N.Y. Giants at MetLife Stadium — plus everything to eat, drink, and do in East Rutherford for a perfect sports weekend.
MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey is the home of both the Giants and Jets — two franchises sharing one building in a market so large it barely notices. The stadium is 8 miles from Midtown Manhattan, accessible by NJ Transit bus, and surrounded by the greatest sports city in America. A MetLife weekend is really a New York weekend with a football game added.
Use GamePlan to find Giants or Jets weekends that overlap with Yankees, Mets, or Knicks home games. New York City is the destination — the game is the anchor for an extraordinary urban sports weekend.
MetLife Stadium opened in 2010 as the first stadium built by two NFL franchises sharing equally. The $1.6 billion facility has no natural grass (synthetic turf) and no roof. New York/New Jersey weather in November and December can be severe — the outdoor stadium provides a genuine test of fan commitment.
You cannot leave East Rutherford without eating these.
One of Manhattan's finest hotels on Fifth Avenue. The starting point for a New York weekend that includes a football game.
Best for: Luxury travelers, couplesOne of the great hotel restaurants in America attached to a beautifully designed boutique hotel.
Best for: Food-focused travelers, design enthusiastsSmart, efficient, well-designed hotel in Times Square with easy access to Port Authority.
Best for: Budget-conscious fans, groupsNew York's oldest bar (1854). Two beers: dark and light. No cocktails. No credit cards. Sawdust on the floor. A genuine piece of New York history.
Must order: A round of light and a round of darkConsistently ranked one of the finest bars in the world. Three floors, an Irish-American heritage menu, extraordinary cocktail depth.
Must order: Ask the bartender — the menu changes seasonallyThe cafe version of the legendary 1914 appetizing shop. Smoked salmon, sturgeon, and caviar on bagels with schmear.
Must order: Super Heebster bagel, whatever smoked fish appealsSince 1888. The most famous deli in America. The pastrami on rye is the standard order. The line is part of the experience.
Order: Pastrami on rye, matzo ball soup, egg creamDavid Chang's original noodle shop. The pork ramen and steamed buns launched a movement.
Order: Pork ramen, steamed bunsThe finest neighborhood Italian restaurant in New York. Roman-inspired menu driven by seasonal vegetables and house-made pasta.
Order: Seasonal pasta, carciofi alla giudea, the wine listThe game-day express bus from Port Authority in Midtown is the correct way to reach MetLife. Efficient, cheap, and avoids the I-95 nightmare.
You are in New York City. The game is one event. The Metropolitan Museum, Central Park, the Brooklyn Bridge, the High Line, the food in every neighborhood — New York requires days, not hours.
New York-style pizza is one of the great religious debates in American food. Every neighborhood has its champions. Explore widely. Form strong opinions.
Giants tickets are more expensive and harder to get. Jets tickets are more accessible — the Jets have been less successful recently.
MetLife has no roof. November in the Meadowlands is cold, damp, and windy. Dress like you're skiing.
Always. The city is the experience — you'll take the bus to the game and return to civilization.
Use GamePlan to find the exact dates when your favorite teams all play in the same window — then book everything in one trip.
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