Gowing up as a massive sports fan and having a father who shares the same love as I do has given me countless memories of traveling the country together to catch different games in different venues across myriad states—I’ve already made my way to 20 different MLB stadiums, as my dad and I endeavor to cross off all 30 of the league’s ballparks from our respective bucket list. In the interim, we’ve also been to the other professional sports leagues besides the MLB: NBA, NFL and NHL. Along the way, we’ve taken just about every mode of transportation imaginable: plane, train, car and bus. For travel, particularly in New York State, Amtrak provides a top-of-the-line experience for all sports devotees.
Let’s start in Gotham, shall we? Amtrak brings you right to Madison Square Garden, the “World’s Most Famous Arena,” in the very heart of Manhattan. The train will take you directly to Moynihan Train Hall in Penn Station, located under Madison Square Garden. There, the New York Rangers and New York Knicks play their home games; with both NHL and NBA regular seasons active from October to April, there’s always action at The Garden. Additionally, the Big East Conference hosts its men’s basketball conference tournament at MSG every March. For even more basketball, make your way from Moynihan Train Hall to the Barclays Center home of the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets and defending WNBA Champion New York Liberty.
Staying in a NYC state of mind, Amtrak accommodates baseball fans to Yankee Stadium, home of one of the planet’s most famous teams, the New York Yankees. To get to East 161st Street, one takes Amtrak into Manhattan and transfers either to a subway or Metro-North. And even if you’re not rocking the pinstripes, once at Moynihan Train Hall, a quick subway transfer will get you to Queens where the New York Mets play at Citified. Though the two teams may split the state’s rooting interest, Amtrak is here to help you experience all that the Yankees and Mets have to offer.
Also in Queens, is the most important tennis tournament in the country, the Men’s and Women’s US Open. From mid-August to early September, the world’s best tennis players compete at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Meanwhile Buffalonians root for a couple of its own historic pro teams, the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres. Widely regarded as one of the rowdiest fanbases in the league, “Bills Mafia” is as passionate as they come. Amtrak can take you to the Buffalo-Depew Station, less than 13 miles away from the Bills’ home, Highmark Stadium. Luckily, the Sabres play their home hockey games at the KeyBank Center, just a quick walk from Buffalo-Exchange Street Station and your Amtrak train.
For more NHL games, travel across the border to Canada, starting in Montréal at the legendary Bell Centre. The Montréal Canadiens, winners of a league-best 24 Stanley Cups, have one of the most electric home venues in the league and it’s only a half mile from the Gare Centrale/Central Station. Even closer to an Amtrak station, the Toronto Maple Leafs—as well as the NBA’s Toronto Raptors—occupy Scotiabank Arena, a mere 600 yards from Union Station. Toronto is the only Canadian city with a major league baseball team where the Blue Jays play their home games at Rogers Centre, conveniently less than a mile from Union Station.
On those endless summer days (and nights), hop on Amtrak and climb the ranks of baseball’s minor league system, starting with the Hudson Valley Renegades. The High-A affiliate of the New York Yankees plays their home games at Heritage Financial Park, 13.8 miles away from the Poughkeepsie Station. Ready to move up to Double-A? Take Amtrak to the Louise M. Slaughter Station in Rochester. 1.6 miles away, the Rochester Red Wings, an affiliate of the Washington Nationals, call Innovative Field home. Just one step below the big leagues is the Buffalo Bisons, the Triple-A squad for the Toronto Blue Jays. The Bisons play at Sahlen Field, directly across the street from Buffalo-Exchange Street Station. Additionally, all three of the Mets minor league teams at these levels also play in New York. Their High-A squad, the Brooklyn Cyclones, play at Maimonides Park in Coney Island, a subway ride away from Moynihan Train Hall.
The Mets Double-A team plays in Binghamton, a little more than an hour away from the Amtrak station at the Syracuse Regional Transportation Center. The Rumble Ponies have one of the most unique names in minor league baseball and play in the city at Mirabito Stadium. Their Triple-A squad plays in upstate New York and also shares the big-league club name; the Syracuse Mets play their home games at NBT Bank Stadium. Amtrak will bring you less than a mile away from the ballpark if you take it to Syracuse Regional Transportation Center.
Not far from Syracuse is Utica, where you can see another minor league team in action –in a different sport. The Utica Comets are the AHL affiliate for hockey’s New Jersey Devils; the Comets play at the Adirondack Bank Center which is less than a mile walk from the Boehlert Transportation Center. Another AHL option is the Rochester Americans, the affiliate for the Buffalo Sabres. The Amerks home, the Blue Cross Arena, is only a mile away from the Louise M. Slaughter Station. One tier below the AHL is the ECHL; the Adirondack Thunder are also a feeder team for the New Jersey Devils. The Thunder play in Glens Falls at Cool Insuring Arena, a short walk from the Glens Falls Station.
June 2025—following the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes—the third race of the epic Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing will take place once again at the Saratoga Race Course, the Belmont Stakes. Take Amtrak to the Saratoga Springs Amtrak Station, which is less than three miles from the track.
With so many sports to see in New York State, Amtrak offers a See New York and Save 15 promotion allowing for a 15 percent discount on select trips throughout the state, so make sure to see if you can apply it to your next sports adventure! With Amtrak taking us there, New York really does feel like the center of the wide world of sports. Game on!
