New York City Sports
There is never a dull moment in New York City sports! The city is home to numerous professional sports teams. It doesn't matter when you decide to visit - there's always a good game to see in NYC!
Few topics are woven into the fabric of New York City culture as deeply as New York City sports. A little knowledge of NYC sports teams will help you bridge the silence with your hotel doorman, earn the respect of your taxi driver, and arm you with the ability to converse with even the hardest New Yorker.
New York City sports teams play at stadiums and arenas in both New York and nearby New Jersey. Most of the arenas are spacious, up-to-date, and have been built in the past five years.
Yankees or Mets? Jets or Giants?
The New York metro area is the only place in the United States that has more than one professional team for baseball, basketball, football, and hockey. The intercity rivalries can be fierce. Many New Yorkers have lifelong loyalties for the teams they support, making for heated discussions around the city!
Baseball
Every year, spring in New York City brings flowers, warm weather, and New York City baseball.
Baseball is so heavily followed that it qualifies as the most popular New York City sport. With two Major League Baseball teams, the Yankees and the Mets, there is plenty of intercity rivalry to go around.
Photo Courtesy of Keith Allison
New York Yankees
- League: American League East
- Regular Season: April - October
- Stadium: Yankees Stadium
See a ball game with New York Yankees tickets!
The New York Yankees are one of the hottest and most talked about teams in Major League Baseball. They have won 27 World Series championships, more than any other MLB team. The Yankees' last World Series victory was in 2009. The team plays at the new state-of-the-art Yankee Stadium, which opened in 2009.
Official Website: newyorkyankees.com
New York Mets
- League: National League East
- Regular Season: April - October
- Stadium: Citi Field
After two losing seasons in a row, the Mets are looking forward to a hopeful 2011. With a new manager and general manager they have high expectations for a better season. The Mets have played in the World Series four times and won twice. Their most recent victory was in 1986. They began playing at their new stadium, Citi Field, in 2009.
Official Website: newyorkmets.com
Football
New York City football, which kicks off every September, is very popular in the fall. An all-American sport, football is heavily followed throughout the country and New York is no exception.
The city has two National Football League Teams, the Jets and the Giants. Both New York City sports teams play at the same stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, just outside of New York City. There is a long-standing and intense rivalry between the two teams.
Photo Courtesy of AJ Guel Photography
New York Giants
- Division: NFC East
- Regular Season: September - December
- Stadium: New Meadowlands Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
The Giants have made numerous Superbowl appearances and won the championship in 1987, 1991, and 2008. The Giants' 2008 Superbowl win came with a surprising and emotional ending when they scored a touchdown in the game's final seconds, upsetting the undefeated New England Patriots who were persuing the NFL's first perfect season.
Official Website: giants.com
New York Jets
- League: AFC East
- Regular Season: September - December
- Stadium: New Meadowlands Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Although historically the underdog to the Giants, the New York Jets have a dedicated following and remain a popular New York City sports team. The Jets have won one Superbowl, in 1969. They have seen success in the past decade, making it to the playoffs six times since 2000.
Official Website: newyorkjets.com
Basketball
New York City basketball is a sport that gets a lot of attention each winter.
The NYC area has two National Basketball Association teams, the Knicks and the Nets. The Knicks play in the middle of Manhattan while the Nets play in Newark, New Jersey.
New York is also home to a WNBA team, the New York Liberty.
Photo Courtesy of jhartney
New York Knicks
- Division: Atlantic Division, Eastern Conference
- Regular Season: October - April
- Arena: Madison Square Garden
The New York Knicks are a charter member of the NBA and a well-known New York City sports team. The Knicks get their name from the word "knickerbocker," which refers to the style of pants worn by Dutch settlers to the New York City area. The Knicks have made many appearances at the the NBA Championships and won in 1970 and 1973.
Official Website: newyorkknicks.com
New Jersey Nets
- Division: Atlantic Division, Eastern Conference
- Regular Season: October - April
- Arena: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey
The Nets won the American Basketball Association Championships in 1974 and 1976 before the ABA merged with the NBA. They had five consecutive playoff appearances in the years 2002-2006. The New Jersey Nets have played in many different arenas and may be moving to Brooklyn, in the New York City area, in 2012.
Official Website: newjerseynets.com
New York Liberty (WNBA)
- Conference: Eastern
- Regular Season: May - September
- Arena: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey
The New York Liberty is New York City's only Women's National Basketball Association Team. The team normally plays at Madison Square Garden but is temporarily moving to the Prudential Center for the 2011, 2012, and 2013 seasons. The Liberty have been in the WNBA Championships four times since they were formed in 1997, but have not yet won a championship.
Official Website: newyorkliberty.com
Hockey
Although hockey trails baseball, football, and basketball in popularity, there is a large following for this fast-moving and physical winter sport.
The Rangers and the Devils are the New York City area's two National Hockey League teams. The Rangers play in Manhattan and the Devils play in nearby Newark, New Jersey.
Photo Courtesy of Nrbelex
New York Rangers
- Conference: Eastern Conference, Atlantic Division
- Regular Season: October - April
- Arena: Madison Square Garden
The Rangers are one of the "Original Six" National Hockey League teams. The team was the New York area's only hockey team for over 30 years. The Rangers have won the Stanley Cup four times, in 1928, 1933, 1940, and 1994.
Official Website: newyorkrangers.com
New Jersey Devils
- Conference: Eastern Conference, Atlantic Division
- Regular Season: October - April
- Arena: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey
The New Jersey Devils have been around since 1982, when a Colorado-based team moved to New Jersey and became known as the Devils. The Devils won the Stanley Cup in 1995, 2000, and 2003.
Official Website: newjerseydevils.com
Soccer
New York has one Major League Soccer Team, the New York Red Bulls. The team was one of the founding members of MLS, although they have gone by the name Red Bulls only since 2006.
New York Red Bulls
- Conference: Eastern
- Regular Season: March - November
- Stadium: Red Bull Arena, Harrison, New Jersey
The New York Red Bulls play both domestically for Major League Soccer as well and internationally. The Red Bulls have never won a Major League Soccer Cup but they were runners up for the MLS Cup in 2008.
Official Website: newyorkredbulls.com
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