It is called Gotham FC because the club rebranded in 2021 to adopt “Gotham,” a long‑standing nickname for New York City and also the name of Batman’s fictional Gotham City, which is often linked to New York and New Jersey in popular culture. The club wanted a name that represented both New Jersey and New York, captured the region’s identity and diversity, and felt bold and modern compared with the old “Sky Blue FC” name.

Name origin

• The team was originally called Sky Blue FC before a 2021 rebrand to NJ/NY Gotham FC.

• The new name was chosen to reflect the broader New York–New Jersey metropolitan area and to align with the “Gotham” nickname commonly used for New York City.

Batman and “Gotham”

• “Gotham” also refers to Gotham City from Batman, which DC Comics has long portrayed as a city modeled on New York and canonically placed in New Jersey, tying neatly to the club’s geography.

• The pop‑culture association with Batman helped create a distinctive, edgy brand while still grounding the identity in the local NY/NJ region.

Club’s own explanation

• Club leadership described the change as reflecting rapid growth, an expanded regional reach, and the determination and diversity of local communities.

• The crest and colors (Sky Blue, Gotham Black, Cloud White) were designed to honor the club’s past name, its new Gotham identity, and its long‑time supporters.