Labar: My Guide to NYC Fall Sports

By Abby Labar
Sportmoney Columnist

Look, summer in the city has been great and all, but the last few days of what I’m told is our “fake fall” (giving us the false hope that every morning from here on out will be a brisk 60 degrees) has me ready to run through a brick wall to the sound of College GameDay on my TV, NHL players crashing against the glass in Madison Square Garden and sold out postseason baseball crowds. 

I moved to New York City a year ago after living in North Carolina my entire life. If you don’t know about sports in NC, it’s college athletics galore. With NC State, Duke and UNC just miles apart, we go crazy for our football tailgates and basketball rivalries that are unmatched by the lackluster professional sports scene. Moving to NYC really opened my eyes to the world of good professional sports, especially as I met diehard, lifelong pro sports fans who seem to spread their passion across multiple leagues rather than just saying “Oh I love the Yankees, but I don’t watch the Knicks.” It’s all or nothing no matter the ebbs and flows of their teams’ seasons. 

As we head into the most wonderful time of the year, I figured it’d be fun to put together a guide to NYC-area sporting events, in addition to some of my personal favorite places to watch games if you can’t get out to the event itself. 

US OPEN TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, Flushing

• August 19th-25th Fan Week– FREE!

  • Everyone has free access to the Billie Jean King Tennis Center grounds, where fans can watch player practice rounds and listen to music, as well as join in on other fan activities. 

• August 26th-September 8th

  • Beginning with Men’s and Women’s Singles and Doubles First Round all the way through the Finals, with morning sessions and evening sessions available to attend.

  • There are several types of tickets available for purchase, which is great for those who have different budgets. You can still get to experience the US Open without paying a mortgage, and their website does a good job at breaking down all the levels and details. I’m told even if I can’t make any of the matches, simply attending and exploring the grounds is a must. 

BASEBALL

You have options to attend games in several different boroughs of NY, as well as different levels of baseball, depending on what you’re looking for over the next couple of months. MLB’s regular season runs through September 29th. With both the Yankees and the Mets currently flirting with the postseason, MLB playoffs begin on October 1st and run through the World Series, which begins on October 25th. 

• New York Yankees

  • Having been to a few Yankees games, I can attest to the passion you feel there. Definitely hit up Billy's Sports Bar, an iconic spot for both before and after the game where all of the fans flock to. 

  • Tickets and Schedule

• New York Mets

  • I have yet to attend a Mets game, but everyone at MLB Network, Mets fan or not, says that Citi Field is a really unique venue that is worth the visit. More of a family friendly environment than Yankee Stadium, but a nice setup with gorgeous views. Just like Yankee Stadium, there are lots of celebrity sightings and fun fan engagement as they cater to not only the New York sports fan but tourists as well.

  • Tickets and Schedule 

• Staten Island FerryHawks

  • An affordable way to watch baseball with a great view, the SIUH Community Park is on the water offering a gorgeous venue. The FerryHawks play in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, an independent partner league of MLB.  

  • Tickets and Schedule (last home game is September 8th) 

• Brooklyn Cyclones

  • Another ballpark on the water with incredible views, the Cyclones are an official Minor League Baseball team, the High-A affiliate of the New York Mets. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to see a big leaguer play during a rehab stint. A family friendly environment, minor league games are perfect for kids and are much more laid back and affordable than the MLB games. 

  • Tickets and schedule (last home game is September 8th)

HOCKEY

Preseason games are an affordable option that run between September 21st-October 5th. Opening Night is on October 8th, and the regular season runs through April 17th

The 82 game hockey season provides ample dates for fans to take in an NHL game, with three different teams providing different atmospheres and options based on location. You can also explore the opportunity to attend open practices and morning skates, depending on the team, their schedule and the location of the practice or skate. Usually you can find that information on the team’s website or social media pages. 

• New York Rangers

  • If you want to fall in love with hockey, look no further than a Rangers game at MSG, it’s worth all your money. I traveled to almost every NHL arena as a part of covering the Carolina Hurricanes, and MSG was always an atmosphere unlike any of the others. Hockey is a sport that a lot of people say “well I don’t really watch it on TV but I love attending games.” There is a reason for that. The energy is unmatched. 

  • Tickets and Schedule

• New York Islanders

  • UBS is a newer arena and Islanders fans are passionate. The Long Island Railroad makes the commute for those outside of the area pretty simple. Make it a day trip and enjoy Long Island fall days and the weather, and you can even tailgate out there prior to the game. 

  • Tickets and Schedule 

• New Jersey Devils

  • NJ Transit makes it easy to get out to Prudential Center, and there are several bars and restaurants in the area to make it a full experience.

  • Tickets and Schedule

BASKETBALL

Between the NBA, WNBA and college basketball tournaments, there will be plenty of hoops to take in as seasons end and begin. 

• WNBA

  • We will start with the Liberty since they are in season, with the regular season running through September 19th. I went to a Liberty game a few months ago, I actually wrote a column about the experience, and it totally exceeded my expectations. Tickets are affordable and the overall atmosphere and game experience makes it a fun outing for friends or families. 

  • Tickets and Schedule

• NBA

  • New York Knicks

    • Another bucket list sporting event. The celebrities and stars come out regularly to Knicks games more than I’ve seen at any other professional sporting event. The MSG atmosphere is one of a kind, even if you aren’t a basketball fan. It’s worth the experience. 

    • Tickets and Schedule

  • Brooklyn Nets

    • There is lots to do around Barclays and just a different type of scene for those who might prefer exploring Brooklyn and getting out of the Manhattan crowd for a game.

    • Tickets and Schedule

• College Basketball (Barclays Center, Brooklyn)

  • Legends Classic (November 21st & 22nd) featuring Texas, Syracuse, Texas Tech and St. Joseph’s

  • Women’s Champions Classic (December 7th) featuring Tennessee, Iowa, Louisville and UConn

  • Gotham Classic (December 21st) featuring Maryland vs. Syracuse Men’s Basketball

FOOTBALL

• New York Jets and New York Giants

  • Of course the two New York NFL teams play in New Jersey, but that’s okay. NJ Transit makes it easy to get out to MetLife Stadium and this just means between the two teams most Sundays in the Fall will have an NFL game in the area . When one team is on the road, the other is home, and boom we have double the action. Pick your poison when it comes to which team to go watch. I’ll let you ask your NYC sports fan friends for that opinion. 

• College Football– There isn’t much of a big college football scene that’s close to New York City, but if you’re craving the tailgates and college ball you do have a few options…

  • Columbia University– Wein Stadium, Inwood-Manhattan

  • Fordham University– Coffey Field, The Bronx

  • Rutgers University– Rutgers Football Stadium, New Brunswick, NJ

    • I’ve heard this is well worth the commute, and if you hop on NJ Transit you can get there in about an hour and a half. You’ll get your true FBS fix, and this year there are several attractive opponents on their schedule. 

SOCCER

Currently in season through October 19th, both New York teams are a part of the MLS (Major League Soccer), which has seen a major rise in fandom over the last couple of years. Both play host to several popular MLS teams, as well as notable players from around the world. 

• New York City Football Club

  • The team splits time playing at Yankee Stadium and Citi Field as they raise funds for a new stadium.

  • Tickets and Schedule

• New York Red Bulls

  • Tickets and Schedule

ABBY’S FAVORITE MANHATTAN SPORTS BARS:

• Hockey fans, hit up The Canuck!

• Younger crowd, you will like Rocco’s Sports and Recreation Bar. It’s a little small and gets pretty packed so make a resy or get there early

• Bleecker Street Bar is a huge venue and in Soho in a nice central downtown location, and there are pool tables and other games with lots of TVs and projectors

• For the Midtown/Uptown crowd, it’s a basic one, but Mustang Harry’s really is worth the hype