STEP INTO THE GAME OF DIVERSE SPORTING EVENTS IN NEW YORK CITY
STEP INTO THE GAME OF DIVERSE SPORTING EVENTS IN NEW YORK CITY
—Lumberjack Competition In Central Park And Competitive Swim Race Around the Statue Of Liberty Are Among The City’s Unique Events—
New York City (March 11, 2015) — NYC & Company, New York City’s official marketing, tourism and partnership organization, invites visitors and locals to experience the City’s numerous sporting events this year. Beyond the more recognizable competitions that New York City hosts, such as last month’s NBA All-Star Game and the 2015 US Open this summer, there are many other year-round sporting events happening throughout the City’s five boroughs.
“New York City is a must-visit sports destination for athletes and fans alike,” said Fred Dixon, president & CEO of NYC & Company. “With world-class venues and action-packed sporting events, there is always something going on in the five boroughs, no matter the season.”
In addition to catching a regular season game to the more than ten professional sports teams that call NYC home, fans will also find other noteworthy events this summer. On June 20 in Central Park, the world’s top lumberjack athletes will compete in the STIHL® Timbersports® USA Professional and Collegiate Championships to determine the best-all around lumberjack. Tested disciplines include the Hot Saw and Springboard Chop, both based on traditional logging skills. On Staten Island, you can walk from the ferry terminal to see the Staten Island Yankees play baseball, complete with fireworks and unparalleled views of the City’s skyline. In Queens’ Flushing Meadows Park, the 25th Annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival features over 120 dragon boat teams racing on Meadow Lake. Held on the weekend of August 8-9, the multicultural event also includes on-land celebrations, featuring traditional Chinese cuisine and entertainment.
From Barclays Center in Brooklyn to Citi Field in Queens, the City’s iconic venues are home to sporting events throughout the year. In the Bronx, Yankee Stadium will host all scheduled home games of the New York City FC this year. Soccer fans can watch as the team plays their first home game against the New England Revolution on March 15, or catch one of sixteen other home games through October 25. Madison Square Garden, home to professional league teams such as the New York Rangers and New York Knicks, has featured the entertaining Harlem Globetrotters and will be home to the 2016 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships from March 17-19, 2016. Wrestling fans also have another reason to visit the City, as WWE® SummerSlam® returns this summer to New York City on August 23 at the Barclays Center.
New Yorkers and visitors looking to participate in one-of-a-kind racing competitions can join fellow athletes as they dash to the finish line through the City’s streets – and even into the sky. During the annual Empire State Building Run-Up, runners bolt up the iconic building’s 86 flights, or 1,576 stairs; the next run-up will be held February 3, 2016. Another fun race is the 2015 Rock ‘n” Roll Brooklyn Half-Marathon debuting on October 10. Starting at the Grand Army Plaza and finishing at Prospect Park, competitors will run along to the adrenaline-pumping tunes of music and entertainment lining the 13.1 mile course. Throughout the year, New York Road Runners hosts races in the five boroughs, including the NYRR Five Borough Series and the famed TCS New York City Marathon on November 1, 2015.
Visitors taking a stroll through picturesque Astoria Park, Queens just might catch a glimpse of 32,000 cyclists during the 40-mile TD Five Boro Bike Tour, which takes place May 3, 2015. Those looking for relief from the summer heat can swim under the Brooklyn Bridge or around the Statue of Liberty with NYC Swim, which hosts over 15,000 participants in citywide swimming races every summer.
For more information about upcoming sports events and teams in NYC, visit nycgo.com/sports.
About NYC & Company:
NYC & Company is the official marketing, tourism and partnership organization for the City of New York, dedicated to maximizing travel and tourism opportunities throughout the five boroughs, building economic prosperity and spreading the positive image of New York City worldwide. For more information, visit nycgo.com.
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Contact: NYC & Company / Chris Heywood 212-484-1270
NYC & Company / Sean Altberger 212-484-1270