Catching a game while you're in town
New York has a team in nearly every major league, and catching a live game is a great way to see the city like a local. Here's what's playing when, and roughly what to expect to pay.
- MLB — Yankees (Yankee Stadium, the Bronx) and Mets (Citi Field, Queens): season runs roughly early April through late September/October, with playoffs stretching into October or November.
- NBA — Knicks (Madison Square Garden, Manhattan) and Nets (Barclays Center, Brooklyn): season runs October through April, playoffs into June.
- NHL — Rangers (Madison Square Garden): season runs October through April, playoffs into June.
- NFL — Giants and Jets: both actually play at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, not in Manhattan — factor in the extra travel time. Season runs September through early January, playoffs into February.
Where to buy
Start with the team's official site or Ticketmaster for face-value tickets. For better deals — especially on less in-demand games — resale marketplaces like SeatGeek, StubHub, VividSeats, or TickPick often have lower prices than face value, particularly in the final day or two before a game as sellers offload inventory.
What to expect to pay
Prices swing enormously by opponent and day of week. As a rough guide: Yankees tickets can run from single digits for a quiet weekday game up to $100+ for a rivalry matchup (Red Sox, the Mets “Subway Series”); Rangers games typically run $79–$220+ depending on opponent; Giants tickets start around $45–$57 and climb well past $150 for premium matchups. Knicks tickets deserve a special note: demand has spiked sharply in recent seasons, with typical individual games often running $150–$450+ and marquee dates considerably higher — they're currently among the priciest tickets in the NBA, so budget accordingly if a Knicks game is on your list.
Two tips that hold across every sport: weekday and non-rivalry games are consistently cheaper — often by 3–5x — than weekend or rivalry matchups, and resale prices for less in-demand games often soften in the last 24–48 hours before puck drop, first pitch, or tip-off, which rewards flexible travelers willing to decide at the last minute.