Deaf Awareness Events - Metro NJ/NY 2026 - 2030

Gary Noll, born Deaf in a New Jersey Deaf household, is a huge New Jersey/New York Sports fan who  received the 2019 New Jersey State Governor’s Jefferson Award, the 2024 New Jersey State Governor’s Volunteerism Award (as a “Community Pillar”) and a 2024 Russ Berrie Unsung Hero Award. He proposes and raises awareness of Deaf and ASL (American Sign Language) sports events.  Gary is an advocate of accessibility, diversity, equity, and inclusion, including promoting captioning and ASL communication technology during NJ/NY metropolitan sporting events.

Gary Noll at Big East Championship, MSG

Gary has already discussed sports venues in New Jersey and New York with Stadium Journey and is excited to share the latest news about future Deaf or ASL awareness events. Please stay tuned for game announcements! The sports teams will be posting notices about the events online.

1. Madison Square Garden (MSG), New York City

Unfortunately, there won’t be a New York Knicks American Sign Language (ASL) group event this season or in 2027.  We hope we see it happen sometime in the future. This is because the team is limiting ticket availability, ticket costs have increased, and the NY Knicks have restructured their staff since winning the NBA championship in June 2026. We’re now focusing on hosting what could be their first-ever NY Rangers ASL group event in 2027 and beyond (keep your fingers crossed).

Gary has already asked to include Deaf ASL anthem performers during some future NY Knicks and NY Rangers games.

2. Yankee Stadium, The Bronx, New York

Yankee Stadium Closed Captioning, Photo by Gary Noll

The NY Yankees baseball team is planning to host its fourth annual Deaf Awareness Event in 2026, but they’ve decided to hold it next year. Please keep an eye out for it. They’ve already reached out to schools and others, but they’re not ready to make a commitment at this time due to their new leadership. The New York Yankees still have plans for Deaf Awareness Events in the future.

3. Citi Field, Queens, New York

Partnering with Mill Neck Manor School for the Deaf, the New York Mets hosted a dedicated Deaf Awareness event in May 2026, held during their home game against the Cincinnati Reds. The Mets are considering hosting either a Deaf Awareness Day or a special Deaf group event by partnering with one of the best Deaf schools in NYC and Long Island for future seasons.  This 2026 season, you’ll notice the Mets already have an ASL anthem performer for some or most of their games, which is a thoughtful way to promote inclusivity.

4. US Open Tennis, Queens, New York

Closed Captioning at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Photo by Gary Noll

The US Open Tennis at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center (August 23 to September 13, 2026) will feature Deaf ASL anthem performers for the opening night and the men’s and women’s championship matches, which will be broadcast on TV again for the third consecutive year.

5. Met Life Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

We haven’t had a chance to chat with the NY Jets and NY Giants about an ASL group event yet. We’d love for them to consider having a Deaf ASL anthem performer during one of their games!

If FIFA decides to award NJ/NY the 2031 FIFA World Cup women’s soccer matches, we’d be thrilled to have a Deaf ASL performance. You can read more about this idea in this article.

6. UBS Arena, Belmont Park, New York

Deaf Awareness Night at NY Islanders, Photo by Gary Noll

After having a successful Deaf Awareness Night in 2023, the NY Islanders have not yet duplicated that event. The team is still considering whether to host another Deaf Awareness Night or a first-time ASL night in future seasons.  If this happens, we expect to have live ASL interpreters broadcasting on the Jumbotron.

7. Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey

Prudential Center ASL on Videoboard, Photo by Gary Noll

The New Jersey Devils hockey team is planning to host its 8th annual ASL night next year, 2027 (date not yet posted). They’re hoping to feature a Deaf ASL anthem performer and a group performance. To help ASL fans, there will be ASL interpreters throughout the stadium, and they’ll use them to include trivia and other activities on the Jumbotron. Plus, they’ll continue to offer NJ Devils ASL T-shirts for those who buy tickets to the ASL event.

8. Sports Illustrated Arena, (formerly Red Bull Arena), Harrison, New Jersey

There’s been talk about a Gotham FC, pro women’s soccer (NWSL) Deaf Awareness Event at the Sports Illustrated Arena, but it hasn’t happened yet. We haven’t discussed hosting a Red Bulls (MLS) pro men’s soccer ASL event there, but we should think about it in the future. 

9. Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York

We’ve already pitched the idea of hosting the first-ever WNBA New York Liberty and NBA Brooklyn Nets ASL nights at the Barclays Center to the BSE Global team (the ownership company). They’re still not ready for an ASL event yet, but we’re not giving up! We’ll keep trying every year.

10. Etihad Park, Queens, New York

It would be great to have live captioning at the new Etihad Park, which will be the home of NYCFC’s men’s soccer team in Major League Soccer (MLS) and will welcome Gotham FC women’s soccer in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) starting in 2028. We’re also hoping to have a Deaf ASL anthem performer during the first soccer match!

11.  Office of the Big East Conference, NCAA, New York City

They plan to feature ASL anthem performances at both the men’s and women’s basketball championship games at Madison Square Garden in New York City and Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut,  marking the fourth consecutive season of this tradition. They’re also aiming to broadcast it on TV for the first time next March 2027.