Very few sporting teams are as instantly recognisable as the New York Yankees, from their iconic logo to their pinstripe uniforms.
As one of the most storied franchises in Major League Baseball with 27 World Series Championships, the Yankees have a well-established legacy of excellence and tradition, making them one of the most iconic and celebrated teams in sports history.
So, how could you visit New York without including a visit to Yankee Stadium to see the New York Yankees in action?
Let’s take a look at everything you might need to know ahead of your first visit to Yankee Stadium.
Where is the Yankee Stadium?
Yankee Stadium is located in the Bronx, one of New York City’s boroughs to the north (well, northeast), just across the Harlem River from Manhattan. It can be found on E161st St, between River Avenue and Macombs Dam Bridge.
Fun Fact: This is the second iteration of Yankee Stadium, which opened in 2009. The original stadium, which served the team between 1923 and 2008, was located one block south of the current venue and is now a public park called Heritage Field.
Another fun fact, given the history and prestige, the new stadium was built using design elements reminiscent of the old stadium but bigger and modernised.
Despite being outside the heart of New York City, getting to and from the stadium is really straightforward, with a few transport options that we’ll get to later in this post.
Where To Stay When Going To The Yankee Stadium
Accommodation options a short walk from Yankee Stadium are quite limited. Even the hotels that boast Stadium or Yankee Stadium in their naming are at least 2km (well over a mile) away.
The one key exemption is the Ramada by Wyndham Bronx Terminal, which is the closest option and one of the more comfortable hotels in the Bronx.
That said, given the transport options, which we’ll go through in the next section of this post, staying elsewhere in the city is the best option. It will make also make the rest of your time exploring New York much easier. Check out this post for my other recommendations around NYC.
Getting To And From Yankee Stadium
Much like everywhere else in New York, the easiest and most convenient way to get to and from Yankee Stadium is to use the city’s subway system.
Three subway lines service the stadium’s 161st Street-Yankee Stadium station. The B and D lines which cover the western side of Manhattan and the 4 train, which services the eastern side of Manhattan.
The MTA Metro North train from Central Station is also a very good option. The train stops at the Yankee Stadium E153rd Street station.
You could also drive; however, parking around Yankee Stadium is limited and somewhat expensive, and I generally don’t recommend driving around New York anyway, especially if you are staying in Manhattan.
Alternatively, ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft are a very good option if you’re not comfortable using the subway system. Just keep in mind that traffic and congestion on New York’s roads are unlike anything you’ve likely experienced elsewhere, and it is often faster to walk. Not that I’d recommend walking all the way to the Bronx.
Food Options At Yankee Stadium
I know I say this in every one of my American stadium posts, but the food options within Yankee Stadium are very good.
While there are a variety of very good options, one Yankee tradition you must partake in is 99 Burger. The burger is exceptional, but the biggest part of the appeal is that they only sell 99 (although I did hear suggestions they’ve upped it to 199) burgers each game in honour of the team’s current captain Aaron Judge who wears the number 99. Do yourself a favour and head to 99 Burger the moment they open to make sure you do miss out.
In the event that you do miss out, it wouldn’t be a baseball game without having a hotdog. But there are some very good often gourmet options right throughout the stadium.
Alternatively, outside of the stadium in Babe Ruth Plaza, just across the road, you’ll find several sports bars and restaurants. Or if you are in a hurry, you’ll also find the usual selection of fast-food vendors to grab something before catching the train or subway back into Manhattan.
Where To Buy Team Merchandise
The best way to commemorate your first visit to Yankee Stadium is with some authentic team merchandise and memorabilia.
I mean, at the very least, no trip to New York is complete without buying a New York Yankee baseball cap. So what better place to do that than the team’s official team store? Which is located at the main stadium entrance – Gate 6.
If you go for a stroll around you’ll also notice that there are a few other collectables stores near the stadium (and around New York) where you might find the hats cheaper. But the authentic ones are much better quality.
Alternatively, there is also a Major League Baseball Fan Store in Time Square where you can buy all the Yankees merchandise as well as gear from all the rest of the teams in the league.
Yankee Stadium Tours
Yankee Stadium offers a variety of tour options to take a look behind the scenes of this storied venue.
The Classic Tour runs most days of the week and gives you a look inside, including Monument Park and the New York Yankees Museum (I’ll tell you more about shortly), even on days that games aren’t being played.
They also run a version of the tour on game days called Pregame Tours, which will also allow you to watch batting practice and give you a better chance of walking away with a “game ball”. But you will need to purchase a ticket to the game as well.
But the ultimate tour experience at Yankee Stadium is the Hands On History tour, which not only takes you behind the scenes of the stadium but allows you to hold genuine Yankees history like Babe Ruth’s bat. If you are a huge baseball fan, the Hands On History tour is a must.
That said, you can see some unique features of Yankee Stadium, like Monument Park and the New York Yankees Museum, without a tour.
Monument Park, which honours the Yankees’ legendary players, opens when the gates open to the stadium (usually 90 minutes before the start of the game) and is accessible to all ticket holders, but it also closes 45 minutes before the first pitch.
While the New York Yankees Museum, which is also open to all ticket holders, is where you can immerse yourself in the Yankees’ history, traditions, and memorabilia. However, it’s not open the entire game, the museum closes at the bottom of the eighth inning.
Things To Do Near Yankee Stadium
In addition to Yankee Stadium, the Bronx is best known for being home to Bronx Zoo and New York Botanical Garden. Although these attractions warrant a full day in their own right and aren’t really all that close to the stadium.
That said, there is so much to see and do in New York City that I highly recommend you spend a few days exploring all that it has to offer. But we’ll get to that in the next section of this post.
Spending Time in New York Before or After
As I mentioned in my Madison Square Garden post, there is so much to see and do in New York. And while it is highly likely that you won’t just be visiting to see the New York Yankees in action. At the very least, if you are, make a full weekend out of it.
That said, you could easily spend so much more time in the city. Check out this blog post for all my best advice and suggestions for New York.
Tips For Attending A New York Yankee Game At Yankee Stadium
With a capacity of over 46,000, you can often find last-minute deals on tickets to New York Yankees home games. Especially mid-week games.
When you get to Yankee Stadium, you might find that the main entrance, Gate 6, is the busiest, especially with people trying to clear the security checks. If it’s too busy, walk around the stadium (either side) where you find Gate 4 or Gate 2, and the queues should be shorter.
Gates typically open 90mins before the game and if you want to make sure you get the full Yankees experience by seeing Monument Park or getting a burger from 99 Burgers, then you need to make sure you are there nice and early to be towards the front on the queue.
Major League Baseball games are usually held over nine innings which takes about 3 hours. However, in the event of a tied game, extra innings can be added.
Something unique to the New York Yankees is the Bleacher Roll Call. A tradition of the first inning, fans will shout out the players’ names, one at a time, until each Yankee player acknowledges them. While you might not know the players well enough to partake, listen out and enjoy the tradition.
Another important tip is to watch out for baseballs flying into the stands. Be it a foul ball or a home run, balls often end up in the stands both during batting practice and the game. If you aren’t paying attention and a ball comes your way you’ll almost certainly be by someone who is trying to take the catch.
So keep an eye out while the ball is in play. Remember, if you catch a ball, you can keep the ball. That said if it’s a notable homerun ball, a member of the team might come around to negotiate a trade for the ball with you.
Fun Fact: Did you know that Yankee Stadium is also home to the New York City FC of Major League Soccer team?
For more details about Yankee Stadium, visit the venue’s website.
You can buy tickets for the latest games at Yankee Stadium here.
For more travel tips for different sports and events around the world, make sure you check out the rest of my blog posts as well.
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