A sporting look around New York

Of the thousands of visitors who take flights to New York each day, there are a lucky few who will spend their holiday relaxing and experiencing a gentler pace of life in the Big Apple. New York has always been a popular tourist destination, appealing to so many and offering a little of everything. Visitors are quickly enraptured by the culture of the city, its magnificent architecture, the cultural diversity and historic monuments. But equally, New York is also a city that is immersed in sporting culture and for a sports fan, there is no better city to visit to sample sport in its most iconic form.

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL (MLB)

If you are in New York between early April and October you can catch a local MLB game. The city hosts two teams, the New York Mets and the world famous New York Yankees. Ticket prices vary depending on the occasion but you can usually pick one up for around $40 (£25) if you book in advance.

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE (NFL)

Meadowlands, in New Jersey, is the home to New York's two NFL teams, the Giants and the Jets. Tickets for this spectacular sport sell out particularly quickly but if you are prepared to book in advance you can pick one up for under $30 (£19).

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER (MLS)

Soccer is slowly becoming a part of American culture and the New York Red Bulls, complete with former Arsenal and Barcelona star Thierry Henry, are one of the founder members of Major League Soccer. Individual tickets for the games during the season, which runs from March to October, cost around $20 (£12).

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION (NBA)

Two NBA teams operate in and around New York City, the New York Knicks and the New Jersey Nets, both of these offer tickets to games from as little as $10 (£6) a seat. The city is also home to the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters, who put on stunning shows from late December to late April each year.

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE (NHL)

Three NHL teams play their home games in New York; the New York Rangers, the New Jersey Devils and the New York Islanders. Devils tickets cost as little as $10 (£6) a seat, but the cheapest seats are around $30 (£19) to see the Rangers at Madison Square Garden, and $40 (£25) to see the Islanders at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

OTHER MAJOR EVENTS

Each year the city hosts several other historic sporting events. The US Open Tennis at Flushing Meadows is a popular draw during late August and early September, while Madison Square Garden is home to a range of events from boxing and mixed martial arts, to the pyrotechnics and athleticism of the WWE.

The New York Marathon takes place on the first Sunday in November, while throughout the year racing fans can head to either the Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, Queens, or Belmont Racetrack on Long Island.

Experiencing a major sporting event in New York does not have to be unduly expensive. Sites like CheapFlights offer great deals on flights, hotels and even car hire, allowing you to save money to put towards one of the many sporting attractions that have made New York City famous across the globe.

22 December 2011

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