Met Life Stadium, MSG, Yankee Stadium by loving-newyork.com

36 Hours in New York City

New York is famously known for theatre, museums, and fashion, however, the sports culture in New York is in integral part of the city’s landscape. New York City offers opportunities to play sports all over the city. With famous athletes repping the city (Aaron Judge, Kyrie Irving, Gary Sanchez, Kevin Durant, etc) sports enthusiasts can be found all over the city, working on their craft. You can even find famous basketball players playing in public courts like the Holcombe Rucker Park, an infamous basketball court located in Harlem at 155th Street and Frederick Douglass Boulevard. Nevertheless, sports are never far; In a city with limited space, sports still find a way to dominate the scene.

Photo of Nike’s new flagship store is location on Fifth Ave. in Manhattan

Friday 

1. Sports shopping, 3 P.M. 

Travel up to Fifth Avenue and experience all that the NBA store has to offer. Anything and everything about basketball will be there. At this 25,000 square feet location, it’s more of an experience with a gift shop inside. There are interactive screens for you to compare stats, and compare your height to NBA players to see how much they really tower over you. Throughout the year, NBA players will host signings, so maybe you just might bump into your favorite player. Not too far is NikeTown- 5 levels of sportswear for you to marvel at. It’ll be hard to resist leaving without a couple of souvenirs, not to mention there’s a basketball court on the top level for you to show off your skills. 

2. Pit stop, 6 P.M. 

Make your way down to Madame Tussauds where you can take pictures with all your favorite sports stars and stars in general. They have the best life sized wax figures, you’ll have a hard time finding out whether or not they’re real. Sometimes they are! As celebrities play pranks on visitors when their new figure becomes unveiled. 

Photo Courtesy of Madison Square Garden

3. The Mecca, 7:30 P.M. 

The Mecca, MSG, Madison Square Garden, this is considered the best basketball court in the world. Michael Jordan, widely considered as the greatest basketball player of all time once said MSG is his favorite court to play in. Many other greats seem to agree, this is the place where every player wants the shine. Not just one of the best sports stadiums, many musicians also consider MSG to be special. Just take a look from the outside and you can see that it is different from other stadiums. The air is different, it feels almost special. Enjoy the unique cable-supporting ceilings prior to going inside and enjoying a Knicks or Rangers game. 

 

Saturday 

1. It’s 5 o’clock somewhere, 10 A.M. 

Visit NY Yankee Steak, filled with memorabilia for guess what? The Yankees! This is the perfect spot to visit prior to going to a Yankee Game. Right inside the stadium this is perfect as you’ll never have to worry about missing the opening of the game. Featuring a world class bar for you to enjoy and get ready for the game. Food options are good, there is just steak as the name many deceive you, there’s vegetarian options as well. One of their more popular options is their veggie burger. Not into steak or vegetarian options? There’s plenty of seafood to go around, lobster, crab cakes, and sashimi. 

2. The Game, 2 P.M.

America’s greatest past-time: Baseball. It’s been around for more than a century and is still going strong. The Yankees are home to twenty seven time World Series championships. One of the most successful franchises in the United States. With a capacity of over 54 thousand, you’ll be sure to find a good seat. Yankee stadium is considered to be the cathedral of baseball. 

3. After Party, 7 P.M. 

Haven’t gotten enough of your sports fix yet? Visit Harlem Tavern. It has an fantastic outside seating area with a large screen and projector to watch your favorite team go at it. With over 25 different beers on tap you’ll stay refreshed while the game comes down to the wire. Not to mention they have wings, the perfect sports food. 

Photo of sunset at Chelsea Piers golf range

4. Late night Golf, 9 P.M. 

Head over to Chelsea Piers and their golf range. In a city that never sleeps, sports stays awake as well. Play golf while looking over the skyline across from the Hudson river. It’s an all weather facility, so you’ll not have to worry whether it’s raining for hailing. Open all year around it’s Manhattan’s only four-tier outdoor driving range. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or an aspiring amateur, this place welcomes it all. Each player area is sectioned off from one and another so you can enjoy swinging away without judgement. 

 

Sunday 

1. ‘za for Breakfast, 9 A.M. 

Did you even go to New York City if you didn’t have a slice of the infamous, thing crust pizza? A true “New York slice” can only found in this city- maybe the secret is in the water! Washington Square is home to Joe’s Pizza and Bleecker Street Pizza, two of the best pizza places in New York City. Grab a slice or two and head to the West 4th Street basketball courts, where there’s always a pick up game going for you to enjoy. Just make sure you don’t stand too close to the court, or else you’ll find a ball heading straight towards you!

2. Parks for Days, 11 A.M.

Prior to making your return trip, visit one of these two parks to get some fresh air and rejuvenate yourself. Battery Park and Brooklyn Bridge Park, both these parks provide beautiful scenery and activities for you to do. There’s open grass ranges for you to play catch or just run around. Have a nice sun tan session and enjoy the ocean breeze. 

Photo of Equinox Hotel in Hudson Yards by Collin Hughes

Lodging.

To stay close to all the action for Sports, check in at the Equinox Hotel in Hudson Yards. The hotel is designed for fitness and sports enthusiasts. The rooms are designed for “total regeneration” perfect for resting after that long trip into the city and the walking that soon comes afterwards. Need to get the treadmill after having too many New York Slices? The hotel has a full equinox gym with all the amenities you need; group fitness training. recovery-driven spa and more. Newly opened in 2020, the design is modern with public spaces made for socializing and relaxing. The rooftop features an immaculate view of the Hudson River with marble counter bars and fire pits to keep you toasty. Located close to 34th Street Penn Station and Herald Square, you can get pretty much anywhere in the city with ease.

 

Works Cited

Equinox Hotel New York: Luxury Hotel in Midtown NYC. (n.d.).,
from https://equinox-hotels.com/nyc/

Golf Club. (n.d.).,
from https://www.chelseapiers.com/golf/driving-range/overview/

Olson, C. (2019, August 06). Go Inside the World’s First Equinox Hotel.,
from https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/equinox-hotel-hudson-yards

SCARPINATO, J. (2015, December 30). The Sports Fan’s Guide to New York.,
from https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/nyc-sports-guide

Tervooren, M. (2019, December 11). The Best Sports Bars In NYC – New York.,
from https://www.theinfatuation.com/new-york/guides/best-sports-bars-nyc

Yankee Stadium – history, photos and more of the New York Yankees ballpark from 1923-2008. (n.d.).,
from https://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/ballparks/old-yankee-stadium/