List of New York City metropolitan area sports teams explained
This is a list of professional and semi-professional sports teams based in the New York metropolitan area, including from New York City, Long Island, Lower Hudson Valley, Northern and Central New Jersey, and parts of Western Connecticut. The collective area has a population of over twenty million people, making it the largest in the United States and among the top ten in the world. It also has the greatest concentration of professional sports teams of any region in the country with teams in all of the major sports and leagues in baseball, basketball, football, hockey, lacrosse, and soccer.
All of the major pro franchises are found within the five boroughs of New York City or approximately thirty miles of the center of Manhattan, near mass transit and highway access. These teams are part of the global New York City media market. Though some are based in New Jersey or Long Island, in proximity to Manhattan, the teams receive national and international media coverage generally defining them as dually being part of their location of origin (town or city, and state) and primarily the New York City - New York metropolitan area. Having acquired exclusive territorial rights in their respective leagues of the region or up to fifty to seventy-five miles of their base, teams can receive local broadcasting within this range, and have say over sharing rights with other teams. This range theoretically encompasses the bounds of the New York metropolitan area and the recognition of the teams belonging to and representing the entire region.
Other division league franchises, either found within or outside of the thirty mile New York City media market range, are mostly associated by their town or city, and state, rather than the whole metropolitan area, while still belonging to it. Media coverage varies locally. Collegiate teams are similarly identified with their location. Still, they are acknowledged and principally followed by the name of their schools, and receive local and national coverage depending on their division, conference, sport, standing, and popularity.
Major sports teams
The New York metropolitan area is home to some of the country's top professional teams and leagues. They are the following:
Baseball
Major League Baseball
Basketball
National Basketball Association
Women's National Basketball Association
American football
Ice hockey
National Hockey League
- New Jersey Devils, Metropolitan Division, Eastern Conference, Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey
- New York Islanders, Metropolitan Division, Eastern Conference, UBS Arena,Elmont, New York
- New York Rangers, Metropolitan Division, Eastern Conference, Madison Square Garden, Manhattan
Soccer
Major League Soccer
National Women's Soccer League
Other professional sports teams
The New York metropolitan area is also home to a variety of pro or semi-pro sports teams in the minor leagues, women's leagues, indoor leagues, and more.
Baseball
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
Double-A Northeast
Frontier League
High-A East
Basketball
NBA G League
Football
Women's Football Alliance
Buffalo Bills
Ice hockey
Professional Women's Hockey League
Roller Derby
Men's Roller Derby Association
Women's Flat Track Derby Association
- CT RollerGirls, Naugatuck, Connecticut
- Gotham Roller Derby, Hunter Sportsplex, Manhattan, New York
- Jersey Shore Roller Girls, Asbury Park Convention Hall, Asbury Park, New Jersey
- Long Island Roller Rebels, Skate Safe America, Old Bethpage, New York
- Suburbia Roller Derby, EJ Murray Memorial Skating Center; and Yonkers Police Athletic League, Yonkers, New York
Rugby league
American National Rugby League
USA Rugby League
Rugby Union
Soccer
MLS Next Pro
Top tier amateur sports teams
The New York metropolitan area is home to many top tier amateur teams as well.
USL League Two
- Brooklyn Knights, Metropolitan Oval, Queens
- Connecticut FC Azul, Reese Stadium, New Haven, Connecticut
- Central Jersey Spartans, Ben Cohen Turf Field, Lawrenceville, New Jersey
- F.A. Euro - New York Magic, Aviator Sports and Recreation, Brooklyn
- Jersey Express S.C., Lubetkin Field at J. Malcolm Simon Stadium, Newark, New Jersey
- Long Island Rough Riders, Mitchel Athletic Complex, Hempstead, New York
- NJ-LUSO Rangers FC, Morris Catholic High School Stadium, Denville, New Jersey
- Westchester Flames, City Park Stadium, New Rochelle, New York
- Cedar Stars Rush, University Stadium, Teaneck, New Jersey
National Premier Soccer League
- Brooklyn Italians, John Dewey High School, Brooklyn
- FC Monmouth, Count Basie Park, Red Bank, New Jersey
- FC Motown, Ranger Stadium, Madison, New Jersey
- New Jersey Copa FC, St. John Vianney High School, Holmdel Township, New Jersey
- New York Athletic Club S.C., NYAC Travers Island Athletic Field, Pelham, New York
W-League
- Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues, Newburgh Free Academy HS Stadium, Newburgh, New York
- Long Island Rough Riders (W-League), Cy Donnelly Stadium, Huntington, New York
- New Jersey Wildcats, Mercer County Community College Stadium, West Windsor, New Jersey
- New York Magic, Mazzella Field, New Rochelle, New York
- North Jersey Valkyries, DePaul Catholic High School Field, Wayne, New Jersey
Women's Premier Soccer League
- Connecticut Football Club Passion (CFC Passion), Hamden Hall Country Day School Field, Hamden, Connecticut
- FC Westchester Elite, Loucks Stadium at White Plains High School, White Plains, New York
- Long Island Fury, Mitchel Athletic Complex, Hempstead, New York
- New Jersey Blaze, Rowland Park, Cranbury Township, New Jersey
- New York Athletic Club WFC, NYAC Travers Island Athletic Field, Pelham, New York
- Yankee Lady FC, Dalling Field at Saint Joseph High School Field, Trumbull, Connecticut
See also
