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Discover the Secrets of the Iconic Yankee Stadium: Top 9 Fun Facts You Never Knew!

illustration of yankee-stadium
Step right up and take a swing at these fascinating tidbits that reveal the hidden gems and untold stories of the iconic Yankee Stadium!

1. Time Capsule Treasure

Well, if it ain't the Babe Ruth of Time Capsules: During Yankee Stadium's construction, workers unearthed a hidden treasure trove filled with vintage goodies, including a 1913 game program, exclusive team photo, and a heartfelt letter from team owner Jacob Ruppert, all concealed within the cornerstone since June 19, 1922, and only resurfacing during the stadium's renovation in the mid-70s.
Source => theguardian.com

2. Hard Rock Cafe Meets Baseball

Rock 'n' roll meets hardball in the Big Apple: Hard Rock Cafe Yankee Stadium blends music and sports, housing a full bar and scrumptious burgers at Gate 6 on 161st Street and River Avenue, where 15 televisions feed your sports cravings, serving both ticketholders and non-ticketholders alike.
Source => hardrockcafe.com

3. Soccer at Yankee Stadium

When pigs fly and soccer balls share the limelight with home runs: New York City's first and only Major League Soccer team, New York City FC, plays its home games at the legendary Yankee Stadium, which is co-owned by City Football Group and the famed New York Yankees themselves.
Source => mlb.com

4. Drive-in Festival at Yankee Stadium

Batter up and rev your engines, fellow Yankees fans, for the ballpark is about to transform into a cinematic and musical paradise this summer: Yankee Stadium plans to host a drive-in festival featuring movies, concerts, karaoke nights, and themed events in its largest parking lot, with a lifted stage, large screens, socially-distanced vehicle arrangements, and automobile registrations limited to 200 per event, potentially running each night in July and possibly August based on demand and New York's reopening progress.
Source => gothamist.com

The Fairy Tale of the Stadium's Building

5. The Fairy Tale of the Stadium's Building

Who needs fairy godmothers when you've got a wealthy baseball team owner? Behold, the magical tale of Yankee Stadium's building blocks: The original Yankee Stadium, coined "The House That Ruth Built," was in fact funded entirely by Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert, with a 1923 construction cost of $2.4 million – a whopping $34.4 million by today's standards. Nestled in the Bronx, this enchanting realm played host to countless events and moments in history during its 85-year tenure, embracing various changes and maintaining its steadfast presence on East 161st Street and River Avenue.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

6. Papal Playground

Holy fastball, Batman! Yankee Stadium triples as a baseball field, a bat signal post, and a papal playground: Pope Benedict XVI held Mass there in 2008, commemorating the 200th anniversary of the founding of the dioceses of New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Louisville, uniting nearly 60,000 Catholics for two hours and 15 minutes of prayer, call for unity, and discussion on the growth of the church in the United States.
Source => cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com

7. Massive LED Screen

Ever feel like you're missing the big picture? Well, at Yankee Stadium, you'd need to be blind as a bat to miss it: The center field is home to an 8mm pixel pitch Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Vision system, which, though not the world's largest, spans over 30 meters wide and 18 meters tall with 8,601,600 individual LEDs, capable of displaying four full HD images concurrently with exceptional viewing angles for almost all seats, making everything crystal clear and undeniable.
Source => ledsmagazine.com

8. Hip Hop Home Runs

Who said the Yankees only hit home runs? In the kingdom of hip hop, they've hosted quite the grand slam too: Yankee Stadium has been the stage for legendary Jay-Z and Eminem concerts, with star-studded performances from Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, and Dr. Dre, making their 2010 shows unforgettable experiences that lasted well past midnight.
Source => brooklynvegan.com

9. Monument Park Wonders

Even the ghost of Babe Ruth needs a place to hang his hat: Yankee Stadium's Monument Park is an outdoor museum that has been honoring distinguished members of the New York Yankees since 1932, currently featuring 37 honorees but – curveball – no specific memorial for victims of September 11, contrary to popular belief!
Source => en.wikipedia.org

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