Sports Events in New York City
Sports in New York are a vital part of the city's fabric. New York is brimming with popular sports teams in all major American sports leagues.
- The New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets are the city's representatives in the NBA.
- The Giants and Jets represent the city in the NFL football league, although their home stadium is located in New Jersey.
- The New York Rangers represent the city in the NHL National Hockey League, alongside New Jersey's representative – the Devils.
- Leading them all are the city's baseball teams – the Yankees and the Mets, the most iconic symbols of the city's sports culture. In the Yankees played the city's most legendary athletes, giants like Mickey Mantle, Babe Ruth, Sandy Koufax, and Joe DiMaggio.
- The city is also home to a soccer team in the MLS and a successful women's basketball team – the New York Liberty.
- During the year, other significant sports events take place, such as the US Open Grand Slam tennis tournament held at Flushing Meadows in Queens during the summer months.
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Basketball in New York City
The New York Knicks
The New York Knicks are one of the city's symbols and probably the number one sports attraction for sports-loving tourists in New York City. Knicks games offer two main advantages for foreign tourists in the city: familiarity with the game (who really knows all the rules of football?) and the most convenient location, right in the heart of Manhattan, at Madison Square Garden. The team is named after the Knickerbockers, the loose pants that were popular in America at the beginning of the 20th century (the cousins of Knickers or English underwear) and were associated with the original Dutch settlers of New Amsterdam.
The Knicks along with the Boston Celtics, are the only teams in the NBA (short for National Basketball Association) that have played since the league's inception and remain in their original city. Although the team hasn't won a championship in 50 years, it still provides the evening's entertainment for occasional tourists and tens of thousands of New Yorkers.
Home Stadium Address: Madison Square Garden, 4 Pennsylvania Plaza, New York
How to get there? By the red, yellow, orange, and blue subway lines. Get off at Penn Station or Herald Square, 34th Street
Click here to purchase game tickets for the Knicks at Madison Square Garden…
Click here for all the information about the Knicks on the NBA League website…
The Brooklyn Nets
The Brooklyn Nets have always been New York's second team, even back when they were playing in another state entirely, in New Jersey. Even then, the team was part of the metropolis but with their move to the new Barclays Center on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, in 2013, they officially became the city's second team again. The team actually started in New York in the ABA league and was called the New York Nets before moving in 1976 to New Jersey. The Nets are a great solution for those struggling to get tickets to see the Knicks. The stadium is very accessible from Manhattan and it's usually not hard to find a spot (unless, by chance, it's a playoff game).
Home Stadium Address: Atlantic Ave 620, Brooklyn, NY, Barclays Center
How to get there? You should head to the Atlantic Av-Barclays Ctr subway station in Brooklyn, on the green lines (4,5), yellow (N,Q and R), orange (B,D) or red (2,3) lines.
To purchase online tickets for the Brooklyn Nets NBA games, click here…
Click here for all the information on the Brooklyn Nets on the NBA website…
Baseball in New York City
The New York Yankees
While the Knicks are a respected and well-known symbol of New York, no team compares to what the Yankees mean to the city and its residents. The Yankees are the undisputed symbol of New York sports with superstars like Babe Ruth, Sandy Koufax, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Lou Gehrig, Yogi Berra, and countless other legends.
The team has won the World Series about 27 times, making it the most decorated team in the MLB (Major League Baseball). In stark contrast to the Knicks, they are considered winners and hence the pride of the city. The Yankees play at Yankee Stadium, located in the southern part of the Bronx borough. The stadium has a capacity of 47,000 people, and with so many games a year, getting tickets is no problem (except for the playoffs). The Yankees are also well-known in pop culture as George Costanza's workplace in Seinfeld under the team's owner George Steinbrenner, with Larry David providing his voice.
Home Stadium Address: Yankee Stadium, located at E 161 St. 1, Bronx, NY
How to get there? Subway station 161 St-Yankee Stadium, Orange Line (D), Green Line (4)
Click here to buy online tickets for the New York Yankees games (in season)…
For all the information about the New York Yankees on the MLB website, click here…
The New York Mets
The Mets were established only in 1962 after the Dodgers and Giants left for Los Angeles and San Francisco (respectively) in 1957. After a few terrible years, in 1969 they won the World Series and have since been nicknamed The Amazin's. They won the World Series again in 1986 in what is called the Miracle of Game Six, where the Boston Red Sox were just one out away from winning the championship. Game Six is still part of the team's fan mythology and is referenced in the series Seinfeld. The team played at the famous Shea Stadium in Queens and in 2009 moved to Citi Field Stadium in Flushing Meadows. The stadium has 42,000 seats and there is usually no problem getting tickets (except for the playoffs).
Home Stadium Address: Citi Field Stadium in Flushing Meadows, Queens, at Seaver Wy. 41, Queens, NY.
How to get there? Mets-Willets Point station on the subway on the purple line (7)
To purchase official tickets from the MLB site, click here…
Football in New York City
The New York Giants
The premier football team of New York, the Giants are a New York symbol and concept that rivals the city's baseball and basketball teams. They currently play at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where their legendary stadium once stood, carrying the team's name. The Giants have won four NFL (National Football League) Super Bowls, the latest in 2012. Giants games are relatively sought after, and it is highly recommended to book tickets in advance (especially for the playoffs). The football season runs from fall to winter, and there aren’t many games (played on Sundays and Mondays), certainly compared to dozens of baseball games.
Home stadium address: MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, at MetLife Stadium Dr. 1, East Rutherford, NJ
How to get there? NJ Transit Bus line 355 from Port Authority station in Manhattan
Click here to purchase official tickets from the team's website…
The New York Jets
New York's second football team, the Jets, might not be as popular as the Giants, but they certainly have their own impressive achievements. Historically, the Jets were the first AFL team to win the Super Bowl, defeating the NFL champion in 1968. Since then, the leagues have changed, and the Jets now belong to the AFC division. Along with the Giants, the Jets play at the MetLife Stadium (on the ruins of the legendary Giants Stadium), which seats 82,000 spectators. Since there aren't many football games during the season, there's high demand for tickets, so it's wise to get them in advance.
Home stadium address: MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, at MetLife Stadium Dr. 1, East Rutherford, NJ
How to get there? NJ Transit Bus line 355 from Port Authority station in Manhattan
Click here to purchase official tickets from the team's site…
Hockey in New York City
The New York Rangers
The illustrious and decorated hockey team of New York is also a proud symbol of the city. Much like the Knicks in basketball, the Rangers play at Madison Square Garden right in the heart of Manhattan. The team's games are very popular among city residents (a bit less popular among tourists). The Rangers are one of the six teams that founded the NHL (National Hockey League), and they have won four Stanley Cups (the last one was 30 years ago).
Home stadium address: Madison Square Garden, 4 Pennsylvania Plaza, New York
How to get there? Take the red, yellow, orange, and blue subway lines, and get off at Penn Station or Herald Square, 34th Street
To purchase tickets for Rangers games at Madison Square Garden, click here…
For all information about the Rangers on the NHL website, click here…
The New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils is a renowned hockey team that plays at the Prudential Center in downtown Newark. The team is very popular among New Jersey residents. They have won the Stanley Cup three times, the last being 20 years ago. The Devils have a fascinating and intense rivalry with the Rangers, even though both teams haven't been at their peak in recent years.
Home Stadium Address: Prudential Center, located at 25 Lafayette St., Newark, NJ
Click here to purchase official tickets from the NHL website…
Tennis in New York City
US Open Tennis Championships
The US Open is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, alongside Wimbledon, Roland Garros, and the Australian Open. The tournament takes place every year starting at the end of August (the last Monday of the month) with finals in mid-September.
The games are held at the magnificent tennis complex in the north of Flushing Meadows in Queens, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Arthur Ashe Stadium, and Louis Armstrong Stadium. The finals are held at Arthur Ashe Stadium, the largest tennis stadium in the world with a capacity of 22,000 spectators. The tournament is the last of the Grand Slam series and attracts all the stars of tennis.
Tennis complex location: Roosevelt Ave. 124-02, Queens, NY, Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
How to get there? Mets-Willets Point station on the subway on the purple line (7)
Click here for all the information on the official US Open website
