follow Lorna on Twitter @herrightboot
THE HEARTT OF REAL MADRID NYC
No, that’s not a typo in the headline, although Christmas season does take it’s toll on our editor. HEARTT (Health Education and Relief through Teaching), is in fact the charity that Real Madrid NYC is involved with.
The goal behind HEARTT is to help pay the wages of a greatly needed mental health nurse in war-torn Liberia, Africa.
One of the NY Real Madrid’s own members, Dr. Jessica W. will be traveling to Liberia on this medical mission.
Liberia has recently suffered through a grueling civil war. However, with a population of approximately 3.5 million people there is only one psychiatrist in the entire country to take care of all the mental health needs of the recovering population.
The Mount Sinai Global Mental Health Program, a part of the Mount Sinai Global Health Center, has been working in collaboration with HEARTT and the Liberian Ministry of Health and Social Welfare on a project to develop a child and mother mental health consultation service at JFK hospital in Monrovia. The project, which meets a very evident and immediate need in a country where the population is young and mental health resources are very scarce, is progressing, but there is still a need to fund the $4,000 annual salary of the mental health nurse who will staff the service.
The club accepts donations before and after every match at Mr. Dennehy’s.
Your donations are greatly appreciated.
Additional questions can directed to
See The Complete list of Supporters Clubs of New York
