On Sunday, October 19, 2025, Assemblyman and New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani hosted The Cost of Living Classic, a borough-versus-borough soccer tournament at Maimonides Park in Coney Island. The event was co-organized with NYC Footy, a local recreational soccer league, and aimed to draw attention to the city’s affordability crisis — a central issue in Mamdani’s campaign.
The tournament was free to enter, with teams representing each borough competing under the stadium lights. Players wore color-coded jerseys labeled with their borough names and slogans such as “For a City We Can Afford.” The crowd included campaign volunteers, local soccer fans, and residents who came to watch or participate.
The Cost of Living Classic blended community recreation with political outreach. While it functioned as part of Mamdani’s campaign to highlight the affordability crisis in New York City, it also served as an accessible and informal public event — bringing residents together outside the usual campaign setting.
