NEW YORK CITY — There’s so much to do and see in New York City at all hours, every day of the year.
For clients who are sports enthusiasts, a thriving professional sports scene could be the only reason they need to plan a getaway in this world-renowned destination.
Travelweek recently had the opportunity to visit The City That Never Sleeps as a guest of NYC Tourism + Conventions for a four-day sports spectacular, to experience the thrill and vibe of New York City’s sports scene firsthand.
View from Edge observation deck at Hudson Yards, NYC
THE YANKEES, THE METS & MORE
It all starts with NYC being the mecca of baseball. Not only do you have the New York Yankees, the most storied team with 27 World Series titles, playing in Major League Baseball’s American League, there’s also the plucky New York Mets in the National League.
Travelweek attended the Yankees’ 2024 season opener versus the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. This beautiful throwback venue should be the top can’t-miss stadium on the list of any baseball aficionado, with its old-school charm and nods to history like Monument Park. The Yankees faithful are known to be boisterous and demanding but expect them to chat you up all day if you let them. Pro tip: eat before you get there, or you might wait an hour for a hot dog on a busy day.
NYCFC shoots …
The New York Mets play in Queens at Citi Field. New York City Football Club (NYCFC) of Major League Soccer (MLS) also currently plays at Citi Field. Soccer may not be the first sport you think of, when you think of NYC. But after making the trek on the subway from Manhattan to Queens, this writer can attest that soccer is a budding niche in the city – so you may not have to send clients all the way to Europe to catch some action on the pitch.
NYCFC scores!
Incidentally, NYCFC is building a 25,000-seat soccer-specific stadium right next to Citi Field that will be ready for kickoff of the 2027 season. It will be the first all-electric stadium in the MLS.
Meanwhile the New York Red Bulls also play in the MLS, at Red Bull Arena, in Harrison, NJ.
Citi Field in Queens, home of the New York Mets and NYCFC
JACKIE ROBINSON MUSEUM IS A MUST-SEE
Everyone should take a moment to visit the excellent Jackie Robinson Museum (JackieRobinson.org), especially since the museum can easily be covered in an hour if short on time. The museum provides a wonderful look into this very important figure in baseball and, also, American history.
Outside of professional sports, indoor mini-putt facilities with food and drink are all the rage in the Big Apple right now. The group visited two of these, the first called Swingers and the second named Puttery.
The Jackie Robinson Museum in Manhattan
Swingers was a sprawling and impressive below-grade restaurant and bar that would be ideal for dates and company outings. Puttery was a little tighter for space, ideal for outings with friends. It’s a new entertainment concept definitely worth checking out at least once.
A yoga walk in Central Park with Fit Tours NYC
Another great opportunity to take part in a sport, instead of just watching it, is the Yoga Walk in Central Park with FitTours (FITtoursNYC.com). It truly was a great feeling to get some exercise first thing in the morning while taking in Central Park on a beautiful spring day.
Some of the best panoramic views of this topnotch metropolis can be had from Edge, the highest observation deck in the city, at the Hudson Yards. Those who are extremely brave may wish to try City Climb at Edge. Think EdgeWalk at the CN Tower in Toronto, if you’re trying to get an idea of what the City Climb is all about.
It wouldn’t be a trip to New York City without some of its fabulous pizza. The life-changing Rosetta Pizza at 304 W 14th Street was stumbled across after visiting Puttery. The pepperoni and buffalo chicken deep dish slice was to die for. To check the Joe’s Pizza location seen in Spider-Man 2, go to 7 Carmine Street. Outside of pizza, Katz’s Delicatessen is a New York City institution.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg. There’s still pro basketball with the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets in the NBA, the New York Liberty in the WNBA, two NFL teams and the New York Rangers and New York Islanders in the NHL. The list goes on. There’s more than enough sports action going on year-round that sports lovers will just have to book a second, and third and fourth trip to NYC. Heck, why not make it an annual pilgrimage?!
Porter Airlines (FlyPorter.com) flies numerous times daily from Billy Bishop Airport (YTZ) in Toronto to Newark Liberty international Airport (EWR). White Rose Experiences (WhiteRoseExperiences.com) can be booked for transfers to and from EWR.
To learn more about this exciting sports destination, visit NYCTourism.com. Travelweek’s coverage of the growing popularity of sports travel includes this story from the June 13, 2024 issue.
