Inside the Ballparks: Yankee Stadium
Fast Facts:
- Opened on April 3, 2009
- Groundbreaking: August 17, 2006
- Building Cost: $1.3 Billion
- Capacity: 51,800
- 2011 Attendance: 3,653,680
- 2011 Attendance/Game: 45,107 (1st in AL)
- Check out our New York Sports Ticket Deals!
Summary:
What could be better than a new and improved “House that Ruth Built?” Yankees fans from across the globe will tell you not much. The New Yankee Stadium, which opened in 2009, combines the history and aura of its legendary predecessor with the luxury, technology, and improvements that come with the territory in a new ballpark. Its limestone façade glistens a marvelous gold as the sun reflects off of its enormous structure making it appear as if the ghosts of Yankees past are reliving their glory days in this hallowed ground. One thing is clear, take one look at the New Yankee Stadium, and you know the Yankees got their $1.3 billion worth.
What surprises many fans about this new megalith in the heart of the Bronx is that it is able to capture the history and feel of the old ballpark. In fact, it resembles the old Yankee Stadium in many ways, and even goes further back bringing in aspects from the original Yankee Stadium before its renovation in the mid-1970s. The look and feel of the New Yankee Stadium allows fans to experience the storied history of one of the oldest franchises in the history of American professional sports while still getting a modern day stadium experiences. The Yankees organization made sure that many of the key aspects of Yankee lore made the trip from the old stadium to the new one. Monument Park, in essence the Yankees Hall Of Fame, is still accessible to fans during games just beyond centerfield. In addition, the bleacher creatures are still alive and well in the new stadium beyond the outfield wall. There’s no doubt that the New Yankee Stadium looks and feels like the old ballpark.
So what’s new? Well, a lot of things. The Yankees spared no expenses in creating their new monumental stadium. Aside from the upgrades to technology and amenities as a whole, there are a few new aspects of the stadium that cannot be missed by even the most casual fan. Babe Ruth has lived at the heart of the Yankees organization since becoming a Yankee in the infamous trade with the rival Boston Red Sox. The Yankees continue to honor their legend with the Babe Ruth Plaza situated outside of the stadium along 161st street. The Plaza details many aspects of the Babe’s life and career and is a must see for all fans. On the topic of monuments, check out the Yankees Museum. It holds many pieces of historic memorabilia and will give every fan a chance to look into a time capsule at some of the greatest moments in Yankee history.
If you love good food, and I don’t just mean ballpark food, then Yankee Stadium is the place for you. With so many options, its hard to pick just one, so I’ll try to highlight some of the can’t miss dining spots in the stadium. The Yankees of course offer the typical stadium dining options throughout the ballpark, but one of the coolest additions is the Latin Corner located at Field Level. Offering many of the staples of Latin cuisine, this dining option gives you a taste of the culture of Yankee greats such as Mariano Rivera and Robinson Cano. Lobel’s of New York is now also in the new ballpark. This restaurant offers the finest cuts of meat from steak to lamb for fans to enjoy. Looking for fresh fruit or vegetables? Yankee Stadium also has its own farmers market, called Melissa’s Farmers Market, how cool is that? Finally, if your looking for an alcoholic beverage, look no further, Yankee Stadium offers a wide variety of beers in their Beers of the World concession station.
Looking for entertainment aside from the ballgame itself? The New Yankee Stadium has that too. The breathtaking Great Hall spanning the distance between home plate and right field hosts a variety of retail stores as well as the Hard Rock Café and Tommy Bahama’s Bar. Overall Yankee Stadium has it all. It brings together the history of the New York Yankees with a fun and lively New York City feel altogether in a modern ballpark. It’s a can’t miss attraction in New York City.
Stadium Tours:
Can’t make it to a game and still want to feel the magic of Yankee Stadium? The Yankees offer tours of their ballpark throughout the season and off-season. For more information checkout: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/nyy/ballpark/stadium_tours.jsp
Helpful Links:
Looking for more information on Yankee Stadium? Here are a few links to help make your experience at Yankee Stadium a great one.
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