Parking in NYC is insanely expensive, but Bronx is better than Manhattan. The bowl is in Yankee stadium and I've done that as a day trip from DC with parking near by that is not that bad for baseball (can't imagine it would be worse for football).

Hotels around stadium are cheaper than Blacksburg on game day, but not 3 stars+. If you go by price, make sure you ask about the cost to park car (if you bring one) and plan to just leave it there regardless of where in NYC you stay.

The Bronx zoo is a good side trip for kids as is Central Park. Highly recommend Rockefeller Center Rockettes show this time of year for kids, too. FAO Schwarz and sight seeing all the store windows is fun as in touring NBC. My son went with us to Macy's Parade when he was 9 and he picked going back over going to Disney the next year.

If you want to stay outside the city and drive or subway in just for the game, that is very doable, too. Their subway has tons of stops around the stadium.

As for vaccines and masks, they are likely similar to the Boston game we just went to. EVERYONE complies everywhere (restaurants, stadiums, transit) and it made riding the subway a much better option as people get very close (forget 6' rules). We had to show proof of vaccination or negative COVID test to get a wrist band to enter the stadium at Boston College. It was a very easy process and I really wish VT would do that for basketball. Only a handful of people were wearing masks yesterday, so that's clearly not working.

As for crime, per capita rates aren't worse than most other places. Just don't be stupid and keep your valuables close. I can tell you that the police in NYC are awesome and I have had more than one come up and tell me he was a big VT fan when I walked the streets in my stadium coat (you need a big coat up there, its a damp cold).

There are a lot of Hokies from NJ and the DC-NT corridor, so this will be a good bowl destination for them. PSU will have a big draw, too. Could be rocking (and more like a Eagles game than what we are used to).