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It's not a secret that New York sports fans take their teams seriously - very seriously. The many sports played and followed in NYC include baseball and basketball, football, bicycling, boating and kayaking, football and hockey, ice-skating...the list goes on.

Central Park is a heaven of sports activities, organized and casual. The park has the Lasker Rink and Pool, the North Meadow Recreation Center with Indoor and outdoor recreational facility, indoor climbing wall, 12 fields for baseball, softball, and soccer. The Reservoir has a 1.5 mile running track, the Great Lawn Park with 8 softball fields, soccer, basketball, and volleyball court, and Woolman Rink offers ice skating and hockey.

New York City is home to the headquarters of the National Football League, the National Hockey League, the National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, the National Women's Hockey League, and Major League Soccer.

Stadiums in New York

In New York there are several major stadiums, although a few are located "across the river" in the state of New Jersey.   

• Yankee Stadium: Located in the Bronx, this is the most important baseball park in the US. Opened in 2009, it seats 51,000 people and it homes the New York Yankees and New York City FC.
• Citi Field: This baseball park was built where the Shea Stadium used to be in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park. Completed in 2009, it is home to the New York Mets of the National League division of Major League Baseball.
• Madison Square Gardens: This spectacular view sits atop Pennsylvania Station in Midtown Manhattan and is billed as "The World's Most Famous Arena". This is the home arena of the Knicks and holds events ranging as WWF wrestling to Elton John concerts.

Sporting Events in NYC

Organized sports are serious business in New York and the city often sports two teams per league. For example:

• National Football League (NFL): New York Giants and the New York Jets represent New York. Both teams having Super Bowl Championships under their belts.
• Major League Baseball (MLB): The New York Mets the New York Yankees are extremely competitive with the Yankees having a worldwide reputation as one of the best.
• National Basketball League (NBA): The New York Knicks are New York's only men's major league basketball team. The team has won two NBA Championships. The New York Liberty are the city's women's team and very competitive.
• National Hockey League (NHL): New Yorkers root for either the New Jersey Devils, the New York Islanders, or the New York Rangers.
• The U.S. Open tennis tournament is one of the most exciting sporting events in the city and takes place in late August.
• The TCS New York City Marathon is run on the streets of the city and is watched by over 260 million spectators across the globe.

Gyms in New York

Finding a gym usually depends on finding one in your area.  Luckily, NYC has plenty of gyms for all styles of athletics. Google maps is a good way to search for your closest gym, offering info on facilities, opening hours, and reviews.

Before you sign up in a gym, it is recommended to ask for a free-day entrance so you can get to know the place better. Most gyms in NYC offer this option.

Websites like Groupon offer discounts on classes and membership. Shop around for comparisons of offerings and discounts.

Major Gyms in NYC:

• 24 Hour Fitness
• Crunch
• David Barton Gym
• Equinox
• New York Sports Club
• Planet Fitness
• YMCA