PAN from football field to Metlife signage / NFL logo / various signage of Metlife stadium in interiors of empty stadium Metlife Stadium Interiors 2 on November 14, 2011 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Footage by BBV/Getty Images)
Rivalries are a big part of sports, and one of the defining features of a rivalry is having your own home turf. In most major leagues, whether it’s the NFL, baseball, basketball, or soccer, teams build atmospheres in their stadiums designed to rattle opponents and energize fans. MetLife Stadium is unique, in that it hosts two professional football teams.
But every once in a while, rivals end up sharing the same building. That’s the unusual case with the New York Jets and New York Giants, two franchises that have been stadium-mates for decades. Oddly enough, this shared arrangement even plays into betting lines, as sportsbooks often trim the traditional home field advantage when setting odds. For example, BetMGM
continue to track how a potential Jets, Giants stadium split could affect both fan sentiment and betting markets.How the Stadium Share Began
For nearly 40 years, the Jets and Giants have shared facilities. They’ve gone from the Polo Grounds and Shea Stadium, to Giants Stadium, and now to their current home, MetLife Stadium. Opened in 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey, about eight kilometers outside of New York City, MetLife cost $1.6 billion to build, making it the most expensive stadium of its time.
Why They Share: The Financial Factor
At its core, this is a financial arrangement. The Jets and Giants split the construction costs of MetLife evenly, and unlike many other franchises, they didn’t rely on taxpayer funding to make it happen. Still, the idea of a “stadium divorce” has popped up over the years. The Jets once floated an ambitious plan for a 75,000 seat stadium with a retractable roof on Manhattan’s West Side. That project, tied to a potential Olympic bid, ultimately collapsed under political and financial opposition.
For now, MetLife’s operations crew ensures the stadium transforms seamlessly between tenants. A team of roughly 250 workers can rebrand the entire venue, from signage to on-field logos, in as little as 16 hours, depending on which team is next to play.
Woody Johnson’s Stadium Dream
Jets owner Woody Johnson once pushed hard for the team to have its own state-of-the-art stadium in New York City, a home that would finally separate the franchise from the Giants. That dream never materialized, but rumors persist that he would still like to make it happen.
The bigger question is how realistic it is now. At his age, would Johnson really want to take on a project of that size and complexity? Even if there’s political interest, such as the 2023 Willets Point idea floated by Queens Senator Joseph Addabbo, the odds of Johnson starting over on a stadium deal seem to get slimmer with time.
What’s Next?
For now, the status quo continues. But under the current agreement, the Jets can opt out of the 25-year lease with just 12 months notice. That opportunity comes up every five years, with the next window opening in 2030, not as far away as it sounds.
Until then, the Jets and Giants remain unlikely roommates, making MetLife Stadium one of the most unique setups in professional sports.