Planning a trip to New York? If you’re a sports fan, then you’re in luck. The Big Apple is known for having the best in the world for a lot of things, including sporting events.
In fact, it’s relatively easy to make the case that New York is the greatest sports city on the planet. After all, here you’ll find every major sport well-represented, and there are also plenty of huge one-off sporting events, such as the US Open, taking place each year.
In this post, we’ll run through some of the best New York sports events to attend. You won’t be able to attend them all in a single trip, but that just means that you’ll have a good excuse to return in the future.
New York Yankees
New York has a lot of sports teams, yet even still, the Yankees somehow manage to be the city’s team. A wildly successful baseball franchise, the Yankees are sewn into the fabric of the city.
If the Yankees are doing well, then the city is happy. The season tends to run from late March through to October, and it’s relatively easy — and not so expensive — to get tickets.
If you’re visiting in late Spring, then there’s no better way to spend an evening than watching the Yankees at Yankee Stadium.
New York Knicks
Seeing any event at Madison Square Garden is a privilege, but seeing the New York Knicks play? That’s extra special.
The Knicks are the darlings of New York, and there’s outstanding support regardless of how well the team is performing. But if you happen to visit when the Knicks are doing well, you’ll be treated to one of the best atmospheres in the country.
Tickets to Knicks games are popular, and you might even see some A-listers if you’re located close to the court.
Want to make sure you get tickets ahead of your trip? Then you’ll need to have a plan of action — you can uncover more insights here.
But rest assured that you’ll have a great time regardless of whether the Knicks win or less — but especially if they win!
New York Giants
The New York Giants don’t actually play in New York — their home stadium is located in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Still, it’s only a stone’s throw away, and it’s actually easier and faster to get to the MetLife Stadium from Manhattan than it is to most other parts of the city.
But anyway. New York has two football teams, the Giants and the Jets, both of whom play at the same stadium, but it’s the Giants that can be considered the main team.
If you’re going to a game, then plan on going as early as possible; there’s always a raucous atmosphere many hours before the game.
New York Mets
The New York Mets have long been in the shadow of the more celebrated New York Yankees, but they’ve had an upturn in fortunes in recent years, and in any case, they still attract a lot of support.
Attending a Mets game is a more intimate affair than attending a Yankees game, and we mean that as a compliment. You’ll find a cozy stadium filled with fans who really know what they’re talking about.
If you’re a baseball fan visiting the Big Apple, then don’t miss your chance to see a game, that takes place at Citifield in Queens.
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are one of the original NHL franchises, which gives them a long and celebrated history. But that’s not why you should get tickets to a game.
Their games take place, like the New York Knicks, at Madison Square Garden, which is one of the world’s great venues.
A packed out Garden for a Rangers game is a loud and passionate affair. If you can, try to get tickets for a game against a rival team, especially the Islanders.
New York Red Bulls
Soccer is slowly but surely growing more popular across the United States, but in New York, it’s been popular for a long time.
As with the New York Giants, the team actually plays its home games in New Jersey at the Red Bull Arena, but it’s easy enough to get there from Manhattan.
It’s probably the best soccer stadium in the country, and certainly the one that comes closest to replicating the great atmosphere found at soccer matches in Europe and South America. The MLS season runs from March to October, making it a summer option.
