Sports in the New York metropolitan area

The New York metropolitan area is one of only two places in the United States with more than one team in each of the "Big Four" major professional sports leagues, along with having two teams in Major League Soccer. Teams from this area have won their league championships 69 times. The most popular sports here are American football, baseball, and basketball.

New York City serves as the headquarters for many major sports organizations, including Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, the National Basketball Association, the National Football League, the National Hockey League, the National Women's Soccer League, and the Women's National Basketball Association. The city also hosts important events such as the US Open tennis tournament, one of the four Grand Slam events, and the New York City Marathon, the largest marathon in the world. Other notable events include the Millrose Games track and field meet and annual boxing competitions at Madison Square Garden.

Major league sports

The New York metropolitan area is unique in having multiple teams in each of the major professional sports leagues. Teams from the area have won championships 69 times. Baseball and football are especially popular in the region.

The area has two Major League Baseball teams: the New York Yankees and the New York Mets. Basketball is also widely followed, with the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets representing the city in the NBA. Football fans support the New York Giants and New York Jets in the NFL. Ice hockey is popular with fans of the New York Rangers, New York Islanders, and New Jersey Devils in the NHL. Soccer has growing support, with teams like the New York Red Bulls, New York City FC, and Gotham FC in Major League Soccer and the National Women's Soccer League.

Minor league sports

The New York metropolitan area has many sports teams that play in lower-level professional leagues in the United States. These teams are called minor league teams and compete in leagues that are not the top level, or "Big Four," major leagues.

Other sports

The New York metropolitan area is rich in diverse sports. Boxing has deep roots here, with early fights often held in secret due to legal restrictions. Notable bouts include Jack Dempsey’s 1920 victory at Madison Square Garden and many championship fights held in the city over the years.

Cricket is also popular, with the Staten Island Cricket Club being the oldest in the United States. Major League Cricket recently launched, with MI New York becoming the league’s first champions in 2023.

Cycling saw its peak in the late 19th century with six-day races popular in the region. The Kissena Velodrome, built in 1962, remains the only bicycle track in New York City.

The area boasts many fencing clubs, including the Fencers Club and Manhattan Fencing Center. Golf has a long history here, with Van Cortlandt Park opening in 1895 as America’s oldest public course. The U.S. Open and other major tournaments have been held at various local clubs.

Horse racing began in the 1600s, with Belmont Park hosting the Belmont Stakes, part of the Triple Crown. Lacrosse gained popularity in the mid-20th century, especially on Long Island, with several professional teams having played in the area.

Auto racing history includes the Vanderbilt Cup races on Long Island and more recent Formula E events in Brooklyn. Polo has been played in the region since the 1870s, with Meadowbrook Polo Club being one of the most historic.

Other sports include rugby, running events like the famous New York City Marathon, and tennis, with the U.S. Open held annually in Queens. Ultimate frisbee and eSports also have strong presences, with teams like the New York Empire and New York Excelsior competing at high levels.

College sports

The New York area has many colleges with interesting sports histories, but college sports are not as visible as professional sports in the region.

Several schools in the New York area compete in NCAA Division I. These schools are mostly in New York state. The table below shows each school's main conference and whether they have football teams, including the level of competition. All information is current for the 2024–25 school year.

Sports culture

In New York, baseball is often the most loved sport, even though in many other places, American football is more popular. When a local sports team wins a big championship, it is a huge celebration. In the past, winners like the Yankees, Mets, Giants, and Rangers have had special parades called ticker-tape parades. People in New York cheer for any local team that wins, like the 1994 Stanley Cup champions New York Rangers or the 2007 New York Giants.

Rivalries

New York has intense sports rivalries with the cities of Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., as well as rivalries between its own teams.

Boston and New York share some of the most famous rivalries in American sports. The rivalry between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox in Major League Baseball is especially well-known. This rivalry also extends to the New York Jets and the New England Patriots in the National Football League, the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association, and the New York Rangers and the Boston Bruins in the National Hockey League.

New York and Philadelphia also have strong rivalries in many sports, including between the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies in baseball, the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles in football, and the New York Rangers and the Philadelphia Flyers in hockey.

Teams from New York City and Washington, D.C. have long been rivals, especially the New York Giants and the Washington Commanders in the National Football League. There are also notable rivalries between National Hockey League teams like the New York Rangers and the Washington Capitals, as well as in Major League Soccer between the New York Red Bulls and D.C. United.

Olympic bids

New York City and Los Angeles both wanted to host the 1984 Summer Olympics, but the choice went to Los Angeles. New York did get to host the 1984 Summer Paralympics instead.

Later, in 2005, New York City tried to host the 2012 Summer Olympics, but London was chosen. After that, New York was talked about as a possible host for the 2024 Summer Olympics, but decided not to bid. Los Angeles eventually hosted the 2028 Summer Olympics.

Sports media

Newspapers like The New York Times and the New York Post have big sections just for sports news. There is also a special magazine called Sports Illustrated that has been around since 1954, focusing on sports stories.

The New York area has three major TV networks for sports: YES Network, MSG Network (with its sister channel MSG Sportsnet), and SportsNet New York. There are also five radio stations that broadcast sports events.