If you’re planning a visit to Yankee Stadium, or if you’d like to know more about saving money and other tips, Ballpark E-Guides is here to help. This is your complete Yankee Stadium guide – covering how to get tickets, choose a seat, get to the stadium, and what to eat…and best of all, ways to save money on all of it!
If you’re serious about this and would like even more details, I can help you with that too…I’ve written this helpful guide for Yankee Stadium seating, details on the many ways to get there, a complete and very helpful primer on parking, and a long list of available food items. Oh, and of course you’ll want to save money on tickets. But this page will cover all the basics you need to know.
One ground ball, one blooper, one flare a week…or one ticket…and you’re in Yankee Stadium.
I’ve broken this down into chapters for easy reference:
Getting Yankees Tickets
Choosing The Best Seats
Best Ways To Get To Yankee Stadium
What to Eat at Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium With Kids
Photo-Ops and Must-Sees
So now after this quick word from our sponsor, we’ll get started!
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Yankee Stadium Guide, Part 1: How To Get Yankees Tickets
I’ve listed a few tips for saving money on tickets here, but if you really want to go all out, check out my complete guide to finding cheap Yankees tickets!
The Yankees are among the toughest tickets in baseball most every year. They usually average over 35,000 a game, and are always near the tops in attendance even in lean years. Cheaper seats especially move very quickly, so plan ahead. High value games include games against the Red Sox, Mets and Phillies, Opening Day, Old Timer’s games, and weekend contests in the summer draw quite well too.
For high value games, you’re best off getting tickets early through the Yankees, via their website or the box office. The Yankees have an excellent seating map that actually gives the locations of available seats, which is terrific for getting an aisle seat or seats in front of each other. They will even let you select a price range for tickets.
The Yankees no longer accept print-at-home tickets, so when you order from the website you have to do it well enough in advance to have them mailed to you, pick them up at will call, or you can download the tickets using the MLB Ballpark app on your smartphone and scan them.
You can, of course, buy tickets at the box office and avoid the convenience fees, but I recommend against doing this on game day…there is a not insignificant price increase on game day, and lines could well be long.
For low demand games, such as midweek contests in April or May against bad teams, the Yankees offer some pretty fair deals on tickets for MasterCard holders, so get a MasterCard if you don’t have one. If you’re visiting New York for a Mets game, get a Citi MasterCard, because that will help you save money at Citi Field as well.
StubHub briefly had an outpost at Yankee Stadium. It was promising for about ten minutes.
But for low demand games, you should definitely shop around third party sites, like StubHub and others. As you’ve seen, I have a favorite third party seller (and affiliate) in TickPick; they don’t add fees, and they have a buyer’s guarantee as well.
Remember when shopping third parties to go all the way to checkout to compare prices, and check the total price. There could be a big difference (another reason I like TickPick).
There are plenty of scalpers roaming around the Stadium; especially in Macombs Dam Park across the street or near the train station on 161st. Some of them have been known to hang out in Stan’s Sports Bar nearby. For high demand games especially, be sure of some basic things when you look at the ticket…check the date of the game and opponent. If you can wait until after the game starts, prices drop quite a bit.
I talk more about buying baseball tickets on Craigslist here, but the short version is to use the same diligence you do when scalping. There is a small chance you could get scammed.
Just in case you didn’t know the web address.
Tightwad Tips – Saving Money on Yankees Tickets
Before you pay face price for tickets through the team, take a look at specials that the Yankees offer first. Some very good bargains to be had…
Cheap Yankees Tickets, Tip #1) Use The Team Newsletter. You should subscribe to any team newsletter if you would like to see a game, but the Yankees newsletter especially is full of terrific offers.
The team offers half-price tickets, discounts for kids and seniors, and even some $5.01 (sponsored by Levi’s, get it?) tickets for low demand games. Remember the MasterCard though. Always pay attention to the newsletter before paying face price; you can definitely find some deals there.
A key benefit of fan club membership: ushers won’t pretend they can’t see you.
Cheap Yankees Tickets, Tip #2) Yankees Universe. The Yankees have several levels of Yankees Universe fan club membership, with varying prices, but they all include tickets…often for good seats…to a game that make it well worth the cost. The MVP level membership includes those padded field level seats, and the membership price is much less than the face price of the tickets would be.
You get extra stuff with membership too, like a separate entrance to use (which you’ll appreciate, believe me), gear and bobbleheads, and deals on available premium tickets.
The Yankees often celebrate the last year they sold $10 tickets.
Cheap Yankees Tickets, Tip #3) The Pinstripe Pass. If all you want is to get into the stadium and socialize, the Pinstripe Pass is for you; it’s an inexpensive ticket and includes a free drink…which at Stadium drink prices, makes the ticket almost free.
It’s a standing room ticket, but if you need a place to sit, the party decks have some barstool seating, and the ushers aren’t too strict if you manage to find a spot in the upper Grandstand.
The more blue the sections in the map, the more the fans in that section care.
Yankee Stadium Guide, Part 2: Choosing The Best Seat
Where you sit at Yankee Stadium depends on your taste and budget, of course. I have gone into much more detail here about the various levels of seating at Yankee Stadium, but for this overall guide, I’ll keep it somewhat simple.
There are four tiers of seats at Yankee Stadium; the Field Level has comfortably padded seats throughout and generally go for triple digits in price. To get inside the moat for the Legends seats behind home plate, if you have to ask, you probably can’t afford it. Lots of amenities come with those, including high end grub, which is why you never see people sitting in them.
Just slightly above the really expensive seats!
The Main Level is the tier above the Field Level; these are generally very good seats that are almost as close to the action and much cheaper. Behind home plate these are club seats, which are higher in price but include entry into one of the fancy clubs and complimentary popcorn (whoopee!).
The next tier is clubs and suites, so the Terrace Level and the Grandstand Level in the upper deck are pretty high up and Grandstand seats especially might not be for the acrophobic. Terrace seats cost significantly more than Grandstand seats but are closer to the action; again, behind home plate the Terrace Level is Club seats.
The Grandstand is probably the best value for penny pinchers. The seats are high up and you may need binoculars in the outer reaches, but there’s good deals to be had on seats here, especially for low demand games. If you are up near the top, you get to see the frieze up close and you’ll be protect from the sun, which can be really welcome in the summer.
Yeah, it’s hot, that’s why no one is sitting there yet.
Finally, the Bleachers at Yankee Stadium were brought over from the old Stadium; but here they are placed behind the much more expensive Field Level seats and the bullpens. They’re the cheapest tickets other than the Pinstripe Pass, with good reason…they’re hard metal and backless and can be very hot. The right field bleachers are home of the Bleacher Creatures; they’re generally not a place for kids or people wearing opposing team’s gear.
Yankee Stadium actually has several levels of standing room…you can learn more about that here, but one piece of advice: avoid Terrace Level standing room at all costs. It’s behind the handicapped seating and offers terrible views.
In all cases, seating is most expensive behind home plate and decreases quite a bit as you get towards the outfield…and outfield seats can lose the view of the scoreboard, if that matters to you.
The sun sets on the third base side, so keep this in mind in both weather extremes; there’s much more heat in the first base side. For night games, it can get blinding in right field.
That’s the basics…again, for more detailed knowledge, check out my Yankee Stadium seating page.
Seriously, just let someone else drive.
Yankee Stadium Guide, Part 3: The Best Ways to Get To Yankee Stadium
If you’ve never been to New York City before, there’s one thing you should know: it takes real skill to drive a car here. The best way to get to Yankee Stadium in most cases is via public transit, although driving a car to the stadium isn’t as terrible as it could be. If you do choose to drive and park, here’s a much more detailed parking guide (including free street parking!), but I’ll cover that more in a bit here.
So anyway, Yankee Stadium is very well served by the MTA. Three MTA subway lines—the B, D, and 4—take riders to Yankee Stadium from Manhattan and Brooklyn. They all stop at the 161st St./Yankee Stadium Station, which is right at the main entrance of the ballpark.
All of them get the job done just fine, but I prefer the 4 for a few reasons:
Unlike from the B or D, you know exactly where to go from here!
1) The View. The 4 becomes elevated in the Bronx, as opposed to the B and D which remain subway trains. From the 4 platform you can see the Stadium come into view, which is as it should be.
2) Less Confusion. The B and D lines don’t always stop at the Stadium; both lines run the same route but stop at Yankee Stadium only at certain times of day.
I think I have this figured out, but I’m never sure: the B goes to Yankee Stadium during rush hour on weekdays, and the D goes there at all other times. At any time you can use one of them, but I’m never sure which one…maybe look for fans wearing jerseys and follow them.
See, we’re leaving already!
3) Speed. The 4 line has more stops but is an express train most of the time, including when you will likely to be headed to the game and need it most. From Grand Central to 161st is 13 stops, but on an express train it is only five. Not so the B or D.
4) Great Pizza. Here’s a bonus tip for pizza lovers. The 4 and 6 trains share the same line (Lexington Avenue), and using the 4 after a day game allows you to hop off, and get on the 6 to Little Italy and Lombardi’s Pizza. (I’m not a one-trick pony!)
One last thing; if you’re coming an hour and a half before game time or less, any train you use will start to get packed with fans. If you can, try to hop on somewhere south of Grand Central for a better chance of landing a seat.
As with the 4, it’s easy to find the Stadium from the Metro-North station.
In addition to the MTA subways, there’s also the aptly named 153rd Street/Yankee Stadium Metro-North train station just a few steps away from the stadium; this station is served by Metro-North’s Hudson, Harlem, and New Haven lines, and it’s just two stops from Grand Central Station.
Metro-North runs game day service directly to the Stadium on the Hudson Line, and there is a shuttle train that runs from both Grand Central Terminal and the Harlem 125th St. stations in midtown Manhattan, which takes just 16 minutes from midtown.
Unlike with the B-D-4 subways, you’re far more likely to find a seat with Metro-North, and a more comfortable one at that. It’s a bit more expensive than the subway, but it’s well worth it if you have the means. Tickets are cheaper when bought in advance.
One thing, don’t dilly-dally after the game, because the last post-game train leaves 45 minutes after the last out, and it does take a few minutes to walk there.
Just saying, the people on the train above these cars are getting there faster.
OK, so do you still want to drive and park with all of these convenient trains to use? No problem, I’ve got your back.
Yankee Stadium is actually pretty easily accessible from I-87 considering its location. Obviously traffic gets worse on game days, but if you’re early enough you should have little problem getting to your spot before game time.
I use Google Maps to route me through traffic, but there are some alternate routes you can use…for brevity I’ll direct you to my Yankee Stadium parking page to see those. (I even indexed it for you!)
Did I mention booking your parking beforehand? I am NOT kidding on this one…definitely reserve your spot before you go. The Yankees have a link on their website to their garages.
Never Drive To Yankee Stadium Without A Plan…
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Try not to get distracted by bacon on a stick…oh, who am I kidding.
Yankee Stadium Guide, Part 4: What To Eat and Drink
There’s quite a selection of food at Yankee Stadium, and the Yankees do introduce cool new stuff every season, but there’s also some constants that stick around. Again, much more details in this Yankee Stadium food post, but let’s briefly cover things here. First I’ll talk about some classic mainstays, then I’ll mention some new things:
Nothing makes food look tastier than radioactive green neon!
The Yankees still offer Nathan’s hot dogs, which you can’t blame them for; they’re the only hot dogs people will willingly eat 70-something of in an hour. Incidentally, Nathan’s fries are no slouch either, so you could do worse than just a dog and fries at a Yankees game.
There’s just something about beef in NYC.
Lobel’s sandwiches are more expensive than you’d expect even for a ballpark, but they’re made with premium beef that you can actually watch being cut in front of you. The Lobel’s sandwiches are a mainstay here and one of my favorites.
The scouts call this one a “can’t miss” prospect.
The garlic fries are very popular here; they’re covered with parmesan cheese, oregano and drizzled with olive oil. I’ve tried these and they’re indeed awesome, but I wouldn’t get them if you’re on a date unless you’re sharing.
Here are some recent additions to the menu at Yankee Stadium:
It’s the rolls. Chicks dig the rolls.
The Kings Hawaiian folks have brought their amazing bread to Yankee Stadium; offerings featuring this stuff include (as of 2022) a sweet and smoky chicken sandwich and a Kanak Attack burger.
Ballparks must have BBQ, because Boog Powell.
Mighty Quinn’s BBQ has an outpost at Yankee Stadium; their brisket is smoked for 20 hours (hopefully in a row), and they offer pulled pork, chicken wings, you get it. Great for your BBQ fix at a game.
No, this Jersey Mike is not Mike Trout.
Jersey Mike’s cheesesteaks are still available at Yankee Stadium to my knowledge. I have a Jersey Mike’s near me where I live, and I am a fan…and it’s no small thing to make a standout cheesesteak in South Jersey. You should be fine with this.
I’ve asked the Yankees for permission to use the photo since I don’t have one, but they’ve added Bobby Flay’s burgers to the menu…and since he is not only a NYC chef but also a Food Network guy, I trust his stuff is probably pretty good. Especially the Nacho burger and Bacon Crunch burger.
Well worth a visit to see the signatures.
Finally, there are two restaurants attached to Yankee Stadium (not counting the clubs); there’s a Hard Rock Cafe and the ever popular NYY Steak. The Hard Rock offers typical if limited Hard Rock fare, and the NYY Steak has filet mignon, New York strip, etc. at prices that are probably lower than you’d expect for a New York City steakhouse.
You can also bring your own food into Yankee Stadium last I checked. I talk more about some options you have with that here…you can save a ton of money and get decent grub for the game this way.
There’s a few things for you to chew on, but I’m barely scratching the surface of what to eat in this Yankee Stadium guide…if you’d like a much more detailed version of what’s on the menu, check out my Yankee Stadium food guide here.
Cheap souvenirs for the kids even!
Yankee Stadium Guide, Part 5: Visiting With Kids
Visiting Yankee Stadium with kids is easier than it once was; there are the aforementioned cheap Yankees tickets options and more things to do for the young ones these days. If you’re making a day of a Yankees game with the family, here are a few things you should know…
Featuring the Yankees Shrink-a-tron, which reduces ushers to 1/10th their actual size!
Yankee Stadium With Kids, Tip #1: The Kids Clubhouse. It’s not as big and fun as some ballparks’ kids sections, but the Yankees did finally add a spot with a lot of soft surfaces and games and slides for the little ones. Kids can throw pitches, run bases, and put their faces in photos. The kids area is in right field in the upper level, and you can usually find cheap tickets for nearby sections.
In a recent visit I took my kids and this was their favorite part of the venture (they’re too young yet to appreciate a well-executed sacrifice). There’s also a nursing area in the same spot. Not a bad view of the Bronx from there, if you like looking at the Bronx.
Much cheaper stuff in this and other stores; it’s a good reason to park close.
Yankee Stadium With Kids, Tip #2: Park Close And Arrive Early. Yankee Stadium is shoehorned into a very congested area, and it’s the very urban part of New York City. Trains going by are loud, and as game time approaches it gets very crowded.
It’s definitely not cheap to park close to the stadium, but if you don’t have the option of using Metro-North or the MTA, you won’t want to be too far away, especially if you’re not familiar with the area.
You can let the little ones play in Macombs Dam Park for a while to burn off some energy before the gates open, and if you use the River Avenue garage, you’ll be close to souvenir shops that are much cheaper than inside.
OK, so it’s not Dollywood, but give the Yankees credit for the effort.
Yankee Stadium With Kids, Tip #3: Take Advantage of Specials. The Yankees do make some tickets affordable for families. There are discounted tickets for kids on weekends, and Yankees Universe memberships for kids that include tickets and fast track entry into the Stadium. If you want to take the kids to just one game, I highly recommend looking into Universe memberships especially. It can save you quite a bit of cash.
I love these models. They make architectural firms very rich.
Yankee Stadium Guide, Part 6: Photo-Ops, Museums, and Other Tips
Of course you’ll enjoy the ballgame, but there are some Yankee Stadium photo ops you should take the time to visit, which is another great reason to arrive early—forgive me if they’re fairly obvious.
Always my Pop’s favorite player, even though he hated the Yankees.
Yankee Stadium Photo Ops, #1: Monument Park. Get to Yankee Stadium early, or use a gate close to center field (I think Gate 8 is closest), and make Monument Park in center field your first stop. Monument Park is where the busts of the greatest Yankees are found, with tributes to their careers, along with pinstriped retired numbers. The big bust of Boss George Steinbrenner was added overlooking all of them, which I think is kind of comical.
Again, get here early though, because it fills with visitors very quickly, and the line may be so long that you might not make it in before it closes 45 minutes before game time.
Mickey Mantle said you could smell liquor on Don Larsen’s breath that day.
Yankee Stadium Photo Ops, #2: The Yankees Museum. The excellent Yankees Museum is located near Gate 6, up a ramp to the Main Level. It features artifacts all through the team’s great history, dedicating them by the stars or each era, e.g. “The Derek Jeter Era” of the late 1990s and early 2000s.
You’ll see a very old flyer advertising “See Babe Ruth In Action”, World Series trophies through the years, Thurman Munson’s locker, and a long glass casing of baseballs signed by Yankees from all eras. In the center of the room are two statues, depicting Don Larsen throwing the final pitch of his World Series perfect game to Yogi Berra. Well worth a visit for any fan of baseball history.
The Yankees Museum is open throughout the game, so you can visit it if the climate is too rough or the Yankees aren’t having a great day. The game is broadcast in the room. No flash photography.
Photos several times larger than the people looking on.
Yankee Stadium Photo Ops, #3: The Great Hall. As if Monument Park and the Yankees Museum wasn’t enough, the Great Hall serves as another reminder of all of the players you either loved or hated depending on your world view.
The Great Hall is where two of the main entrances to the Stadium are, so it gets crowded before the game, but it is spacious enough to accommodate a typical Yankee Stadium crowd. You can look around and see larger than life photos of Billy Martin, Goose Gossage, Reggie Jackson and many other Yankee greats.
The Great Hall is actually best viewed from above, in front of the entrance to NYY Steak, which is where the above photo was shot. You can overlook and people watch from this vantage point, without anyone bumping into you.
Anything else you need to know? No? Well great…I hope that this Yankee Stadium guide has been a great help to you in planning your next game. I have added much more detailed posts below if you’re interested in finding out more.
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