According to SeatGeek, nearly half of the adults in New Jersey identify themselves as baseball fans, slightly more than the national average (53%). Males are more likely to identify as fans than females. In addition, most New Jerseyans have a favorable opinion of professional baseball, while only 24% say they have an unfavorable opinion. Among those who consider themselves MLB fans, 88% rate their favorite team as "favorite," compared to just 38% for those who do not follow the sport.
The New York Yankees are the most popular team in New Jersey, while the New York Mets are the second most popular team in the Garden State. The Boston Red Sox are the third most popular team, with only 4% of residents identifying with the franchise. No other team makes the top 1% of fans in New Jersey. However, the Yankees are favored by more New Jerseyans in North Jersey than they are in Central and South Jersey, suggesting that the Garden State's baseball fans are divided between the Yankees and the Mets.
The New York Giants are another major league team in New Jersey. Founded in 1925, the team has won eight major league team championships and is the oldest team in the Northeast. The team practices and plays in Harrison, New Jersey. Their fans are known as "Garden State Ultras," and there is even a special section in Red Bull Arena reserved for their fans.
Although New Jersey may have three favored MLB teams, it might not be able to get one. New York already has several teams, and the region's other teams aren't in a rush to compete for MLB viewers. This means that New Jersey's quest for an MLB team will likely remain in limbo for the foreseeable future.
The New Jersey Devils, New York Giants, and New York Jets are just three of the major professional sports teams based in New Jersey. The New York Giants and New York Jets play at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, while the New Jersey Devils play in Newark.
The Trenton Thunder, which plays at Arm & Hammer Park, is another team that is popular in the region. The team has won the state's state championship for the past two years, and has been among the most popular teams in merchandise sales for the past 23 years. The Trenton Thunder is an affiliate of the New York Yankees and has hosted a number of big-name players on rehab assignments.