American Football in New York

There are few experiences in this city that will make you feel as American as watching a Giants game. Here's how to get the best NFL tickets in New York.
American Football in New York

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More about: American Football in New York

Have you ever experienced the madness and atmosphere that American football creates in New York? Attending an NFL game is one of the most exciting experiences you can have during a trip to the city.

The two most important American football teams in the city are the New York Giants and the New York Jets. Get your ticket and get ready to enjoy America's favourite sport live and in style. You'll have a great time!

How to buy American football tickets?

Buy tickets online| ©Joaquín Montaño - Midjourney
Buy tickets online| ©Joaquín Montaño - Midjourney

American football is the most popular sport in the United States and tickets for games sell out months in advance. If you want to include an American football game during your trip to New York, I recommend buying your tickets before you travel. To do so, visit the Hellotickets website to see the full range of tickets on offer. Also, keep the following tips in mind:

  • Demand for American football tickets in New York is high, so it's common for tickets to sell out quickly. The key is to buy them as early as possible to get the best seats in the stadium at a cheaper price.
  • Since the American ticket market is dynamic, prices rise as the game date approaches and supply decreases (just like flights, for example). If you wait too long, you run the risk of being left without tickets or having few available at a high price and in sections with less spectacular visibility.
  • What's more, when you buy American football tickets online , you can choose the seat you like best. In my opinion, this is the quickest, easiest and safest option.
  • Buying American football tickets at the box office means you'll have to do so when you're in New York, which means you'll have to adapt to the box office hours, travel to the stadium and wait in a very long queue to buy them.
  • Buying American football tickets at the box office means you will do so months later than you could have bought them at home. Therefore, there will be far fewer seats available and perhaps at an exorbitant price. Or they will have sold out completely due to the high demand for NFL tickets.

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Tickets for the New York Giants

American football helmet| ©Joaquín Montaño - Midjourney
American football helmet| ©Joaquín Montaño - Midjourney

The New York Giants play their home games at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, about 30 minutes from Manhattan. With more than 82,000 seats, it is one of the NFL's temples. Buying New York Giants tickets in advance usually gives you access to better seats and prices.

Current status: the franchise is in training camp and will play three preseason friendlies before the official start of the 2025 season.

Key New York Giants matches

If you are travelling to New York and want to experience the NFL, check the Giants' schedule and pay attention to:

  • Divisional matches (NFC East):

    • Dallas Cowboys (historic rivalry)
  • Philadelphia Eagles (eastern classic)

  • Washington Commanders (key match for qualification)

  • Conference rivals (NFC):

    • San Francisco 49ers (regular contender)
    • Green Bay Packers (tradition and atmosphere)
    • Minnesota Vikings (explosive offence)
  • Interconference matchups (AFC West):

    • Kansas City Chiefs
    • Los Angeles Chargers

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Tickets for the New York Jets

Ball detail| ©Joaquín Montaño - Midjourney
Ball detail| ©Joaquín Montaño - Midjourney

Like the Giants, the New York Jets play at MetLife Stadium. We recommend purchasing tickets for the Jets as soon as possible to ensure availability.

Current status: the team is in training camp and will have two pre-season home games before the start of the league.

Key New York Jets games

Check the Jets' schedule and keep an eye out for these notable match-ups at MetLife:

  • Divisional matches (AFC East):

    • Buffalo Bills (direct rival in the division)
    • Miami Dolphins (big rivalry match-up)
    • New England Patriots (classic match-up against an NFL legend)
  • Conference rivals (AFC):

    • Kansas City Chiefs (current league leaders)
    • Cincinnati Bengals (explosive offence)
    • Baltimore Ravens (elite defence)
  • Interconference matchups (NFC):

    • Dallas Cowboys
    • Pittsburgh Steelers

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Where to watch an NFL game in New York?

American football| ©Joaquín Montaño - Midjourney
American football| ©Joaquín Montaño - Midjourney

Both the Giants and the Jets share the same stadium. They both play at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, located just 30 minutes west of Manhattan.

  • Where? 1 MetLife Stadium Dr, East Rutherford, NJ 07073, United States.
  • How to get there: You can get to the stadium by public transport by taking the Meadowlands Express 351 bus service operated by Coach USA Bus Service, which leaves from Port Authority to MetLife Stadium on game days and takes approximately 30 minutes. To purchase your bus tickets, you must go directly to the Coach USA ticket office.

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Where to buy tickets to see the New York NFL?

Friends with tickets to the game| ©Joaquín Montaño - Midjourney
Friends with tickets to the game| ©Joaquín Montaño - Midjourney

The best way to get your NFL tickets and enjoy a great American football game is online, as going to MetLife Stadium to try your luck if there are any tickets left shortly before the games is not very advisable.

You can buy your tickets online on the Hellotickets website, both for the New York Jets and the New York Giants.

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How much do NFL American football tickets cost in New York?

NFL match| ©Joaquín Montaño - Midjourney
NFL match| ©Joaquín Montaño - Midjourney

The price of a ticket for an NFL match in New York varies from £20 to £1,500. This difference depends on several factors:

  • The teams playing.
  • The location of the seat in the stadium.
  • The time of the season when the game is played.
  • How far in advance you purchase the tickets.

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Which seats should you choose in the stadium?

Visit the stadium| ©Hellotickets
Visit the stadium| ©Hellotickets

MetLife Stadium is a large, new venue. In general, there are no bad seats in the stadium, and you can feel the atmosphere and excitement of the sport from any section. However, when choosing a good seat in the stadium, the idea is to find a balance between a good seat and your budget.

If you really like American football and want to see the plays and players up close, I recommend investing a little more money in getting good seats. The experience is worth it!

In any case, if you have any doubts about the visibility of each section, when you buy your American football tickets online, you will see a photo on the screen with the exact views from each seat so that you know what to expect from each location. Ultimately, the price of NFL tickets depends on how close you are to the field.

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What is the NFL football season like in New York?

NFL match| ©Joaquín Montaño - Midjourney
NFL match| ©Joaquín Montaño - Midjourney

One of the things that sets the American football league apart from other major competitions in the United States is the apparent equality between its 32 teams. In other words, all teams have a real chance of winning, which makes the NFL even more exciting.

If you're wondering how the football season works, you should know that the 32 teams participating in the National Football League are divided into two different conferences called the NFC (National Football Conference) and the AFC (American Football Conference), each consisting of 16 teams.

Throughout the year, there are many key dates in the football calendar that you should keep in mind:

Training Camps (end of July)

Before the pre-season games begin, NFL teams gather at various American universities for a few weeks to train and prepare for their first friendly matches.

Pre-season (August)

The preseason takes place in August, and NFL teams play between five and eight friendly matches before the season begins. American football tickets are usually cheaper for these matches.

Regular season (September – December)

The NFL regular season has a 17-week schedule with a total of 256 games against opponents in the same division, as well as several interdivisional and interconference games. During the regular season, you should mark several important dates on your calendar:

  • Thanksgiving (22 November): the NFL schedules three games for this important holiday in the United States.
  • Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (24-25 December): if these holidays fall on a weekend or Monday, the NFL usually schedules some games during Christmas in New York.
  • The NFL All Star Game: also known as the Pro Bowl, this is a game held at the end of January where the NFL brings together the best players from the NFC and AFC selected by fans to form the dream team of American football.

The NFL Playoffs (early January – early February)

After playing the regular season games, the top two teams from each conference qualify directly for the Divisional Round Games, where they face the four winners of the preliminary round called the Wild Card Playoff Round. The Conference Championship Games determine the winner who will compete in the Super Bowl.

At this stage of the competition, the teams give it their all in the playoffs and only the best remain. The games become even more exciting and the price of American football tickets for the NFL Playoffs goes up, but the spectacle is well worth it.

The Super Bowl (February)

It's the game every team dreams of winning! In the Super Bowl, the champions of the National Football Conference and the American Football Conference face off for victory in a fiercely contested, do-or-die duel. The whole country comes to a standstill to watch the sporting event of the year, which could be described as almost a national holiday.

  • How long does the Super Bowl last? The grand final can last approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes, which is slightly longer than regular matches because this match has a big musical show at half-time that makes it longer.

Naturally, American football tickets for the Super Bowl are the most expensive of the season because everyone wants to be there and witness this great game. It's a unique experience!

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Game day is here!

NFL match| ©Joaquín Montaño - Midjourney
NFL match| ©Joaquín Montaño - Midjourney

When to go to the stadium?

MetLife Stadium is located in New Jersey, quite far from downtown New York, so on game day I recommend you leave well in advance to avoid being late in case something unexpected happens on the bus ride to the stadium. At least an hour before the start of the game.

This will also give you time to walk around the area, visit the team shop, find your seats or buy some snacks. You'll get a feel for the atmosphere before the game and see how the stadium gradually fills up. A thrilling moment is when the players take to the field: the stadium roars and the fans welcome them like true heroes!

Can you eat inside the stadium?

Yes, there are many food carts inside MetLife Stadium selling snacks, pizza, sandwiches, tacos... there is a lot of variety, although the prices are slightly higher than outside.

However, you can also bring food into the stadium in transparent plastic bags and bottles of water or soft drinks of 0.59 litres or less, provided they are factory sealed.

Can you bring backpacks or cameras?

  • According to MetLife Stadium policy, each fan may enter the stadium with one clear bag measuring 30 x 15 x 30 cm or less. Small purses or clutches measuring 11.4 x 16.5 cm or less are also permitted. All bags, purses and clutches will be thoroughly inspected by security personnel before entry.
  • As for cameras and video cameras, MetLife Stadium policy states that those with lenses longer than 6 inches are not permitted. Cameras with lenses 6 inches or less are permitted. Go Pro cameras are also permitted as long as their use does not interfere with other spectators' enjoyment of the event.
  • Tripods, monopods, and selfie sticks are not permitted in the stadium.

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Useful information for watching the NFL

Father with his son at a match| ©Midjourney
Father with his son at a match| ©Midjourney

How long does an NFL match last?

An American football match can last almost 3 hours. If we're talking about the Super Bowl, it can last 4 hours, including the musical entertainment.

Do children pay admission?

According to MetLife Stadium's access policy, children up to 34" (86.36 cm tall) can enter the stadium for free, but must sit on the lap of an adult who has their own ticket. Likewise, MetLife Stadium does not allow baby carriages or nappy bags.

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What other sporting events are there in New York?

NBA game| ©NBA
NBA game| ©NBA

If you are passionate about sport and want to attend another event during your holiday in New York, I recommend other options such as:

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