A Fan's Guide to New York City Sports Teams

Written by Steven Thomas

NYC sports teams are some of the best in the world, and tourists from all the over the country and the world become fans of these legendary teams and travel to the city to see them play at their home venues. Sporting events in NYC are a huge draw for both natives and tourists, meaning that tickets for New York City games can be hard to come by. Even if you don't plan on catching a game in person, many stadiums offer tours or have related gift shops to visit. And if you're looking for another way to take in a game, the city has plenty of great bars where you can watch sports in NYC this weekend. If you're a sports fan planning a visit to the city, TopView has you covered: We are knowledgeable about local sports history and can help you find some of the best stops and stadiums.

New York is home to a lot of sports teams, maybe even more than you realize. Take a look at the teams that call the Big Apple home before you set out on your NYC adventure.

New York Baseball

Baseball may be the most popular of New York sporting events because of the infamous rivalry between the New York Yankees and the New York Mets. If you want to check out Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, TopView can take you there on our Bronx Tour!

  • New York Yankees: The Yankees are the most successful team in professional sports, with 27 World Series titles. Some of history's most famous players have been Yankees, like Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, and Babe Ruth.

  • New York Mets: The Mets are based out of Queens and have some of the most loyal fans in baseball. Fans all know the "Meet the Mets" song by heart and are greeted by mascot Mr. Met when they enjoy a day at Citi Field. Mr. Met is believed to be the first MLB mascot to appear as a costumed character.

New York Basketball

New York City is a paradise for basketball fans, with innumerable courts all across the city where some of the best players in basketball have learned to shoot hoops.

  • New York Knicks: "Knicks" is short for "Knickerbockers," and they call Madison Square Garden home. Tickets for New York City games at Madison Square Garden sell out routinely.

  • Brooklyn Nets: The Nets are based at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, where they've been since 2012 after spending 35 seasons in New Jersey.

New York College Basketball

March Madness fanatics will want to make sure that Madison Square Garden is on their bucket list of NYC sports tourist attractions. Every year, the Garden hosts this competitive basketball tournament that pits the best D-1 teams in the country against each other. Powerhouse college teams like Syracuse, UConn, and Georgetown compete here, and the Madison Square Garden tour features memorabilia and interactive experiences that can help you relive March Madness.

New York Football

In New York City, football is about as popular as baseball and also has a rivalry. MetLife Stadium, home to both teams, is an exciting place to visit, though it's actually a few miles away in New Jersey, and you should find plenty of merchandise for your favorite team at gift shops all around the city.

  • New York Giants: The Giants have been around since 1925 and have since won four Super Bowls and eight league championships. Giants games always sell out, so it's best for fans to buy their tickets in advance.

  • New York Jets: The Jets share a home with the Giants, and this confident team of rising stars also tends to sell out game-day tickets fast.

New York College Football

While NYC isn't as famous for its college football, there are a few stadiums throughout the city. One is Wien Stadium, home to Columbia's football team. Coffey Field, where Fordham's team plays, is also in the city, as is Wagner College Stadium, out on Staten Island. None of these teams are Division I teams, so they don't have the same draw for fans as March Madness at Madison Square Garden. However, you can also catch the annual Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium to enjoy some Division I college football action.

New York Hockey

Hockey fans are passionate about New York teams! The city is host to two different teams that both have a devoted fan base. Hockey is a big part of the northeastern U.S. tradition, and live games are action-packed and exciting. We're limiting this list to New York teams, but it's worth mentioning that New Jersey Devils fans only need to make a quick trip over to Newark to check out their stadium.

  • New York Islanders: The Islanders make their home at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, though they also play at their former home, the former Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale. They've won four Stanley Cup championships and have sent five players to the Hall of Fame, earning them a loyal group of fans.

  • New York Rangers: This is another New York team that makes its home at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers have a long history as one of the Original Six teams in the NHL. If you take the MSG tour, you'll see plenty of Rangers memorabilia, but if you want game-day tickets, it's best to buy in advance.