New York is home to some of the most iconic and successful sports teams in the world.
From baseball to football to basketball, New Yorkers have a deep-rooted passion for their sports teams, and the city has a rich history of legendary athletes and unforgettable moments.
With so many teams to choose from, the debate over which one can be considered the “biggest” is a contentious one. Is it the team with the most championships, the team with the most fans, or the team with the highest revenue?
Some argue it's the Yankees, with their 27 World Series titles and global brand recognition. Others point to the Giants or the Jets, with their storied histories and passionate fan bases.
And then there are the Knicks, who despite years of struggles, still command a loyal following and have a storied past.
In this article, we'll explore the arguments for each of these teams and attempt to determine which one can truly be considered the biggest in the Big Apple.
Perhaps the most obvious way to measure a team's success is of course by the number of championships it has won.
Let's look at the stats.
| Team | Championship Wins 🏆 |
| 27 |
| 8 |
| 4 |
| 4 |
| 3 |
| 2 |
| 2 |
| 2 |
| 1 |
| 1 |
| 0 |
The New York Yankees, with 27 World Series titles, have won more championships than any other team in Major League Baseball.
Their success over the years has helped to build their brand, and because of this, they are often considered the most successful team in New York sports history.
The Giants are next with eight championships (four Super Bowls & four pre-merger NFL titles), followed by the Rangers and the Islanders with four Stanley Cup championships each.
A successful period between 1995-2003 saw the New Jersey Devils pick up three Stanley Cups, while the New York Mets and the Brooklyn Nets both have two titles each.
The Knicks have two NBA titles to their name - the last of which came all the way back in 1973!
The Yankees' dominance in baseball cannot be overlooked, and their championship pedigree is a major factor in their "bigness."
The size and passion of a team's fan base is another factor that contributes to its "bigness."
Image: Debby Wong via Shutterstock.com
The Yankees have a massive following, and the team's success over the years has only added to its popularity - with the Yankee brand one of the most recognizable in the world.
The New York Giants and the New York Jets both also have significant followings, with dedicated fan bases that support them through both good and bad seasons.
However, the New York Knicks may have the most devoted fan base of any New York team. Despite their recent decades of struggles, they’ve maintained a huge following whose passion has done little to diminish.
The Yankees probably have the largest fan base, but it can be argued that the Knicks edge this category due to the raw passion and devotion of their long-suffering yet loyal fan base.
In the world of professional sports, money talks. So looking at a team's revenue & net worth can be a great way to measure its success.
Team | Revenue (2022) | Net Worth (2022) |
| $584m | $6bn |
| $482m | $6bn |
| $452m | $5.8bn |
| $519m | $5.4bn |
| $405m | $3.5bn |
| $302m | $2.65bn |
| $249m | $2.2bn |
| $181m | $1.02bn |
| $191m | $960m |
| $65m | $690m |
| $60m | $525m |
*Statistics based on Forbes 2022 evaluation
In terms of revenue, the New York Giants and the New York Jets are at the top of the list, thanks to their higher stadium attendance, ticket prices, and lucrative TV deals.
In terms of net worth, the New York Yankees and the Giants are top of the pile, with Forbes valuing both franchises at $6 billion in 2022, making them the joint fourth-most valuable sports teams in the world.
They’re closely followed by the Knicks with a value of $5.8 billion and the Jets with a value of $5.4 billion.
The New York Giants just edge this category due to having a slightly higher revenue than the Yankees.
Legacies aren't made overnight, and a team's historical significance is something else we need to consider when is comes to "bigness".
Team | Year Founded |
| 1901 |
| 1925 |
| 1926 |
| 1946 |
| 1960 |
| 1962 |
| 1967 |
| 1972 |
| 1974 |
| 1995 |
| 2013 |
The New York Yankees have a long history of success and they are often associated with the city's sports culture. Their early dominance in the 1920s and 1930s helped to establish them as one of the most iconic sports teams in the world.
The New York Giants were founded in 1925 and are one of the oldest and most storied franchises in the NFL, with numerous Hall of Fame players and coaches.
The Knicks also have a legacy that stretches back decades, and the Rangers' 1994 Stanley Cup victory broke a 54-year championship drought, cementing their place in New York sports history.
The New York Mets, while a relatively new team compared to the others, have also left their mark on New York sports history with their famous 1969 World Series victory.
Founded in 1901, the Yankees are a New York institution with a legacy that surpasses all others.
Nowadays, the size of a brand’s social media following goes a long way in determining its influence. It's a key indicator of its popularity and ability to engage with fans.
| Team | Total | |||
 New York Yankees | 8.2m | 3.8m | 3.1m | 15.1m |
 New York Knicks | 5.5m | 2.4m | 3.6m | 11.5m |
 Brooklyn Nets | 3m | 2m | 4.7m | 9.7m |
 New York Giants | 3.5m | 2m | 2.6m | 8.1m |
 New York Rangers | 1.5m | 1.4m | 1.2m | 4.1m |
 New York Mets | 1.5m | 1.2m | 1.4m | 4.1m |
 New York Jets | 1.7m | 1.3m | 900k | 3.9m |
 New York City FC | 2.1m | 400k | 700k | 3.2m |
 New Jersey Devils | 500k | 800k | 400k | 1.7m |
 New York Red Bulls | 1m | 200k | 200k | 1.4m |
 New York Islanders | 300k | 600k | 400k | 1.3m |
The New York Yankees have the largest social media following, with a total of around 15 million followers across Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram combined.
The Knicks are next in line, with about 11.5 million followers on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram combined.
The Brooklyn Nets come in at third, with an impressive social media following of almost 10 million, followed by the Giants in fourth, with around 8 million followers.
The Yankees are the team to follow online, with a noticeably larger social media following than other NY teams.
"You're only as good as your last game", or so the cliche goes. While this view is debatable, recent success is certainly an important factor to consider when talking about which team is the biggest.
Image: Alena Veasey via Shutterstock.com
Looking at which team has the most impressive recent achievements, the Giants would argue their case, having won two Super Bowls in the past 15 years (2007 & 2011).
However, New York City FC can also make a strong claim for recent success, as they won their first and only MLS title in 2021 - within just the first ten years of their existence!
The Yankees, meanwhile, have made it to the playoffs in each of the past six seasons but have not won a World Series since 2009 - an exceptionally long drought for a franchise of their standing.
The Knicks and Rangers have both struggled in recent years and have not won championships since 1973 and 1994, respectively, though the Rangers did lose a championship game in 2014. The Knicks have only one playoff appearance since 2013.
Meanwhile, The Mets haven’t won a World Series since 1969, but they did win the NL East Division title in 2015 and secured a wildcard berth in 2022.
The Jets’ last championship came in 1969, while all of the Islanders’ success came in the early 80s when they won four Stanley Cup’s in a row, as well as a few division championships in the late 80s.
The New Jersey Devils last Stanley Cup came in 2003, though they lost a final in 2012.
New York City FC has the most recent Championship win in the city, but the Giants take this category due to the magnitude of their recent Super Bowl victories.
Fan attendance at games is another factor to consider as a mark of a team’s “bigness”.
Team | Stadium | Max. Capacity | Avg. Attendance (2022) |
| MetLife Stadium | 82,566 | 78,009 |
| MetLife Stadium | 82,566 | 76,474 |
| Yankee Stadium | 50,291 | 40,207 |
| Citi Field | 41,922 | 33,308 |
| Madison Sq. Garden | 19,033 | 18,621 |
| Barclays Center | 17,732 | 17,354 |
| Yankee Stadium | 30,321* | 17,180 |
| Red Bull Arena | 25,000 | 17,002 |
| UBS Arena | 17,500* | 16,942 |
| Madison Sq. Garden | 17,200* | 16,839 |
| Prudential Center | 17,625 | 12,744 |
*Reduced Capacity
When it comes to drawing crowds, the Giants and the Jets have the highest average attendance at home games. Both teams regularly draw crowds of over 70,000 fans to the MetLife Stadium, though this may be a little unfair as the venue is by far the largest in the city.
The Yankees, meanwhile, draw an average of over 40,000 fans to the Yankee Stadium - especially impressive when you consider there are 81 home fixtures per MLB season.
The Mets also perform well in this regard, with an average of over 30,000 attending their MLB home games at the Citi Field.
The Knicks, Nets, Rangers, and Islanders have lower average attendance figures, with the Knicks averaging nearly 19,000 fans per game, the Nets just over 17,000 per game, and the Rangers and Islanders averaging almost 17,000 fans per game, but this is close to stadium capacity.
Inconclusive. The NFL teams average the highest attendance but their stadium capacity is significantly larger, while the Yankees average 40,000 every game for 81 home fixtures a season, and both NBA teams have near-enough sell-out crowds for every home game.
We'd expect the biggest teams to generate the most interest, and the number of Google searches each month is a way of assessing which teams people want to know about.
Team | Avg. Monthly Searches (USA) |
| 1.5m |
| 823k |
| 823k |
| 673k |
| 450k |
| 450k |
| 301k |
| 90k |
| 90k |
| 40k |
| 22k |
When people search for a team online, it usually indicates that they are interested in learning more about the team, its players, upcoming games, and related news.
The data shows that New York Yankees are the most popular team in terms of average monthly search volume across the USA, with a significant lead over the other teams.
The Brooklyn Nets and New York Giants are next up, with roughly the same level of monthly searches, while the New York Mets have a slightly lower - yet still very healthy - number of searches.
Interestingly, the Knicks have a lower national search volume than most of the other teams despite their strong local following, which could indicate that fans are less interested in them outside of New York.
Finally, you’ll find the MLS teams at the foot of the table, which suggests that soccer still has some way to go before it achieves mainstream popularity.
The data shows that the Yankees generate the most interest online.
Finally, brand recognition is a significant factor in determining a team's "bigness". The biggest teams are the most well known for a reason.
Image: Manu Padilla via Sutterstock.com
When it comes to branding, the Yankees are the clear winner, as shown with their social media following, fan attendance, and search volume.
In fact, we'd say the Yankees are undoubtedly one of the most iconic sports brands in the world.
They're possibly the only team on our list whose fame transcends their sport, with a logo that is instantly recognizable around the globe. In cities from London to Tokyo, you won't have to look far to spot someone in a Yankees cap.
The Giants and Nets also have strong brand recognition with a strong presence both nationally and globally, but not to the same level as the Yankees.
The Rangers are a huge name in the NHL, but not as widely recognized outside of the hockey world, and the Knicks are massive in New York but perhaps less well-known beyond State borders.
The Yankees are one of the most recognizable sports franchises in the world.
Overall, determining which New York sports team is the "biggest" is a difficult task. Each team has its own dedicated fan base, rich history, and memorable moments.
However, the New York Yankees in MLB have often been recognized as having one of the largest fan bases in all of sports and a record of success that few can match, and their rich history and iconic brand arguably make them the top contender.
The team's success over the years has helped to cement their place in the hearts of New Yorkers, and the team's legacy has inspired generations of baseball fans. The Yankees are not just a team, but a cultural institution in New York.
Nevertheless, it is important to recognize and appreciate that other New York sports teams are not far behind. The Knicks, Giants, and Rangers, in particular, have their own dedicated fan base and have brought a lot of joy to New Yorkers over the years.
The Knicks' success in the 90s, with the legendary duo of Patrick Ewing and John Starks, still holds a special place in the hearts of fans. The Giants' dramatic victories in Super Bowls XLII and XLVI are some of the most iconic moments in New York sports history, while the Rangers' Stanley Cup victory in 1994 broke a 54-year championship drought.
Ultimately, the debate over which New York sports team is the biggest will continue among fans, as each team has its own strengths and legacies. However, based on the various criteria discussed here, the New York Yankees stand out as our winner.
New York Yankees
New York Giants
New York Rangers
New York Islanders
New Jersey Devils
New York Knicks
Brooklyn Nets
New York Mets
New York Jets
New York City FC
New York Red Bulls
New York Giants
New York Yankees
New York Knicks
New York Jets
Brooklyn Nets
New York Mets
New York Rangers
New York Islanders
New Jersey Devils
New York City FC
New York Red Bulls
New York Yankees
New York Giants
New York Rangers
New York Knicks
New York Jets
New York Mets
Brooklyn Nets
New York Islanders
New Jersey Devils
New York Red Bulls
New York City FC
New York Jets
New York Giants
New York Yankees
New York Mets
New York Knicks
Brooklyn Nets
New York City FC
New York Red Bulls
New York Islanders
New York Rangers
New Jersey Devils
New York Yankees
Brooklyn Nets
New York Giants
New York Mets
New York Rangers
New York Jets
New York Knicks
New Jersey Devils
New York Islanders
New York City FC
New York Red Bulls
