After doing a search, I couldn’t find this question anywhere:
Why do the New York Giants and New York Jets play in New Jersey for their homefield? Why aren’t they called the New Jersey Jets/Giants?
Because “New York” sells tickets. Plus, the Jets used to play at Shea Stadium, and the Giants played at Yankee Stadium and the Polo Grounds.
Valid points, but is there some sort of agreement between the NY and NJ municipalities about something like this? One wouldn’t expect the Colts to keep calling themself the Baltimore team just because they USED to play there.
The official NFL stance is that both are metropolitan teams and New York is the largest city in the metropolitan area.
I suppose then everyone in New York should be big fans of the Bills.
It’s the Empire State team!
I mean, if we’re just talking about cities, and completely ignoring states in this, then the “largest city in the metro area” works, because, until this year, the “Detroit” Lions (I’m not sure if you can really call them a profession team, but that’s another thread…) were in Pontiac. The “Detroit” Pistons are in Auburn Hills.
…I guess everyone’s a little scared of Detroit, eh?
Rutherford (the swampland upon which ‘The Meadowlands’ were built) is right across the Hudson from Manhattan. (aside: From the Meadowlands, the displacement of The Twin Towers made them look like one tower).
The reason the Giants went there is the much larger capacity in seats (70,000+) and the Giants were tearing up Yankee Stadium. Pretty much the same reason for the Jets (though do note the Kelly Green bunting on the walls for Jets games).
Since a few years ago, when Soccer had their World Cup there - Giants Stadium has had, basically a ‘tray’ of sod. They can pull it away for concerts - but apparently not for rain. ‘Home Field’ advantage was the Giants (last week) and Jets (last week and tonight) as they could play on that muddy pitch.
(If you want pain - down the Jersey Turnpike is Veteran’s Stadium where the Eagles put the hurt on).
The New Jersey Devils and NY/NJ Nets play in the adjacent (<your corporate name here> Arena) in the Meadowlands. The Jets lease runs out in the next few years, and there may be a Jets (or <your corporate logo>) Stadium in Manhattan (or Queens if they’re willing to share with The Mets) by then.
For an example of the City Name effect operating in reverse, does anyone remember when the Cardinals football team moved to Arizona? They play in Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe but Bill Bidwell called them the “Phoenix Cardinals”, at least until the rest of the state started bitching. They are now the Arizona Cardinals. Of course, it’s not like there are any other cities in Arizona in danger of snagging an NFL team, but you get the point!
Since the Falcons won today, it is conceivable that Giants Stadium could be the host stadium for BOTH the AFC and NFC championship games.
The Giants could host Atlanta and the Jets could Cleveland.
While this is unlikely, it would be interesting.
That scenario must include Giants defeating The Eagles at Vet’s stadium - and The Jets defeating Oakland next week in Oakland! Thus the USA would have already seen the best two games in these playoffs!
The two hottest teams in the NFL - who’s wins last week shook up the entire seeding of the NFL playoffs - facing off in a Super Bowl! (even in SoCal).
It might be fun.
No, just the Falcons defeating the Eagles at the Vet and the Giants defeating the 49ers today and their following opponent next week. Then the Giants would meet the Falcons at the Meadowlands the next week.
Look, there are a HOST of sports teams that don’t really play in the city they’re named after! Just a few examples:The Bills play in Orchard Park, NY- not in Buffalo. The Cowboys play in Irving, TX- not in Dallas. The Washington Redskins play in Maryland.
SO, why single out the Jets or Giants?
astorian has it right – it’s just an accident of geography that the NY metro area is next to NJ. The stadium could easily have been built on Long Island or even Connecticut (where the Giants did play for a year or two).
It is only the tendentiously anal retentive who have a problem with the name "New York Giants.)
And Bills rooters already do tediously make the point that Buffalo is the only team that actually plays in New York State – as if anybody listens.
Heck, just look at where Chicago played this year…about 2 hours away…