[7][8][9][10] On July 12, 2019, three supporters groups—Empire Supporters Club and Viking Army from the Red Bulls, and the Third Rail from NYCFC—announced the formation of the Hudson River Derby Foundation, a non-profit corporation two years in the making, to "grow, manage, and administer the annual Hudson River Derby competition" between the two clubs.

[11][8] On September 9, 2023, the Hudson River Derby Foundation unveiled the physical trophy contested by the clubs, a bronze representation of the Statue of Liberty's torch.

[12] Speaking about the rivalry between the two clubs, former U.S. men's national team goalkeeper and television commentator Tony Meola was quoted as saying "it isn't fabricated.

Since its start, MLS has engaged in a steady process of expansion from its initial ten clubs until 2010, when the league announced its intention to award its 20th franchise to New York City.

[18] NYCFC instantly made being in the five boroughs a key element of its club identity, as opposed to the suburban nature of the Red Bulls.

[23] In 2017, New York City began to gain traction in the derby, going undefeated in all three meetings and finishing above the Red Bulls for the first time.

[24] That same year, the Red Bulls and New York City FC played their first exhibition game and the first derby match in a neutral stadium.

This enhanced the rivalry further, leading to tense and sometimes heated encounters between the two sides including a back and forth 1–1 draw in August of 2018 with the Red Bulls and New York City going into the match 2nd and 3rd in the East respectively.

The Red Bulls went on to defeat Orlando City SC, before losing to the Los Angeles Galaxy in the MLS Cup Final.

[32] New York City FC's first official supporter group, The Third Rail, began to form after the club's announcement in May 2013, when fans met through social media, and through member drives and viewing parties for 2014 FIFA World Cup matches.

[34] Even from the beginning of NYCFC's time in MLS, the rivalry between the supporters has been intense, with social media used extensively by both sets of fans to exchange everything from mild teasing to insults and vitriol.

[36] Prior to their third and final league meeting of the 2015 season, the first reported incident of violence between the two sets of fans occurred at a gastropub in Newark frequented by members of the Garden State Ultras.

On December 11, 2014, the Red Bulls sent Ryan Meara on a one-year loan to NYCFC for the rights to Sal Zizzo, who had been selected from Sporting Kansas City in the 2014 MLS Expansion Draft the previous day.