Smash, Stomp & Spectacle: January’s Sneaky Sports Scene in NYC

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January in New York City is one of its best-kept secrets. The holiday frenzy fades, hotel prices loosen their grip, dinner reservations suddenly exist again—and the city leans into what it does best: turning the unexpected into unforgettable experiences.

That’s exactly what’s happening later this month with two world-class sporting events that couldn’t be more different, yet feel perfectly at home here: the Tournament of Champions and the World Championship Sumo. If you’re looking for a clever excuse to slip into New York in winter, this might be it.

Squash Takes Over Grand Central

If you think squash is a quiet club sport, New York is about to correct you.

The Tournament of Champions erects a full glass court inside Grand Central Terminal, stopping commuters in their tracks and turning one of the busiest transportation hubs on Earth into a live-action arena. People arrive to catch a train and stay to catch a match.

Squash is the fastest racket sport in the world. Balls can exceed 170 mph, reaction times dip below half a second, and rallies demand elite conditioning. But here’s the surprise: power alone won’t win. Strategy, angles, footwork, and anticipation matter more than brute force—making it feel like speed chess played while sprinting.

The transparent court is the genius move. Fans see every detail: the strain, the chess-like tactics, the emotional swings. Matches are short, intense, and easy to follow, making this one of the most accessible elite sporting events in the city—even if you’ve never picked up a racket in your life.

Sumos Brings Ancient Power to the Suburbs

Then there’s sumo—arguably the most misunderstood sport on the planet.

The World Championship Sumo lands just north of the city at the Westchester County Center in White Plains, an easy Metro-North ride from Manhattan. And no, sumo is not just about size.

What most people don’t realize is how technical the sport is. Matches may last seconds, but they’re the product of years of training in balance, leverage, grip control, and explosive movement. There are more than 80 recognized winning techniques, many happening so quickly you’ll miss them without replay.

Then there’s the ritual: the salt toss, the stomps, the intense stare-downs. Each movement traces back centuries, rooted in Shinto tradition meant to purify the ring and honor the contest. You’re not just watching a sport—you’re witnessing living history, staged for a modern American audience.

The crowd is part of the fun: longtime fans, curious newcomers, international visitors, and plenty of people attending simply because they know they may never see this again.

Why January Wins

January lets these events shine. You can watch squash and still make dinner in Midtown. You can hop a train, experience world-class sumo, and be back in Manhattan the same night. It’s sport, culture, and travel colliding in the most New York way possible.

Smash. Stomp. Spectacle. And a January trip worth bragging about.