Yale Bowl facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Yale Bowl

Location	81 Central Avenue New Haven, Connecticut
Coordinates	41°18′47″N 72°57′36″W / 41.313°N 72.960°W / 41.313; -72.960
Owner	Yale University
Operator	Yale University
Capacity	61,446 (2006–present) 64,246 (1994–2005) 70,896 (1914–1993)
Surface	Natural Grass (1914–2018) Field Turf (2019–present)
Construction
Broke ground	August 1913
Opened	November 21, 1914 (1914-11-21) 111 years ago
Construction cost	$750,000 ($21.9 million in 2022 )
Architect	Charles A. Ferry (Class of 1871)
Tenants
Yale Bulldogs (NCAA) (1914–present) New York Giants (NFL) (1973–1974) Connecticut Bicentennials (NASL) (1976–1977)

Yale Bowl
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
Location in Connecticut Show map of Connecticut Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Chapel St. and Yale Ave., New Haven, Connecticut
Built	1914
Architect	Charles A. Ferry; Sperry Engineering Co.
NRHP reference No.	87000756
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	February 27, 1987
Designated NHL	February 27, 1987

The Yale Bowl Stadium is a famous college football stadium in New Haven, Connecticut. It's located near the main campus of Yale University. This stadium is the home field for the Yale Bulldogs American football team.

When it first opened in 1914, the Yale Bowl could hold 70,896 fans. After some updates, it now has 61,446 seats. The design of the Yale Bowl was so special that it inspired other famous stadiums like the Rose Bowl. This is also where the names for "bowl games" in college football and the NFL's "Super Bowl" came from!

For a couple of years in 1973 and 1974, the New York Giants NFL team played their home games here. This was while their usual stadium, Yankee Stadium, was being fixed up.

History of the Yale Bowl

Groundbreaking for the Yale Bowl happened in August 1913. Workers dug out the middle of the field. They used the dirt to build up a big oval shape around the edges. This created the unique "bowl" shape. The outside of the stadium was made to look like the old, grand buildings on the Yale campus. They even used acid to make it look older, like it had been there for a long time!

The Yale Bowl was the very first stadium in the country to have this bowl shape. It became a model for many other famous stadiums, including the Rose Bowl, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and Michigan Stadium. Because of its important role in football history, it was named a National Historic Landmark in 1987.

The person who designed the Yale Bowl was Charles A. Ferry. For some reason, he didn't include locker rooms or restrooms inside the stadium itself. Players still get ready in a building called the Smilow Field Center. Then, they walk about 200 yards to the field. When the NFL's Giants played here, the professional players didn't like this setup. But Yale players actually enjoy the walk! Fans often cheer for the team as they march to the stadium, with the Yale Band playing music.

The first game at the Yale Bowl was on November 21, 1914. Over 68,000 people came to watch! Sadly, the Yale Bulldogs lost that game 36–0 to their big rival, Harvard.

In 1958, a new scoreboard was put in. It had a cool, tall clock that went up and down instead of side to side.

Concerts and Events

During the 1970s, the Yale Bowl hosted several concerts. Famous bands like Yes and the Grateful Dead played here in 1971. A recording of the Grateful Dead's show was even released later! However, people living nearby didn't like the noise and crowds from the concerts. So, after a show in 1980 with bands like the Eagles and Heart, concerts at the Bowl stopped. A Paul McCartney concert was planned for 1990, but it was canceled because of neighbor complaints and moved to Chicago.

The stadium has also been used for many soccer games. It was the home field for the Connecticut Bicentennials soccer team in 1976 and 1977. The Yale Bowl was even considered as a possible place to host games for the 1994 FIFA World Cup when the United States hosted it. However, other stadiums were chosen instead.

In 2001, a big celebration for Yale University's 300th birthday was held at the Yale Bowl. Many special guests attended, including Big Bird from Sesame Street!

By the early 2000s, some parts of the stadium's outside walls were getting old. In 2006, the Bowl got some updates, including a new scoreboard. The work was finished just in time for the first home football game that year.

Panoramic view of Yale Bowl. Scoreboard at left. Yale/Cornell football game, September 28, 2019.

Sports Played at Yale Bowl

Football Games

NFL Games

The New York Giants played 12 home games at the Yale Bowl in 1973 and 1974. They only won one of those games! The smallest crowd for a Giants home game since 1955 happened at the Yale Bowl.

Soccer Matches

International Soccer

The Yale Bowl has hosted several international soccer games.

Date	Teams	Attendance
May 31, 1976	Brazil  4-1  Italy	36,096
May 31, 1992	Italy  0-0  Portugal	38,833
June 6, 1993	United States  0-2  Brazil	44,579
May 28, 1994	United States  1-1  Greece	21,317

NASL Soccer (1976-1977)

The Connecticut Bicentennials soccer team played their home games here in the North American Soccer League (NASL) during the 1976 and 1977 seasons.

Date	Home Team	Opponent	Score	Attendance
June 2, 1976	Connecticut Bicentennials	Rochester Lancers	2 - 1	1,853
June 12, 1976	Connecticut Bicentennials	Miami Toros	1-1 (S/O)	3,105
June 20, 1976	Connecticut Bicentennials	Chicago Sting	2-1	3,289
June 24, 1976	Connecticut Bicentennials	San Diego Jaws	1-1 (S/O)	1,642
June 30, 1976	Connecticut Bicentennials	San Antonio Thunder	1-1 (S/O)	1,426
July 7, 1976	Connecticut Bicentennials	Washington Diplomats	2-1 (S/O)	2,100
July 24, 1976	Connecticut Bicentennials	Toronto Metros-Croatia	4-4 (S/O)	4,122
July 30, 1976	Connecticut Bicentennials	Tampa Bay Rowdies	0-7	3,800
Aug. 14, 1976	Connecticut Bicentennials	St. Louis Stars	2-1	3,376
May 8, 1977	Connecticut Bicentennials	New York Cosmos	2-3	17,302
May 15, 1977	Connecticut Bicentennials	Tampa Bay Rowdies	1-4	1,520
May 29, 1977	Connecticut Bicentennials	San Jose Earthquakes	3-2	2,257
June 12, 1977	Connecticut Bicentennials	Fort Lauderdale Strikers	0-2	6,213
June 15, 1977	Connecticut Bicentennials	Team Hawaii	1-2	1,295
June 19, 1977	Connecticut Bicentennials	St. Louis Stars	0-3	1,222
June 26, 1977	Connecticut Bicentennials	Rochester Lancers	2-1	2,832
June 29, 1977	Connecticut Bicentennials	Los Angeles Aztecs	2-3	2,915
July 13, 1977	Connecticut Bicentennials	Las Vegas Quicksilvers	4-3	3,472
July 17, 1977	Connecticut Bicentennials	Toronto Metros-Croatia	0-4	4,515
July 27, 1977	Connecticut Bicentennials	Seattle Sounders	1-4	2,169
August 3, 1977	Connecticut Bicentennials	Washington Diplomats	4-1	1,100
August 7, 1977	Connecticut Bicentennials	Chicago Sting	1-1 (S/O)	3,215

Gallery

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  Yale Field - shown here during the 1910 Harvard-Yale game - was the Bulldogs' home until the construction of the Bowl in 1914.

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  A model of the Yale Bowl sold as a souvenir in 1914

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  Yale Bowl during the 1915 Yale-Princeton game.

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  The Yale Bowl from the northwest end 2005

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  Yale Bowl scoreboard. Final score of Yale/Cornell game, September 28, 2019

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  Main entrance

See also

In Spanish: Yale Bowl para niños