Contact: Sunny Mindel/Curt Ritter 212/788-2958
"While New York City is commonly known as The Financial, Cultural and Media Capital of the World, today's award from The Sporting News is further evidence that New York City is also The Sports Capital of the World," said Mayor Giuliani. "This past week alone the City was filled with sports-related events, from the annual New York City Marathon Lottery, and a City Hall celebration for New York Yankee Pitcher David Cone's perfect game, to yesterday's proclamation ceremony for the 1999 U.S. Women's Soccer Team celebrating their World Cup victory. New York City's appetite for energy and excitement is expressed in the fact that New York is a great City for sports.
"Whether it's the World Championship Yankees or this year's Knicks appearance in the NBA finals, New York City's sports teams keep New Yorkers rooting throughout the year and make our City home to the world's greatest sports fans. Home to major and minor league baseball, professional basketball, football and hockey, New York City has it all," the Mayor concluded.
The Sporting News conducted a study this past year of 350 cities in the United States and Canada that had professional baseball, football, basketball and hockey teams, an NCAA Division I football or basketball team, or an NFL training camp. The cities were then ranked according to several criteria, including: success of area teams, attendance and overall fan passion, ticket cost and availability, stadium concessions and ambiance, franchise ownership stability and area weather.