After spending their first 24 seasons in New York, the New York Jets have made East Rutherford, New Jersey home since 1984 — and a New York state senator believes it’s time for them to return.
The Jets played at the Polo Grounds from 1960 to 1963 before moving to Shea Stadium for the next 20 years. Gang Green then relocated to Giants Stadium in New Jersey, where they shared the venue with the club whose name was emblazoned on the stadium.
Both teams then negotiated a 50/50 partnership to relocate to MetLife Stadium.
Both clubs, however, have the option to opt-out of their lease in 2025 if they give the state of New Jersey 12 months’ notice. This will be the first opportunity for any side to opt out before they repeat every five years from then on.
A New York senator hopes the Jets will seize the opportunity and return to their roots.
“I’m not sure whether that’s the barrier you can’t go over in order to realize the income and jobs that would come with bringing the Jets back,” Sen. Joe Addabbo told Legal Sports Report. “Bringing the Jets back to New York would be historic.”
“I understand that this is a tremendous, Herculean longshot. “However, I despise squandered possibilities,” he added.
Addabbo, a Democrat, represents New York’s 15th congressional district, which includes much of central and southeast Queens, as well as Shea Stadium, which is now Citi Field.
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Despite the fact that it is extremely doubtful, the planned Citi Field/Willets Point project gives Addabbo some optimism. The project, which is expected to be finished in 2027, will include a 25,000-seat soccer stadium for the New York City Football Club, 2,500 affordable housing units, and a hotel. However, Mets owner Steve Cohen is also pursuing a casino license and would most likely locate it in the region.
Of course, there are no known plans to build a football stadium for the Jets there, but Addabbo wants to at least consider the possibility.
“If you’re building a stadium — and I realize it’s just 25,000 seats — but if you have that sort of motivation to build a stadium, if the chance is there with the property and the expiring leases, why miss this opportunity?” According to Addabbo.”
They’d have their own stadium, a newer, more technologically advanced stadium with all-new amenities. Going into a brand-new stadium like the New York Jets and the marketing around it simply blows it out of the water.
And, at least in terms of online sports betting, the original residual effect… Imagine if New Yorkers could wager on the New York Jets, an actual New York football team. I believe that would be a far more appealing industry for online sports betting.”
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The Jets haven’t played in New York since 1983, and the Giants haven’t played since 1975. However, both teams continue to use “New York” as their location.
“Personally, it irritates me to see the Giants and Jets referred to as the ‘New York Jets’ and ‘New York Giants,’ even though the Giants’ helmets say ‘NY.’ It hurts me “stated the senator.
Prior to MetLife Stadium, a stadium on the West Side of Manhattan was proposed and completed in 2008. If New York City had won the bid, the stadium would have been the Jets’ sole home, as well as the focal point of the 2012 Olympic Games.
However, the plan was defeated a month before the IOC’s decision. Addabbo served on the City Council during the mid-2000s stadium negotiations. The site of the intended stadium is now the Hudson Yards development.
