NEW YORK CITY, NY – Vancouver Whitecaps FC are set to make their first-ever visit to the famed Yankee Stadium on Saturday (1 p.m. PT on TSN1), when they face New York City FC.
The current venue, which opened in 2009, incorporates replicas of some design elements from the original Yankee Stadium that originally opened its doors in 1923.
Here are some facts you may have never heard about the historic site:
The first major soccer match at Yankee Stadium was held on June 28, 1931 between Celtic F.C. and New York Yankees.
Soccer legend Pele used to play at Yankee Stadium; between 1975 and 1977, he played for New York Cosmos whose home games were played at Yankee until 1977. After the Brazilian legend's time with the Cosmos, the 'Caps would defeat the New York side in the NASL semifinal on the way to the 1979 Soccer Bowl at nearby Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.
On April 18, 1923, Babe Ruth hit the first home run in Yankee Stadium history.
On April 20, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Mass at Yankee Stadium to celebrate the bicentennial of Archdiocese of New York; other Popes who have said Mass at the stadium have been Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II.
A rally for Nelson Mandela, upon his release from prison, was held at Yankee Stadium on June 21, 1990. In April 2014, the Yankees honoured Mandela with a plaque in Monument Park, an open-air museum inside the stadium usually reserved for distinguished members of the baseball team.
The first concert held at the stadium was an R&B show by the Isley Brothers on June 21, 1969; the first rock concert was performed by Billy Joel on June 22, 1990.
Because of the unique dimensions of the field, the playing surface for soccer matches is 110 yards by 70 yards, the smallest field in MLS and the smallest allowed by FIFA international guidelines.
The Yankees won their 27th World Series, and their first in their new stadium, on November 4, 2009 after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies in six games.
The first soccer match held at the new stadium was between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain on July 22, 2012; the match, a part of the 2012 World Football Challenge, ended 1-1.
Canadian baseball player Justin Morneau, originally from New Westminster, BC, defeated Josh Hamilton 5-3 in the 2008 Major League Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium; Morneau played for the Minnesota Twins at the time.
The first NHL game held at Yankee Stadium was a matchup between the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils for the 2014 NHL Stadium series. Canadian players Dominic Moore (NYR), Travis Zajac (NJD), Marc Staal (NYR) and Rick Nash (NYR) all scored in the 7-3 win for New York.
The first concert in the new stadium was Jay-Z and Eminem on September 13 and 14, 2010. Special guests included Kanye West, Chris Martin of Coldplay, 50 Cent, and Canadian rapper Drake. Drake performed “Miss Me” and “Light Up” with Jay-Z.
Rock legend Paul McCartney played two shows at Yankee Stadium, on July 15 and 16, 2011.
A New York University graduation ceremony was held in the stadium on May 13, 2009. The address at the graduation was delivered by current U.S. presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton.
Be a part of the best sporting atmosphere in Vancouver! Whitecaps FC offer a flexible range of ticket products, including Half-Season Packs, 5-Packs, a Youth Soccer Half-Season Ticket, and single match tickets. For more information, visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
