Gotham City Fandom: All of the NYC Sports Teams

• League: Major League Baseball, American League
• Stadium: Yankee Stadium
• Founded: 1903
• Championships: 27 (1923, 1927, 1928, 1932, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1941, 1943, 1947, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1947, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1956, 1958, 1961, 1962, 1977, 1978, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2009

The New Yankees are an incredibly historic franchise. The team was originally founded in 1901 as the Baltimore Orioles, before they were moved to New York in 1903 where they were subsequently rebranded as the Yankees. 

Some of the most iconic baseball players such as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Joe DiMaggio, plus more recent Hall-of-Famers such as Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera had wildly successful careers with the Yankees. The franchise has won 27 championships and solidified their place as the most successful team in baseball history. 

The "Bronx Bombers" have had several periods of unrivaled success, particularly in the 1920s, 1930s, and the late 1990s, and play in the new Yankee Stadium, which was completed in 2009, just a couple-hundred feet from the old Yankee Stadium.

• League: National Football League, NFC
• Stadium: Metlife Stadium
• Founded: 1925
• Championships: 4 (1986, 1990, 2007, 2011)

Founded in 1925 by Tim Mara, the New York Giants are one of the oldest teams in the NFL. They won multiple NFL championships in the 1930s under the leadership of legendary coach Steve Owen. 

The 1950's witnessed the iconic "Greatest Game Ever Played" against the Baltimore Colts in the 1958 NFL Championship Game. The team continued to have many winning seasons in the 1980s and 1990s, earning Super Bowl victories in 1987 and 1991.

In 2004, Eli Manning made his debut as quarterback with the New York Giants, who went on to win two Super Bowl Championships (2008 & 2012). Now, the Giants feature young franchise quarterback Daniel Jones under the leadership of Head Coach Brian Daboll. 

• League: National Hockey League, Eastern Conference
• Stadium: Madison Square Garden
• Founded: 1926
• Championships: 4 (1928, 1933, 1940, 1994)

The NY Rangers were founded in 1926 as one of the NHL's original six teams. They have celebrated numerous triumphs, including four Stanley Cup championships, the most recent of which was secured in 1994 after a long 54-year drought. 

Several legends and Hall-of-Fame players have played for the franchise including Mark Messier, Brian Leetch, Henrik Lundqvist, and Wayne Gretzky. The Rangers play their home games at the world’s most famous arena, Madison Square Garden.

• League: National Basketball League, Eastern Conference
• Stadium: Madison Square Garden
• Founded: 1946
• Championships: 2 (1970, 1973)

The Knicks are one of the NBA's founding franchises, and one of the two teams that remains in their original location. 

They were largely successful in the 1950s, though they were unable to secure an NBA championship, with their first coming in 1970 and another in 1973. Since then, the Knicks have yet to win another ring, though many are hopeful about the current direction of the franchise.  

The Knicks share Madison Square Garden with the NY Rangers of the NHL as their home court.

• League: Major League Baseball, National League
• Stadium: Citi Field
• Founded: 1962
• Championships: 2 (1969, 1986)

The New York Mets were founded in 1962 as an MLB expansion team and quickly experienced an iconic "Amazin' Mets" era in the late 1960s, exceededing everyone’s expectations by winning their first World Series in 1969. They didn't win another until 1986, when they were led by legends such as Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry. 

They've had a handful of challenging periods over the years, but their fan base remains loyal. The Mets played at Shea Stadium in Queens until 2009 when their current stadium, Citi Field was completed.

• League: National Football League, AFC
• Stadium: Metlife Stadium
• Championships: 1 (1968)

The New York Jets are entering the upcoming NFL season with the addition of future-Hall-of-Fame quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, and one of their most promising rosters in recent memory. "Gang Green" only has one Super Bowl trophy, but looks like a contender to add one to the showcase.

In the historic Super Bowl III, a game that changed the landscape of professional football, they were led by the Hall-of-Fame quarterback Joe Namath who guaranteed a victory in the days leading up to the game. The Jets were a 13-point underdog against the Baltimore Colts, but pulled off one of the most memorable upsets in sports history by a score of 16-7. 

When the team was established in 1959, they were known as the New York Titans before being rebranded as the Jets in 1963. Since 2010, the Jets have shared Metlife Stadium with the New York Giants.

• League: National Hockey League, Eastern Conference
• Stadium: UBS Arena
• Founded: 1972
• Championships: 4 (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983)

The NY Islanders were founded in 1972 as part of the NHL's expansion. In their early years legendary coach Al Arbour quickly led the team to success. The team forged a dynasty in the early 1980s, capturing four consecutive Stanley Cups from 1980-1983. Legends such as Mike Bossy, Bryan Trottier, and Denis Potvin helped bring years of unparalleled success to the franchise. 

The Islanders have gone through several transitions over the years, including a move to Brooklyn's Barclays Center, but they eventually returned home to Nassau Coliseum until the construction of UBS arena on Long Island completed in 2021. 

• League: National Hockey League, Eastern Conference
• Stadium: Prudential Center
• Founded: 1974
• Championships: 3 ( 1995, 2000, 2003)

The NJ Devils have been located all over the country before settling in New Jersey. The franchise was founded in 1974 as the Kansas City Scouts before being relocated to Colorado as the Rockies. Finally in 1982, they moved to New Jersey and rebranded as the Devils.

They won their first Stanley Cup in 1995, capturing titles again in 2000 and 2003. They currently play at the Prudential Center, located in Newark, New Jersey, just outside NYC.

• League: National Basketball League, Eastern Conference
• Stadium: Prudential Center
• Founded: 1974
• Championships: 2 - ABA Championships (2002, 2003)

Though the Brooklyn Nets are not native to the NYC borough, they have always been local to the NYC tri-state area. They were founded as the New Jersey Americans in 1967, and in the following years played part-time on Long Island, a period during which they were rebranded as the New York Nets. Despite a lack of connection to one specific city or arena, the Nets won two ABA championships in the 1970s, and became a part of the NBA when the ABA-NBA merger happened in 1976.

The Nets moved back to New Jersey in the late ‘70s, and remained there for over 30 years. In 2012, the Nets made their most recent move to Brooklyn, officially becoming the Brooklyn Nets with the Barclay’s Center as their home court. 

Nets legends include the likes of Jason Kidd and Julius Erving, and have more recently been the home team of stars such as Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.

• League: Major League Soccer, Eastern Conference
• Stadium: Red Bull Arena
• Founded: 1994
• Championships: N/A

The New York Red Bulls were established in 1996, at which point they were known as the New York/New Jersey MetroStar. A decade later, the team was sold to Red Bull, which already had an established network of global soccer clubs.

Now the New York Red Bulls have an extensive system in which they seek to grow in-house talent from a young age through their youth academy. The team has gone through phases of up and down seasons, but under new leadership and upon spending money on new players, the team hopes to bring a new era of soccer success to New York. The Red Bulls play at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey.

• League: Women’s National Basketball League, Eastern Conference
• Stadium: Barclay’s Center
• Founded: 1997
• Championships: N/A

The New York Liberty is a founding member of the WNBA. It was first established in 1997, and has developed a strong legacy since then. The Liberty is currently leading the league heading toward the WNBA Finals.

The team has a growing fanbase as their presence on the court is inspiring to a new generation of basketball enthusiasts and advocates for gender equality. The Liberty share the Barclay’s Center with the Brooklyn Nets as their home arena. 

• League: National Women’s Soccer League
• Stadium: Red Bull Arena
• Founded: 2006
• Championships: N/A

NJ/NY Gotham FC of the National Women’s Soccer League represents both New Jersey and New York. It was first established as Sky Blue FC in 2007, but the team underwent a rebranding in 2021. The new name, Gotham FC was chosen to reflect its connection to the Gotham City area. 

Some big names have played for Gotham FC since its founding. The team plays at Red Bull Arena in New Jersey.

• League: Major League Soccer, Eastern Conference
• Stadium: Yankee Stadium
• Founded: 2013
• Championships: N/A

The New York City Football Club was founded in 2013 as an expansion team in the MLS.  The club is affiliated with Manchester City and the New York Yankees, which gives it an immediate edge. Since their inaugural season in 2015, NYCFC has seen several players from across the globe come and go as they look to come into their own as a team.