NYC Open Play, a citywide partnership with New York City FC, NYC Footy, NYC Parks and the Hudson River Park Trust gave thousands of New York sports fans a chance to hit the field during late-night hours with participation growing steadily throughout its six-week run. It was a success beyond what we could have imagined,” said Maya Handa, the city’s World Cup czar. We know that soccer is the world’s game, and there’s such overwhelming interest, but there is not always opportunity to play or to watch,” Handa said. NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura acknowledged how eager people were to participate. The program offered an option for New York soccer buffs who might otherwise have limited opportunities to play organized or pickup soccer because of work, family responsibilities or unconventional schedules.