A walk-off home run. A buzzer-beater swishing through the hoop. A desperation heave for the game-winning touchdown. These consequential moments get us hooked on sports – and there have been plenty lately, from the riveting Winter Olympics to the rise in popularity of the WNBA.
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Now, New York is taking center stage. The Knicks have roared back to the NBA Finals, and Game 3 will have Madison Square Garden rocking. The 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway later this week, with plenty of matches scheduled at nearby MetLife Stadium, temporarily renamed New York New Jersey Stadium – including the much-anticipated final on July 19.
What does that have to do with politics and government? Plenty! Ticket prices and processes are under scrutiny from politicians. Legislative changes made New York a sports betting hub – and more legislation may be needed to maintain the integrity of professional and amateur sports. Stadium funding, land use battles and debates over the costs and benefits of hosting major sporting events are perennial issues.
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City & State’s Who’s Who in Sports highlights the key players at the intersection of athletics and politics. The list, written and researched with journalist Sean Okula, features executives, administrators, officials, attorneys, advocates and others shaping the future of sports in New York and beyond.
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