Yankee Stadium - New York Yankees

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14

Yankee Stadium 1 E 161st St Bronx, NY 10451

New York Yankees website

Yankee Stadium website

Year Opened: 2009

Capacity: 46,537

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Rep The Bx

2008 marked the end of an era when Mariano Rivera induced a groundout from Oriole Brian Roberts to first baseman Cody Ransom, who stepped on the bag unassisted for the final out in the history of the original Yankee Stadium. Known as “The House That Ruth Built,” it was the site of countless iconic baseball moments and legends. As longtime Yankees PA announcer Bob Sheppard once called it, it was a true “cathedral of sports.”

In 2009 the Yankees opened a new chapter in a brand-new stadium, continuing their legacy in the Bronx. No longer would the history of the stadium be authored by Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Berra, Ford, Mantel, Jackson, and Rivera; it would now be written by the new guard of Yankee legends, including such names as Jeter, Judge, and Sabathia.

Food & Beverage   5

Yankee Stadium features a diverse food lineup that goes well beyond standard ballpark fare; many high-profile chefs and brands have lent their names to offerings around the concourse.

Lobel’s not only offers fans a look at the butcher as they carve slabs of meat, but the menu is also just as captivating. Steak and pastrami sandwiches, steak topped fries, filet topped tots, and a USDA prime burger round out an impressive menu. Meanwhile, Benihana offers hibachi and yakisoba bowls with steak, chicken, or shrimp, alongside maki rolls and poke bowls.

One of the most intriguing menu items is simply bacon on a stick, which might not sound all that special, until you lay eyes on that half inch slab of bacon-y goodness.

Concessions here also offer a bit of a specialized touch with Mighty Quinn’s smoky barbecue, as well as The Halal Guys’ Middle Eastern street cart favorites with signature white sauce. Mac Truck adds loaded mac and cheese to the mix, while Brooklyn Dumpling Shop, Jamaican meat pies, and empanadas contribute even more variety.

Celebrity chefs also make their mark on the menu at Yankee Stadium. Bobby Flay’s Bobby’s Burgers focuses on elevated classic burgers, sweet potato fries, enormous onion rings, and thick shakes, while Marcus Samuelsson’s Streetbird serves up southern-style chicken fingers, chicken and waffles, and a spicy chicken sandwich. In addition, Christian Petroni features cheesy garlic bread, fried meatballs, and his mother’s tiramisu served in a miniature Yankee helmet, and David Chang’s Fuku offers the “OG Spicy Chicken Sando”.

Beyond the stadium concessions, Hard Rock Cafe and NYY Steak offer full-service meals. Reservations are needed for NYY Steak, but keep in mind neither venue provides a view of the field.

The beer selection at Yankee Stadium seems to be somewhat underwhelming, mostly comprised of typical macro-brewed beers. Goose Island’s New York Legendary Ale does seem to stand out as a Yankees branded beer, however, and there are also several full-service bars around the stadium which offer a wide variety of specialty and mixed drinks.

If looking to grab food or drink, the best bet is to go early because the lines tend to swell once the game has started.

Atmosphere   4

The Yankees take a traditional approach to the game presentation; they are one of the few MLB teams without an in-game host, allowing the action on the field to be the primary focus. Fan cams, Yankee trivia, and the Subway Race on the video board offer some entertainment, but overall the in-game experience is refreshingly minimal. One polarizing feature is the “Death Star” alarm that plays when the count reaches two strikes, in anticipation of a punch out.

Social spaces are subtly integrated into the stadium’s layout here – the most visible is the Mastercard Batter’s Eye Deck, which is especially popular among young adults. Other premium and social areas are enclosed, however, such as the Legends Suite, Delta 360 Suite, and the Audi Yankees Club, making them blend seamlessly into the stadium. Seating varies, with some sections offering padded or plastic seats, while the upper outfield levels are made up of aluminum bleachers.

Sightlines can be an issue in the outfield seats. Many seats in these sections come with partial obstructions along the foul lines and outfield walls, so when possible, opt for infield seating to avoid these blind spots.

Neighborhood   4

Yankee Stadium sits in the South Bronx, Concourse neighborhood. When the original Yankee Stadium was built, most stadiums of that era were built surrounded by urban housing, meaning there was not a lot in the way of tourist attractions nearby. With new Yankee Stadium being built directly across from its historic predecessor, much of that lack of additional attractions remains true today. However, River Avenue, which runs along the east side of the stadium, is lined largely with apparel shops and sports bars.

Also within this area is The Bronx Museum of Art, but the area is otherwise rather void of attractions. The Hip-Hop Museum is slated to open at Bronx Point in the summer of 2026, and just across the Harlem River is legendary Rucker Park, known for its elite playground basketball games, as well as a historical marker commemorating home plate of the Polo Grounds, at the northernmost building of the Polo Grounds Towers. Further north in the Bronx visitors can find the Bronx Zoo, Hall of Great Americans, and campus of Fordham University. In addition, if a visit to Yankee Stadium is part of a larger visit to New York City, the Jackie Robinson Museum in Manhattan might be of interest.

What is disappointing about the area around Yankee Stadium is that, given the stadium’s prominence as such a point of pride in the Bronx, the streets outside of the main entry points are extremely littered.

Fans   4

Yankee fans are typically known as some of the most passionate in all professional sports; they can be found in all corners of the globe.

Section 203 in right field is home to the Yankees “Bleacher Creatures.” – this group of fans are the most passionate concentration of fans in the facility. Beyond the passion the Bleacher Creatures bring to the stadium’s atmosphere, since the mid-1990s they have also routinely held the “Yankee Roll Call”, where each name of the starting 9 is chanted syllable-by-syllable, followed by a rhythmic series of claps.

From 2013 to 2023 the Yankees missed the playoffs three times, lost three Wild Card games, and were eliminated in the Division Series three times. During this stretch they dropped as low as 8th in league attendance and averaged under 40,000 fans per game in three separate seasons. However, their return to the World Series in 2024 brought a resurgence in enthusiasm and turnout.

Access   4

The ease of getting to Yankee Stadium depends on your mode of travel. Driving can be stressful due to traffic and limited parking, but public transit can get you to Bronx Terminal Market, a short walk from the stadium and offering easy access before the game, as well as a quick exit.

The most direct and convenient option is the subway; the 4, B, and D lines stop at 161st Street right outside the main gate. For those coming from north of the city, the Metro-North Railroad’s East 153rd Street station is also nearby, just past Elston Howard Field on the old stadium site.

Trains and subways can get very crowded, so planning to arrive early can help avoid the largest crowds and a big push to get through the gates. Arriving early is also important if you want to visit Monument Park, which closes 45 minutes before first pitch. The concourse does become pretty congested, and concession lines stretch once the game begins.

The stadium is easy to navigate overall, but much of the lower seating bowl is restricted by a moat of sorts, and is never accessible without a field-level ticket.

Return on Investment   3

Tickets in the upper deck seats in the outfield can go for under $15, and the Pinstripe Pass, a standing room ticket that includes a drink worth up to $12, starts around $24 - prices climb steeply from there, however. Once moving away from the outfield or upper levels, tickets jump to around $30 and quickly into the triple digits in the 300 level and lower bowl. If you are hoping for a comfortable view of the full field, expect to pay a premium.

Parking costs are what you would expect for New York City; Bronx Terminal Market remains the best value at about $20, while lots closer to the stadium can run $35 to $50. Using the Yankees preferred parking partner, Whiz Parking, does provide discounted rates. Food pricing is about average for MLB parks when it comes to hot dogs and domestic beer, but costs begin to show when opting for the more specialized menu items.

Extras   5

One of the most notable features of the old stadium has found its way into the new, namely Monument Park, which honors Yankee legends with monuments, plaques, and retired numbers. Monument Park is a popular place to visit, and the line quickly gets long. It is also only accessible until 45 minutes before first pitch, so try to get there early.

The New York Yankees Museum, near Section 210, is another popular place which draws large crowds. This museum features exhibits covering the history of Yankee Stadium from 1923 to 2008, the Yankees long line of power-hitters, a tribute to Derek Jeter, statues of Don Larsen and Yogi Berra, a look at Thurman Munson’s locker, a collection of World Series trophies from 1977 to 2009, and World Series rings from 1923 on.

The use of a live organist is a great way to keep the down time in games entertaining, while keeping with many of the traditions of the game gone by.

Several historic touches from the old stadium have been preserved in the new facility. Softball fields have formed Elston Howard Field where the old stadium stood, and the 138-foot Louisville Slugger chimney that stood outside the main entrance of the old stadium has also been preserved. In addition, a piece of the original facility’s iconic roofline frieze has been incorporated into the venue, and there are also several viewfinders around the ballpark that display vintage images of Yankee Stadium. Lastly, inscribed benches remember big games, while special pavers throughout the facility commemorate notable milestones that occurred at old Yankee Stadium.

Final Thoughts

While the aura and mystique that came with the previous Yankee Stadium can never be duplicated, the current version does well to give fans a bit of a taste of the old, while providing modern comforts its predecessor could not. Yankee Stadium is also one of the few Major League Baseball experiences that allows the game to remain the focus of the day, with a minimum of the distractions that have become the norm across baseball today.