As a New Jersey native, I often get asked why we claim the New York Giants and the Jets as our own. It all boils down to the fact that both of these NFL teams have their home stadiums in New Jersey, at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. This is because New Jersey offers more land and space for the stadiums as opposed to the crowded city of New York. Moreover, both teams have a strong fan base in New Jersey, making the state feel like their true home. So, despite their names, it's pretty clear why we, New Jersey locals, proudly claim the Giants and the Jets as our own.
New Jersey and New York have a long and complicated relationship, and the situation surrounding the two states' shared professional football teams is no exception. The New York Giants and New York Jets both play their home games at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, but they maintain their headquarters in New York. This arrangement has created a unique situation whereby New Jersey can claim the teams as its own, even though they technically play in New York. The reason for this lies in the legal precedent set by the NFL, which allows teams to have their names and logos registered in the state in which their headquarters are located. This means that the New York Giants and Jets are officially registered in New York, even though they play in New Jersey. As a result, New Jersey can claim the teams as its own, despite the fact that they are technically based in New York.