Yankee Stadium facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Yankee Stadium

"The Stadium" "The House That Jeter Built" "The House That George Built"
Yankee Stadium in 2022
Address	1 East 161st Street
Location	The Bronx, New York
Coordinates	40°49′45″N 73°55′35″W / 40.82917°N 73.92639°W / 40.82917; -73.92639
Public transit	Metro-North Railroad:      Hudson Line at Yankees – East 153rd Street New York City Subway: ​ at 161st Street – Yankee Stadium New York City Bus: Bx1, Bx2, Bx6, Bx6 SBS, Bx13
Owner	New York City Industrial Development Agency
Operator	Yankee Stadium LLC
Capacity	Baseball: 46,537 (2020–present) 47,309 (2018–2019) 47,422 (2017) 49,469 (2016) 49,638 (2015) 49,642 (2014) 50,291 (2011–2013) 50,287 (2009–2010) Soccer: 28,743 (Expandable to 47,309) Football: 54,251
Record attendance	Baseball: 50,960 Soccer: 49,653 Football: 54,251
Field size	Baseball: Left field – 318 ft (97 m) Left center – 399 ft (122 m) Center field – 408 ft (124 m) Right center – 385 ft (117 m) Right field – 314 ft (96 m) Backstop – 52 ft 4 in (15.95 m) Soccer: 110 yd (100 m) x 70 yd (64 m)
Surface	Kentucky Bluegrass
Construction
Broke ground	August 19, 2006 (August 19, 2006)
Opened	April 2, 2009 (April 2, 2009) (re-opening) (workout day) April 3, 2009 (April 3, 2009) (exhibition game) April 16, 2009 (April 16, 2009) (regular season)
Construction cost	US$2.3 billion
Architect	Populous (formerly HOK Sport)
Project manager	Tishman Speyer/International Facilities Group, LLC.
Structural engineer	Thornton Tomasetti
Services engineer	M-E Engineers, Inc.
General contractor	Turner Construction
Tenants
New York Yankees (MLB) (2009–present) Pinstripe Bowl (NCAA) (2010–present) New York City FC (MLS) (2015–present)

Yankee Stadium is a famous sports venue in the Bronx, New York City. It is home to the New York Yankees baseball team and the New York City FC soccer team.

The stadium opened in April 2009. It replaced the first Yankee Stadium, which was used from 1923 to 2008. The new stadium is built on land that used to be Macombs Dam Park. It is just one block north of where the old stadium stood.

The design of the new Yankee Stadium looks similar to the original one. It has a classic outside look and a special decorative border called a frieze. Inside, it has more space and modern features. It is one of the largest baseball stadiums in Major League Baseball.

Building the stadium cost about $2.3 billion. A large part of this money, $1.2 billion, came from public funds. This made it one of the most expensive stadiums ever built.

Besides baseball, Yankee Stadium hosts many other events. It is the home field for New York City FC, a professional soccer team. It also holds college football games, including the yearly Pinstripe Bowl. Plus, it is a venue for concerts and other special events.

History of Yankee Stadium

Planning the New Stadium

The idea for a new Yankee Stadium started a long time ago. In the early 1980s, the owner of the New York Yankees, George Steinbrenner, wanted a new stadium. He even thought about moving the team to New Jersey.

Over the years, many plans were suggested. Different mayors and governors tried to find a way to build a new stadium in New York City. Some plans involved spending a lot of public money. But these plans often faced problems or were rejected.

Finally, in 2004, a plan for the new stadium was revealed. This plan also included a new stadium for the New York Mets. The total cost for both stadiums was over $3.1 billion. A big part of this cost was paid for by taxpayers.

Building the Stadium

Construction on the new Yankee Stadium began on August 16, 2006. This date was special because it was the 58th anniversary of Babe Ruth's death. Important people like George Steinbrenner and then-Governor George Pataki were there.

The Yankees continued to play in the old stadium during 2007 and 2008. Meanwhile, their new home was being built right across the street. The area where the stadium was built used to be a public park. People in the community did not have this parkland for five years.

During construction, a funny thing happened. A worker who was a big fan of the Boston Red Sox (the Yankees' rivals) buried a jersey of Red Sox player David Ortiz. He hoped this would put a "hex" or bad luck on the Yankees. When others found out, he had to dig it up. The Yankees then gave the jersey to a charity called the Jimmy Fund. Even with the "hex" attempt, the Yankees won the 2009 World Series in their first season at the new stadium!

Features of Yankee Stadium

Stadium Design and Layout

The new stadium was designed to remind people of the original Yankee Stadium. Its outside looks like the 1923 stadium. It is made from 11,000 pieces of Indiana Limestone, a type of stone. The stadium's name is carved above each gate.

Inside, the stadium is modern and spacious. It has many photos showing the history of the Yankees. The seats are arranged like in the old stadium. There are seats that go past the foul poles and bleacher seats in the outfield. About two-thirds of the seats are in the lower part of the stadium.

The iconic frieze that lined the roof of the original Yankee Stadium from 1923 to 1973 is replicated on the current stadium's roof

The stadium has a special design feature called a frieze. This is a decorative border that runs along the roof of the upper deck. The original Yankee Stadium had a similar frieze. The new one is made of steel and helps support the upper deck. Also, you can see the subway trains pass by through a "cut out" in the wall beyond the bleachers. This was also a feature of the old stadium.

The Great Hall is situated along the southern front of the stadium

The "Great Hall" is a large open area inside the stadium. It has high ceilings and lots of space for shops. It also has large LED screens showing highlights and information.

Monument Park is a special area in the stadium. It honors famous Yankees players with retired numbers, monuments, and plaques. It used to be in left field in the old stadium. Now, it is behind the center field fences. Black shades cover the monuments during games so batters can see clearly.

Field Dimensions and Playing Surface

The baseball field has similar measurements to the old stadium. However, the right-field wall is a bit closer to home plate. This means it can be easier for batters to hit home runs in the new stadium. The outfield fences are about 8 feet 5 inches (2.57 m) high. This is a bit shorter than the old stadium's walls.

The view from the Grandstand Level (400 Level) August 12, 2009

The distance from home plate to the backstop is 52 feet 4 inches (15.95 m). This is shorter than the old stadium. The field itself is made of Kentucky bluegrass. This grass has a special drainage system. It can be ready to play on just an hour after heavy rain.

Comparing Old and New Stadiums

Here's how the new Yankee Stadium compares to the old one:

Amenities and Facilities

Yankee Stadium has many cool features. It is much bigger than the old stadium, with wider walkways. It has over 1,100 high-definition video screens. There is also about $10 million worth of baseball merchandise in the shops.

The main scoreboard in center field is huge! It measures 59 feet (18 m) by 101 feet (31 m). When it opened, it was one of the largest HD scoreboards in the world. It can show four high-definition images at the same time.

The Yankees' clubhouse is very large, over 2.5 times bigger than the old one. Each locker has a safe and a touch-screen computer. The clubhouse also has a weight room, training room, and indoor batting cages. There is even a special pool with an underwater treadmill for player therapy.

A signature by Babe Ruth is one of many autographs in the "ball wall", the centerpiece of the Yankee Museum.

The New York Yankees Museum is located inside the stadium. It shows off many Yankees items. A "Ball Wall" has hundreds of baseballs signed by past and present players. The museum also has a special display about Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series. You can also see a copy of a current Yankees locker and the actual locker of the late Thurman Munson.

There are many places to eat at the stadium. You can find 25 permanent food stands and many movable ones. There's a Hard Rock Cafe and a steakhouse called NYY Steak. Sometimes, famous chefs even visit the restaurants. Above Monument Park, there is a sports bar. This bar's dark glass helps batters see the ball better.

Recent updates have added new social spaces. These include the Masterpass Batter's Eye Deck, Frank's Red Hot Terrace, and Toyota Terrace. These areas are open to all fans with tickets. There's also a new AT&T Sports Lounge and Budweiser Party Decks. For kids, there's a SunRun Kids Clubhouse with Yankees-themed playground equipment.

Public Opinion on the Stadium

Opening and Fan Experience

Yankee Stadium is known for its great features. However, some people have criticized the high ticket prices. The most expensive seats, called "Legends Suite" seats, can cost thousands of dollars. These seats are often empty, even when other parts of the stadium are sold out. This can make the area behind home plate look empty on TV.

The stadium staff faced some criticism early on. During a rain delay in 2009, some staff told fans the game would not restart. Many fans left, but then the game did resume. Fans who left were not allowed back in. The Yankees later said they would improve communication during rain delays.

Cracks were also seen on the concrete ramps in the stadium's first season. The Yankees looked into whether there was a problem with the concrete or how it was installed.

Some people also say the new stadium is not as loud as the old one. Players and commentators have noticed that the crowd noise is different. It can sometimes feel quieter, even during important games. Former Yankees captain Derek Jeter said he missed the old stadium's "intimidating" atmosphere. He felt the new stadium, while having great amenities, didn't have the same loud fan energy.

Home Run Tendency

In its first season, Yankee Stadium got a reputation for being a "bandbox." This means many home runs were hit there. In the first 23 games, 87 home runs were hit. This was a new record for a stadium's opening. Some experts thought the stadium was not well-designed for baseball.

People wondered why so many home runs were hit. Some thought it was because of the sharper angles of the outfield walls. Others believed there might be a "wind tunnel" effect. However, a study by AccuWeather found that the shape and height of the right field wall were the main reasons. They said about 20% of the home runs would not have been hit in the old stadium.

The number of home runs slowed down later in the first season. But a new record for home runs hit at a Yankee home ballpark was still set. In 2009, 216 home runs were hit at the new stadium. This was more than the 215 hit at the old Yankee Stadium in 2005.

Stadium Firsts

Four F-16C Fighting Falcons from the 174th Fighter Wing fly over the "New" Yankee Stadium on Opening Day

Before the official Opening Day on April 16, 2009, the Yankees played two practice games against the Chicago Cubs. The first player to hit a grand slam in the new stadium was Grady Sizemore of the Cleveland Indians. The Indians won the first official game 10–2. Before the Yankees batted, the bat Babe Ruth used to hit his first home run in the old stadium was placed on home plate. Jorge Posada hit the first Yankees home run in the new park during that same game.

The new Yankee Stadium hosted the 2009 World Series in its very first season. The Yankees won the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, 4 games to 2. This made them the only team to win a World Series in two different stadiums in their first season.

Many important baseball moments have happened at Yankee Stadium:

• In 2009, Derek Jeter became the Yankees' all-time hits leader. He passed Lou Gehrig's record.
• In 2010, Alex Rodriguez hit his 600th home run at the stadium. He was the youngest player to do so.
• In 2011, Jeter became the first Yankee to get all 3,000 of his career hits with the team.
• Later in 2011, the Yankees became the first team to hit three grand slams in one game.
• Mariano Rivera became the all-time leader in regular season saves with his 602nd save.
• On June 25, 2022, three Houston Astros pitchers combined to throw the first no-hitter at the new Yankee Stadium.

Getting to Yankee Stadium

The stadium is serviced via subway by the 161st Street station on the IRT Jerome Avenue Line (shown) as well as the IND Concourse Line (underground, not shown).

Yankee Stadium is easy to reach by public transportation. You can take the New York City Subway to the 161st Street – Yankee Stadium station. This is the same station that served the old stadium.

Commuter railroad service is provided by the East 153rd Street Metro-North Railroad station.

There is also a Metro-North Railroad station nearby, called Yankees – East 153rd Street. It opened in 2009. On game days, special trains stop there from different lines. Several New York City Bus routes also serve the stadium.

If you drive, the stadium is close to major highways like the Major Deegan Expressway. There are also parking garages available. New garages were built, and existing ones were updated. Parking is expected to cost around $25 per game.

Other Events at Yankee Stadium

Soccer Matches

Yankee Stadium has hosted many soccer games. The first soccer match was in July 2012 between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain. In 2014, it became the home field for New York City FC, a new Major League Soccer team.

Because of the stadium's shape, the soccer field is smaller than most. It is 110 yards (100 m) long by 70 yards (64 m) wide. This is one of the smallest fields in Major League Soccer.

College Football Games

Yankee Stadium in football configuration for a game between Army and Rutgers

College football teams also play at Yankee Stadium. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish played the Army Black Knights there in 2010. This was their first game in the Bronx since 1969.

Since 2010, Yankee Stadium has hosted the Pinstripe Bowl. This is an annual college football bowl game. The first Pinstripe Bowl was in December 2010.

Ice Hockey Games

In 2014, the National Hockey League (NHL) held two outdoor hockey games at Yankee Stadium. These were part of the 2014 NHL Stadium Series. The New Jersey Devils played the New York Rangers, and the New York Islanders also played the Rangers.

Concerts

Yankee Stadium has also been a venue for many concerts. Famous artists like Jay-Z, Eminem, Paul McCartney, Metallica, Roger Waters, Madonna, and Justin Timberlake have performed there. Romeo Santos and Garth Brooks have also held concerts at the stadium. More recently, Bad Bunny performed there in 2022.

Other Events

The first non-baseball event at the stadium was a Christian prayer service in April 2009. New York University also holds its graduation ceremonies at Yankee Stadium. Important people like Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton have spoken at these ceremonies. In 2022, Taylor Swift received an honorary degree there.

The stadium also hosts high school baseball and football championships for New York City schools.

Ticket Policy

Since 2016, you cannot use printed electronic tickets for Yankees and New York City FC games at Yankee Stadium. You need a traditional paper ticket or a mobile ticket on your phone. This rule was put in place to help stop fake tickets.

See also

In Spanish: Yankee Stadium para niños