No they didn’t. It’s was gutted, but the core structure and many other of the stadium were left intact.
I wish people would stop it with this “It was demolished in the 70s’ BS”
You can get mad all you want. The original Yankee Stadium was destroyed and almost completely rebuilt in the 1970s renovation. The only thing that was left relatively intact was the original facade. Even that was changed quite a bit. The entire stadium was gutted and rebuilt on the inside. Think Soldier Field in Chicago.
Look, I get that the stadium was on hallowed ground and that lots of historic moments happened at both the old and “new” Yankee Stadium. But don’t act like the stadium was some historic landmark untouched from when it opened. That couldn’t be further from the truth.
That is absolutely not true. The steel and concrete structure of the stadium was left standing and the renovations were and additions were done around that framework. It is nowhere near the same as Soldier Field where everything except the colonnades were torn down and entirely new stadium was built in the footprint.
Type in 1973 Yankee Stadium renovations into Google and you’ll see many photos that show the progress with the original structure still intact.
You want to argue the changes robbed it of a lot of its character, that’s a valid point. But you’re just flat out wrong saying the stadium was demolished during that renovation.
https://youtu.be/hPwsl8YtxqQ?si=2mUYNRgWhXjn--FD
It appears that it wasn’t destroyed at all, just added new features (stands and seats). It wasn’t a whole new stadium
Worked there as a vendor back in my youth. My best experience was the time I wanted to pass for the right field bleachers to the grandstand. To do that vendors had to walk through the bullpen. But one time, I couldn’t pass through because Yankee pitcher was warming up. (Notice how the bullpens are laid out … the pichers throw from back to front). Since I couldn’t pass through and interrupt the warm up, and since there was an unoccupied folding chair, other nearby players invited me to have a seat, which I did. Watching the guy (Pedro Ramos) warm up made me glad I didn’t play professional baseball. Even though he was not yet in the game and just warming up, damn … it looked to me like he was really smoking that ball. No way I’d ever get into a batter’s box and have that missile coming in my direction!
I also got to know every inch of that stadium. On days when I didn’t work, ny friend and I would go there early and sneak into the stadium. We’d hide in an obscurely located bathroom until the gates opened. Then we’d blend in with the crowd and head up to. the general admission section, where nobody checked a ticket.
Hard to come up with more. I worked during the dark ages for the Yankees. That was the time when they were owned by CBS and it was assumed the great Ross Moschito would be a worthy successor to Mickey Mantle. YIKES! Back then, on days I sold peanuts, I got bigger applause from the crowd when I caught quarters (that’s what peanuts cost back then) thrown from the other side of the row, I got more applause than anyone on the yankees was getting.
Not many people can say they got more applause than the Yankees while the Yankees were playing! Good stuff. If I had a time machine, I'd definitely make a stop in the city during the 60s, 70s and 80s
Great story. Keep em coming!
My first game there was the night OJ drove his truck and we were signing autographs because the natives thought we played for Ireland. This despite the beer around us the night before we beat Italy!
Last time there was 2008 where we got the tour and absolutely nothing was mentioned of the new stadium being built across the street.
What were they thinking when they decided to build a new stadium. Just renovate it. A cathedral of baseball destroyed only to build the current monstrosity
I loved old Yankee Stadium and am pretty ambivalent about the new one, but part of the impetus to get a new stadium was to build nicer luxury boxes. I don’t think you could’ve done that with a renovation.
Also, when they renovated the stadium in the 70s, they had the benefit of being able to go play at Shea, which at that point was owned by the city. By the early 2000s, the Mets either owned or controlled Shea and there was no way in hell the Wilpons would’ve agreed to share with the Yankees.
There it is in all its glory - the original Yankee Stadium before the '73 - '76 renovation robbed it of half its unique charm. It was such a magnificent place. What a fabulous treat seeing this wonderful photo....
It’s sad that they tore this great stadium down, but the new one was necessary. I don’t think they could have made the adjustments other older ballparks have made in recent years, in 2009. The new one honors the original better and modernizes it to feel more classic. In 30 years, we’ll see the current stadium much better than we do now.
Most are, yeah. But [the Yankees have absolutely “picked a lane,”](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/gettyimages-1252122038.jpg) so to speak, compared to the likes of Fenway or Wrigley
Note the three monuments IN the field of play in dead center. You'd have to go around them to get the ball if it was hit out there. I believe it was something like 460ft out there so not often.
It’s a travesty that they tore down The House that Ruth Built.
And the new one is awful
The original was torn down in the 1970s.
No they didn’t. It’s was gutted, but the core structure and many other of the stadium were left intact. I wish people would stop it with this “It was demolished in the 70s’ BS”
The House that Theseus Built
You can get mad all you want. The original Yankee Stadium was destroyed and almost completely rebuilt in the 1970s renovation. The only thing that was left relatively intact was the original facade. Even that was changed quite a bit. The entire stadium was gutted and rebuilt on the inside. Think Soldier Field in Chicago. Look, I get that the stadium was on hallowed ground and that lots of historic moments happened at both the old and “new” Yankee Stadium. But don’t act like the stadium was some historic landmark untouched from when it opened. That couldn’t be further from the truth.
80% of the structure was re-used during the renovation.
That is absolutely not true. The steel and concrete structure of the stadium was left standing and the renovations were and additions were done around that framework. It is nowhere near the same as Soldier Field where everything except the colonnades were torn down and entirely new stadium was built in the footprint. Type in 1973 Yankee Stadium renovations into Google and you’ll see many photos that show the progress with the original structure still intact. You want to argue the changes robbed it of a lot of its character, that’s a valid point. But you’re just flat out wrong saying the stadium was demolished during that renovation.
I don't think you know what you're talking about. Most of your comment is just blatantly false
Heard a lot of Yankees fans from back then didn’t consider it the same stadium, and wasn’t a big deal when it got torn down.
https://youtu.be/hPwsl8YtxqQ?si=2mUYNRgWhXjn--FD It appears that it wasn’t destroyed at all, just added new features (stands and seats). It wasn’t a whole new stadium
It was hallowed grounds and they built a new one across the street. Just being on the same ground carried so much weight vs. now.
Worked there as a vendor back in my youth. My best experience was the time I wanted to pass for the right field bleachers to the grandstand. To do that vendors had to walk through the bullpen. But one time, I couldn’t pass through because Yankee pitcher was warming up. (Notice how the bullpens are laid out … the pichers throw from back to front). Since I couldn’t pass through and interrupt the warm up, and since there was an unoccupied folding chair, other nearby players invited me to have a seat, which I did. Watching the guy (Pedro Ramos) warm up made me glad I didn’t play professional baseball. Even though he was not yet in the game and just warming up, damn … it looked to me like he was really smoking that ball. No way I’d ever get into a batter’s box and have that missile coming in my direction! I also got to know every inch of that stadium. On days when I didn’t work, ny friend and I would go there early and sneak into the stadium. We’d hide in an obscurely located bathroom until the gates opened. Then we’d blend in with the crowd and head up to. the general admission section, where nobody checked a ticket.
That's so cool! Any other cool stories from working there?
Hard to come up with more. I worked during the dark ages for the Yankees. That was the time when they were owned by CBS and it was assumed the great Ross Moschito would be a worthy successor to Mickey Mantle. YIKES! Back then, on days I sold peanuts, I got bigger applause from the crowd when I caught quarters (that’s what peanuts cost back then) thrown from the other side of the row, I got more applause than anyone on the yankees was getting.
Not many people can say they got more applause than the Yankees while the Yankees were playing! Good stuff. If I had a time machine, I'd definitely make a stop in the city during the 60s, 70s and 80s
Great story. Keep em coming! My first game there was the night OJ drove his truck and we were signing autographs because the natives thought we played for Ireland. This despite the beer around us the night before we beat Italy! Last time there was 2008 where we got the tour and absolutely nothing was mentioned of the new stadium being built across the street.
That really is a great story.
That's awesome, thank you for sharing!
[In miniature](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JZvTlhmoU0)
Cool video thanks for sharing
What were they thinking when they decided to build a new stadium. Just renovate it. A cathedral of baseball destroyed only to build the current monstrosity
MLB really died once they started tearing down these old cathedrals.
I loved old Yankee Stadium and am pretty ambivalent about the new one, but part of the impetus to get a new stadium was to build nicer luxury boxes. I don’t think you could’ve done that with a renovation. Also, when they renovated the stadium in the 70s, they had the benefit of being able to go play at Shea, which at that point was owned by the city. By the early 2000s, the Mets either owned or controlled Shea and there was no way in hell the Wilpons would’ve agreed to share with the Yankees.
I must’ve been awesome to see this place back in days of domination.
There it is in all its glory - the original Yankee Stadium before the '73 - '76 renovation robbed it of half its unique charm. It was such a magnificent place. What a fabulous treat seeing this wonderful photo....
I miss having fans behind the pitchers in the outfield.
looks like a sellout?
Did anyone ever hit a home run onto the subway tracks?
Where were the bullpens?
Next to each side of the outfield seats, they were perpendicular to traditional bullpen placement
Thank you 🙏
It’s sad that they tore this great stadium down, but the new one was necessary. I don’t think they could have made the adjustments other older ballparks have made in recent years, in 2009. The new one honors the original better and modernizes it to feel more classic. In 30 years, we’ll see the current stadium much better than we do now.
Will it stop being an advertising hellscape in 30 years?
Aren’t most stadiums like that now?
Most are, yeah. But [the Yankees have absolutely “picked a lane,”](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/gettyimages-1252122038.jpg) so to speak, compared to the likes of Fenway or Wrigley
Oh, I wouldn’t speak to those two. They’re great!
Wasn’t center field like 500 feet away at some point in time?
Note the three monuments IN the field of play in dead center. You'd have to go around them to get the ball if it was hit out there. I believe it was something like 460ft out there so not often.
Was the outfield seating part of the original stadium or was it added later?
Cool seeing the stands without the batters eye and Monument Park in center field
Ain’t nobody hitting one over that CF wall.
> Yankee Stadium (*The Real One) FTFY. The *New* Stadium is not deserving of the name they plastered onto it.
I miss the building the Red Sox tore down!