If you hop on the 7 train at Grand Central and head toward Queens, the hats change. It’s subtle at first. You’ll see a stray pinstripe jersey near Bryant Park, but by the time you hit 74th St-Broadway, the orange and blue start to take over. This isn't just a coincidence or a quirk of the commute. It’s the visual manifestation of the mets vs yankees fans map, a geographical and cultural divide that has defined New York City for over sixty years.
Honestly, people from outside the five boroughs think the whole city just roots for the Yankees because of the 27 rings. They’re wrong. Dead wrong. While the Yankees might have the global "brand," the Mets have a grip on specific neighborhoods that is basically unshakable.
The literal line in the sand
Geography is the biggest factor here. You can’t talk about New York baseball without talking about the "Subway Series" geography. For a long time, the rule of thumb was simple: the Bronx, Upper Manhattan, and Westchester belonged to the Yankees. Queens, Long Island, and parts of Brooklyn were Mets territory.
But the data tells a messier story.
Recent ticket sales data from 2024 and 2025 show that the Yankees have a "manifest destiny" problem. They tend to bleed into everything. According to Vivid Seats’ latest fan loyalty reports, the Yankees actually claim more "territory" if you’re looking at it county-by-county across the Tri-State area. They dominate North Jersey and the Hudson Valley.
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However, when you zoom into the mets vs yankees fans map at the zip code level, Queens remains a fortress. In neighborhoods like Flushing, Corona, and Whitestone, the Mets often pull 60% to 70% of the local fan interest. It makes sense. If you can see the Citi Field lights from your roof, you’re probably not wearing a Derek Jeter jersey.
The Brooklyn swing
Brooklyn is the real battleground. Historically, after the Dodgers ditched Ebbets Field for Los Angeles in 1957, a massive void was left. Many of those "National League" families refused to root for the Yankees—the hated rivals—and waited for the Mets to arrive in 1962.
Because of that, you’ll see pockets of deep Mets loyalty in places like Bensonhurst and Sheepshead Bay. But then you’ll hit a block in Williamsburg or DUMBO where it’s all Yankees. Why? Transplants. People moving to New York from California or Chicago often gravitate toward the Yankees because they’re the "default" New York team. It dilutes the old-school map.
Money, status, and the "underdog" tax
There’s a weird sociological layer to this map, too. A report from the Independent Budget Office (IBO) previously noted that Yankees fans in the city actually come from zip codes with slightly higher average household incomes.
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Is it a "rich fan vs. working-class fan" thing? Sorta.
The Yankees represent the corporate "Evil Empire" (a badge they wear with pride). The Mets represent the "Amazins," the team that struggles, breaks your heart, and occasionally pulls off a miracle. This creates a psychological map.
- Yankees territory: Usually aligns with areas of high-finance commutes (Manhattan’s Upper East Side, Westchester).
- Mets territory: Aligns with the "outer-borough" identity—places where people take pride in being the underdog.
The Long Island Stronghold
If there is one place where the Mets truly rule the roost, it’s Nassau and Suffolk counties. If you look at a mets vs yankees fans map that includes all of Long Island, the blue and orange are dominant.
It's almost a 2-to-1 margin in some parts of Nassau.
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The commute to Queens is a straight shot on the Long Island Rail Road. Going to the Bronx from Great Neck is a nightmare involving the Throgs Neck Bridge or a convoluted train transfer. Convenience creates fans. You root for the team you can actually go see without losing five hours of your life to traffic.
Why Jersey stays "Pinstripe"
New Jersey is a different beast. Even though the Mets are "closer" to some parts of Jersey than the Yankees are, the Yankees have a historical grip there. It dates back to the radio days and the fact that the Yankees were the only New York team with a massive footprint when the Giants and Dodgers left.
Even today, 2025 data shows that New Jersey residents make up about 22% of the crowd at Yankee Stadium, compared to a much smaller slice at Citi Field.
How to use this data for your next trip
If you're planning to catch a game during the 2026 season, understanding the map helps you navigate the "vibe" of the city.
- Wear your gear carefully: Wearing a Mets hat in the North Bronx isn't "dangerous," but you will get chirped at the bodega.
- Check the "divided" neighborhoods: If you're in Astoria, Queens, you'll see a 50/50 split. It's the most entertaining place to watch a Subway Series game in a bar because the tension is real.
- The "transplant" rule: In Manhattan, the map is basically useless. It’s a melting pot where fans of every team—including the Red Sox, unfortunately—occupy the same three-block radius.
The mets vs yankees fans map isn't just about sports. It’s a map of family history, train lines, and how New Yorkers see themselves. You’re either part of the empire, or you’re part of the rebellion.
To get a real-time feel for how these borders are shifting, keep an eye on the secondary ticket market heat maps for the next Subway Series. Those "dots" on the seat map are the most honest census New York will ever have.
Actionable insights for fans
- For the budget-conscious: Tickets at Citi Field (Mets) are often more affordable on average than Yankee Stadium, but the gap is closing as the Mets' payroll increases.
- For the history buffs: Visit the site of the old Polo Grounds in Manhattan to see where the Mets started before they became the Kings of Queens.
- For the travelers: If you're staying in Midtown, the 4 train to the Bronx and the 7 train to Queens are your lifelines. Map out your travel time before you buy tickets; a "cross-town" trip to the "wrong" stadium can take much longer than you think.