Football In Yankee Stadium?

You Aren't Going Crazy.  That's a football pole in Yankee Stadium

There is something really weird about seeing one of the more famous and important stadiums in its sport used for a different purpose.  At least, that's what I felt when I went to the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium the last two years.

Holidays to me means college bowl games.  Doesn't matter whose playing, I'm watching.  Actually, usually the random teams are the most fun to watch.  Who can forget that Boise St vs Oklahoma game? Statue of Liberty really? That never works! But that's the magic of college bowl season.  In college bowl games, anything can happen and often does.

So of course when I moved to the city, I was pumped to find that Yankee stadium was going to play hose to a college bowl game.  I'd always wanted to go to one, but as the only one near me was the Rose Bowl, which you know is just a bit hard to get tickets to, I hadn't ever found a way to go.  So when presented with the opportunity, I jumped at it!

Just like real Yankee baseball (aka any baseball played in November, World Series time), you have to bundle up before going.  Beanies (preferably Holiday themed please), scarves, and winter coats are all necessary in order to truly enjoy this outdoor experience. 

When you first pull up, you feel just like you are going to a Yankee game...well, except for the fact that you are surrounded by Syracuse fans (as Syracuse always seems to be playing in this bowl game).  But the same bars that you go to pregame a Yankee game are still the ones you go to for "tailgating" the bowl game. 

Walking in though, that's when it starts to get weird.  Where is Jeter? Arod? Swisher?  Anyone?  No pinstripes anywhere to be seen.  And the Cathedral that is Yankee Stadium is now home to...football posts?  It just doesn't feel quite right.





Still, was it fun?  Yes.  Both times I went, I had a great time.  It's a very different crowd than that which usually go the stadium, but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing.  Actually, it was kind of fun as you didn't see as many corporate types as you usually do.  In fact, the special bar that we were able to go to was actually fun!  Instead of old men in business suits hitting on the young girls who were bar tenders, you were surrounded by people rocking there school colors and more concentrated on the game then looking cool.  I would recommend sitting a little higher up as we sat down on the third baseline and couldn't really make out what was going on at all. 

So if you are looking for something different to do, I would for sure recommend taking the D train up to Yankee Stadium and seeing the place in a whole new light.  It will be weird, but once you get over the fact about where the game is, you'll be able to settle in and actually enjoy the football.