One of the New York NFL teams being sued by a Manhattan resident over the use of “New York” in their club’s name knocked the validity of the lawsuit filed in federal court this week.
Abdiell Suero seeks $6 billion in damages and for the New York Giants and New York Jets to return to a stadium in New York by the start of the 2026 season — or change their team names, according to the federal complaint. Both teams have played in New Jersey for decades and currently share MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
“This case has no merit, and we will defend it vigorously,” the Giants said in a statement. The Jets and the NFL declined comment.
The Giants have played in New Jersey since 1976, with the Jets joining them there in 1984.
The lawsuit, which seeks class-action status, alleges false advertising, deceptive practices and even interstate wire fraud.
New City, Same Name
The Jets and Giants aren’t the only NFL teams playing outside the city in their names.
- The San Francisco 49ers relocated to Santa Clara’s Levi Stadium in 2014.
- Washington Football Team has headquarters in Ashburn, Virginia, and the team has played in Landover, Maryland, since 1997.
- The Dallas Cowboys haven’t competed in Dallas proper since 1971.
- The Buffalo Bills have played in Orchard Park, New York, since 1973.
Darren Heitner, founder of Heitner Legal and sports law professor at the University of Florida, told Front Office Sports that a “statute of limitations will be one of the numerous defenses made in a forthcoming motion to dismiss.”
