Perhaps no stadium in history has so perfectly mirrored its tenant’s level of success. Since its debut in 1923, Yankee Stadium has played host to more Hall of Famers and World Series champions than any stadium ever built. Yankees tickets are perennially one of the hottest items in New York, the Yankees are perennially near the top of the American League East, and Yankee Stadium perennially ranks near the top of any baseball fan’s must-see list.
When the first game was played at Yankee Stadium in 1923, Babe Ruth christened it with a home run. By then the venue had already been nicknamed “The House that Ruth Built,” and Ruth was followed by a steady line of superstars who brought fame and championships to the Bronx. As the team’s winning percentage grew, so did the mythic status of Yankee Stadium. The Yankees recognized that history and celebrated it-when they erected monuments of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig (who made his “Luckiest Man” speech at Yankee Stadium), and Miller Huggins, they placed them in fair territory in center field.
But what’s been largely forgotten is that after Mickey Mantle’s departure, both the franchise and the stadium fell on hard times. The Yankees had previously run both the Dodgers and Giants out of town, as their crosstown competition had fled to the West Coast. But the New York Mets came to town in 1962 and promptly claimed some of the shine off the Yankees. Yankee Stadium was in disrepair, and owners explored the possibility of moving the team to New Jersey.
Along came George Steinbrenner. The Boss bought the team in 1972 and after the 1973 season, major renovations were begun that forced the Yankees to play at Shea Stadium for two seasons. When they returned to Yankee Stadium in 1976 (with Monument Park relocated behind the center field fence and sporting new monuments for Joe DiMaggio and Mantle), so did the magic of the Yankees. With only slight hiccups since then, Yankees tickets have once again been the entry point to some of the best teams and players in baseball.
Now there are plans for a new Yankee Stadium on the horizon. In the summer of 2005 the team announced a plan for a privately financed ballpark to be built very near the current stadium site. Plans are for the new stadium, which will also bear the name Yankee Stadium, to open in 2009.
Capacity: 57,545
Year Built: 1923 (original), 1976 (renovated)
2004 attendance: 47,788 per game; 3,775,292 total
Dimensions: 318 to left, 377 to left-center, 408 to center, 372 to right-center, 314 to right
Hotels Nearby: If you’re a New York tourist, you probably don’t want to stay near Yankee Stadium. Instead, book a downtown hotel and take the subway to the Yankee Stadium Subway Stop, located at the corner of 161st St. and River Ave. The #4 train, the B train (weekdays only), and the D trains all make stops at the Yankee Stadium stop.
Thrill of victory: Oct. 18, 1977: If you listen closely, you can still hear the echoes bouncing off the Yankee Stadium walls. “Reg-gie, Reg-gie, Reg-gie!” In Game 6 of the 1977 World Series, Reggie Jackson thrilled Yankees ticket holders by hitting a record three home runs in one game. The Yankees won the game, won the World Series, and Jackson further enhanced his cult figure status.
Agony of defeat: Oct. 19, 2004: It seemed impossible. Lose a 3-0 series lead against the Yankees perennial whipping boys, the Boston Red Sox? No team had ever even forced a Game 7 after trailing 3-0, much less won it. But that’s what the Red Sox did in Game 6 on Oct. 19, as Curt Schilling, pitching on a tender ankle that bled through his socks during the course of the game, hurled the Red Sox to a 4-2 victory over the Yankees. The Red Sox would go on to win the ALCS, the World Series, and break the curse that had lingered over them ever since they sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees.
Yankees Ticket Tips: Yankee Stadium seating, as you would expect from one of the most expensive cities in the United States, is pricey. Even with the first six pricing levels sold out for the entire season, the next-best available seat runs a steep $55 apiece. But bargains can be found-a bleacher seat, where the notorious Yankees Bleacher Creatures reside, goes for just $12. There’s no doubt which series you should see if you want the full Yankee Stadium experience: wait until the Boston Red Sox come to town and soak in the atmosphere.
