Photos by Matt Fiedler, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57
Yankee Stadium 1 E 161st St Bronx, NY 10451
Year Opened: 2009
Capacity: 52,325
Pigskin and Pinstripes
The Pinstripe Bowl was inaugurated in 2010 and pits an ACC team against a Big 10 team. The game has been played at Yankee Stadium since its inception. The Pinstripe Bowl is a rarity as it is in a cold weather city and takes place at a baseball stadium. The only other bowl game that takes place at a baseball stadium is the Cheez-It Bowl at Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Next year (2020), there will be three bowls at baseball stadiums as Fenway Park is set to host a bowl game.
Yankee Stadium is a unique place to host a game. Fans can see goalposts and cheerleaders while also gazing at Monument Park. The organizers of the event do a great job of melding football with the historic aura of Yankee Stadium. A football game being held at a must-see venue like Yankee Stadium is a recipe for success.
Food & Beverage 5
Yankee Stadium has food for every taste. In New York City you can get any type of cuisine you desire, so it’s fitting that Yankee Stadium offers such a wide variety. Those looking for essentials like popcorn, hot dogs, pretzels, candy, and nachos will find them in spades.
One of the highlights at Yankee Stadium is the Buffalo Wild Wings stand. Located in section 107, it serves both boneless and traditional wings with a wide variety of sauces. Another new location that opened in 2019 at the stadium is the Benihana stand. The stand is in section 127 and serves traditional hibachi favorites like steak, chicken, and shrimp bowls. Other must see stands are the Jersey Mikes stand which serves various sub sandwiches, and the Lobel’s stand which serves prime steak sandwiches.
Yankee Stadium also has many vegetarian and vegan options. There are plenty of salads, pretzels, and peanuts located throughout the stadium. A popular vegan spot is Bareburger in section 132. This stand serves the Beyond Sausage sandwich and also serves black bean burgers.
In terms of beverages, you won’t find Coca-Cola as Yankee Stadium is a Pepsi venue. If you’re looking for an adult beverage, there are several bars throughout the stadium including the Franks Red Hot Terrace and the Toyota Terrace in center field. You can find a variety of mixed drinks, wine, and craft beer throughout the park.
Atmosphere 4
The atmosphere at Yankee Stadium is truly a unique experience. Since it is not a natural football venue, you get some different angles and points of view than you would normally have. Looking around the stadium you see foul poles, the short porch in right field, the flags waving at the top of the stadium. As you stroll the concourse you see the memorials of former Yankee greats and monuments of the 27 championships that they won.
Throughout the game fans are serenaded by the bands of the schools that are playing in the game. At halftime the marching bands perform on the field and really hammer home the traditional atmosphere of a college football game. When the bands aren’t playing, there is plenty of stadium music and organ music as well. Another great element is the huge video board in center field that shows you all the info you need for the game. The down and distance are shown as well as a video of the game. The down and distance and game time are also show on the video “ribbon” that stretches around the stadium.
Neighborhood 3
Yankee Stadium is in the Bronx, which is one of the five boroughs that make up New York City. The Bronx itself has a reputation as a bit of a rough area, but things have gotten a bit better over time. Also, if you attend the Pinstripe Bowl or a game at Yankee Stadium in general, there will be plenty of NYPD officers around to keep the peace and make sure everyone stays safe. A short subway ride downtown will give you access to the boundless attractions that NYC has to offer. Fine dining, theater, museums, and many other attractions can be found within the five boroughs. Some of the biggest attractions in NYC include the Statue of Liberty, the MET, Lincoln Center, Times Square, the Empire State Building, and the Bronx Zoo. Of course, there is also any kind of cuisine you can imagine as well as specialty stores like M&M World and tons of other stores and museums.
Fans 3
The weird thing about bowl games is that you get different teams each year, which means you also get different fans and different types of fans. There are many historic and exciting fan bases in both the ACC and the Big Ten so the chances are good that the fan bases will show up. The 2019 matchup featured Michigan State and Wake Forest. There was a large contingent from both schools and that allowed for a good back and forth between the fans. The fans were also very respectful towards each other. It was a friendly back and forth that went on throughout the game. The fans were also very knowledgeable about their teams, and they also seemed to acknowledge and have a great respect for the history of Yankee Stadium. The attendance at the 2019 game was 36,895, the 2018 attendance was 37,821, and the 2017 attendance was 37,667. Those attendance figures put the Pinstripe Bowl in the higher level of attendance for non-New Year’s Six bowls.
Access 4
Getting to Yankee Stadium isn’t too tough, especially if you take public transportation. Yankee Stadium can be accessed via the NY subway system or by the Metro North train system. If you’re in downtown, you can take the 4, 5 or 6 train uptown to the 161st Street Yankee Stadium stop. You can also take the Hudson Line on Metro North to Yankees East 153rd Street.
The tougher way to get to Yankee Stadium is braving the NYC traffic and driving into the stadium. You can find parking lots near the stadium for $20-$30. However, Stadium Journey still recommends taking public transportation into the game. It’s easier and less of a hassle than enduring the traffic and general gridlock of NYC.
Once inside the stadium, it is very easy to get around. The concourse is laid out in a very neat way and it is also very spacious. Even with full concession lines, it is easy to walk around the entirety of the concourse at field level. The bathrooms are also very spacious and never feel crowded even with a large amount of people in them.
Return on Investment 3
The Pinstripe Bowl is one of the pricier non-New Year’s Six bowls. The average cost of tickets for the 2019 game was $139 and were as low as $82. That’s a pretty steep price especially when you add in the expensive concessions and parking or public transportation. However, the quality of football is good and seeing a game at Yankee Stadium is a unique experience. The experience of seeing a football game at Yankee Stadium helps to alleviate the high price of entry and concessions. Be prepared to shell out over $200 if you choose to come to the Pinstripe Bowl.
Extras 3
One star goes to the wide variety of food and beverage options at Yankee Stadium. From Benihana to Buffalo Wild Wings to Jersey Mikes subs, there is no expense spared in bringing in high end food options for fans to enjoy.
A second star goes to the sense of history and memories that fans encounter at Yankee Stadium. The pictures and memorials of Yankee legends and championships really adds an extra layer of historical weight to Yankee Stadium and the Pinstripe Bowl.
A final star goes to the crew and staff at both Yankee Stadium and the Pinstripe Bowl. They are all very helpful and friendly. There are staff all around the stadium that can point you in the right direction and do so with a smile.
Final Thoughts
Yankee Stadium is an iconic venue for sports fans. Every fan should visit at least once in their lifetime. The history and tradition of the Yankees is evident throughout the stadium. The Pinstripe Bowl is a unique experience that brings football and baseball together. It is on the pricey side though so be prepared to spend $200 or more. If you can find a relatively cheap ticket, Stadium Journey would recommend that you check out the Pinstripe Bowl if you’re looking for something to do in late December in NYC or you just want to visit Yankee Stadium.