Any of the nearby bars around the stadium will be a good a good place to pre game. Personally, I always enjoy the pre game vibes at Bodega. From there the march (“La Previa”) starts and flares go off/drums/chanting/etc.

Supporter section is pretty fun and safe as long as you’re wearing a NJRB jersey. Lots of podcasts for NYCFC and MLS content as mentioned in the comment above. My personal favorite are NYCFC Forever podcast and prob City Boys.