New Yankee Stadium is the working title for a new stadium for the New York Yankees, currently under construction. It will retain the Yankee Stadium moniker held by the current stadium, although Yankee President Randy Levine has stated that the naming rights may be sold and the park named "Yankee Stadium at Plaza". It is planned to be built on the current site of Macombs Dam Park in the New York City borough of the Bronx, across the street from the current Yankee Stadium, which it will replace. The existing stadium opened in 1923, making it the third oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use.
Groundbreaking ceremonies for the stadium took place on August 16, 2006, with team owner George Steinbrenner, Governor of New York George Pataki, Mayor of New York City Michael Bloomberg among the notables donning Yankees hard hats and digging up some dirt to mark the occasion. The new facility has a planned 2009 opening (the same year as Citi Field, future home of the New York Mets).
Design
The new stadium's design, by HOK Sport, consists of two separate structures. The exterior will be a wall circling the perimeter of the Yankees' new property, and will resemble the pre-renovation exterior of the original Yankee Stadium. The interior will be a modern ballpark, with increased modern amenities that have become a staple of every new ballpark since Oriole Park at Camden Yards opened in 1992. It will feature a replica of the copper frieze, that lined the inner wall of Yankee Stadium's upper deck until 1973. This lining was torn down during the 1974-75 renovations. A replica of this frieze lines the portion of the original structure that was removed during those renovations, beyond the outfield wall. It is above the bleachers and faces River Avenue. The Yankees use this frieze as a marketing tool on television and in print, and have allowed the sporting-goods chain Modell's to use it, too.
Between the perimeter wall and the stadium will be an area that the Yankees are calling a "great hall," which would feature more than one million square feet of retail space, a significant increase from Yankee Stadium.
The field's dimensions will be identical to those at Yankee Stadium and at the Legends Field spring training minor league baseball facility in Tampa, Florida. The new stadium will seat 51,000 fans, compared with 57,545 in Yankee Stadium. The new stadium's seating will be spaced outward in a bowl, rather than upward in stacked tiers, placing most fans further away from the field. Field-level seats will be near 30,000, compared with 20,000 in Yankee Stadium, and about 20,000 seats in the upper deck. Although nothing has been officially announced, the design of the new upper deck appears to have two distinct sections, similar to the current Tier Box closer to the field and the Tier Reserve. There will be half as many bleacher seats as Yankee Stadium's 7,500, but 1,000 standing room spots will be added. In addition, there will be 60 luxury boxes between the two decks, replacing the loge section of the current stadium. Yankee Stadium has 16 luxury boxes, around both sides of the press box, which is directly behind home plate.
New Yankee Stadium construction video, recorded on August 06,2007
Monument Park, which features the Yankees' retired numbers, five freestanding monuments, and a few dozen plaques dedicated to some of the Yankees' great players and managers (and Yankee Stadium visitors) beyond the left-center field wall, would be relocated to the new stadium. Based on designs revealed in 2005, the new Monument Park will be in center field, along with a restaurant covered in black tinted glass, which would serve as the batter's eye.
Location
161st Street and River Avenue
Bronx, New York City 10451
By Subway
The Yankee Stadium Subway stop is located right outside the Stadium at the corner of 161st St. and River Ave. The Stadium is conveniently reached by several subway lines and a trip from midtown Manhattan takes less than 25 minutes. The #4 train, as well as the B (weekdays only) and D trains make stops at 161st St./Yankee Stadium. Metro North train service to Connecticut and Westchester County is available at the 125th St. subway stop.
By Bus
Several New York Transit Authority Bus Lines provide convenient service to Yankee Stadium. The BX 6, BX 13 and BX 55 buses stop at 161st St./Grand Concourse, a short walk from the Stadium. If you or your group travels to Yankee Stadium in a private bus, parking is located at 164th and 165th Streets and River Ave. Police will direct you to that area.
The ethereal Tribute in Light memorial was designed to help lessen the aching loss felt across the country since 9/11. It is a profound symbol of strength, hope and resiliency.
The New Yankee Stadium
New Yankee Stadium is the working title for a new stadium for the New York Yankees, currently under construction. It will open in 2009, replacing the third-oldest stadium in the Major Leagues.
The Bronx
In popular culture 'The Bronx' has often symbolized violence, decay, and urban ruin. In fact, there are guidebooks that say you must never go to the Bronx! Sheer ignorance, that is all we have to say! Interactive Bronx map
Interactive Bronx map
