THE HOME OF CHAMPIONS!

📍Yankees Stadium on your Google Maps: https://g.co/kgs/y8UpduW 

“Here come the Yankees!

Let's get behind and cheer the Yankees

They're gonna learn to fear the Yankees

Everyone knows they play to win, 'cause!..”

These lyrics and tunes have been stuck in my head throughout the weekend after I watched the New York Yankees versus the Baltimore Orioles on a Thursday night. For those who wanted recommendations about whether it’s worth it to go for the game and didn’t have the time to read the blog, my answer would be YES! It’s a gem not so much hidden because it is an iconic tourist attraction in NY; however, the things that are hidden are the feelings you get after you’ve experienced this atmosphere of tens of thousands of people cheering and watching a game of baseball with you. There is nothing like it, you don’t get this feeling if you don’t go for yourself. If you’re in the city and you’ve got the time swing by for a game. 

If you read my introduction on the About page, you would know that I’m an exchange student from Thailand, and we the exchange students had a team of committee here at NYU who would guide us throughout our time in the semester called IBEX. I’m lucky enough to be treated with a free ticket to a Yankees game on September 26 by IBEX. Me not a fan of baseball but know a thing or two about it, thought to myself it’s a lifetime experience being here in NYC; so I need to go to this game even if it means I would arrive home late (PS I lived in New Jersey). 

So I signed up for it and went for the game together with my fellow exchanger friends from NYU riding the 4th train straight from 14 Street-Union Square station to the 161st Street-Yankees stadium station, so it is an easy commute for NYU dorm students. When you get off the station and cross the street to the Yankees stadium entrance you would immediately see gate number 6, but a little tip from my own research from a YouTuber, gate 8 on the right side of the stadium has a much shorter line.

A BIG NOTE here are the things you can’t bring into the stadium:  

• any bag larger than 16 inches by 16 inches by 8 inches (NO backpack)

• hard-sided bags or containers of any size

• glass bottles or cans

• video cameras or other equipment designed for the sole purpose of video and/or audio recording

• Laptop computers, television sets, excluding television substitutes such as tablets (so if you are going straight from class make sure you put your things in your dorm first)

Upon going in you’ll need to scan your ticket, you can either open your ticket using the MLB application called “Ballpark” or you can SAVED your ticket in Apple Wallet (if you are using an iPhone) after you buy the ticket. The latter is a MUST because there would be so many people, so sometimes the internet can go slow. After you scan your ticket security will let you walk through a metal detector and check your bag. And then you’re in!

And my friend went in a bit late, and it was the 2nd inning (for baseball beginners baseball has 9 innings in a game like a set in tennis or volleyball). But instantly I was enveloped by the energy and the buzz of excited fans because the Yankees had just batted a HOMERUN, giving them the lead ahead of their opponent. Then we went to find something to eat because we came straight from class, there’s a foodcourt where there are hotdogs, chips, and ice cream that are not as expensive as we expected. After grabbing something, it was time for us to find our assigned seat. It was on the third floor, and after a long walk of ramps, we finally found our seat. There were lots of people but there are openings where we can still sit together. During the game, there were countless moments where the fans cheered, showtime of the big screen to interact with the fans, and retiring of legends. 

After the game the Yankees won by 10-1, as we walked down the ramps to go to the gift shop, we heard a big cheer and the song “New York, New York” by Frank Sinatra. We looked out onto the field and saw the board displaying YANKEES EAST DIVISION CHAMPION 2024, the atmosphere was electrifying. From that moment I’ve realized that it’s more than just a baseball stadium—it’s a place where legends have been made, where moments in sports history are forever etched into the memories of those who witness them. As I walked through the gift shop, I saw the sign “27 World Series Champion” the most titles won by a Major League Baseball team; which has truly solidified the Yankees Stadium as the "The Home of the Champions".

It was definitely an unforgettable day for me here in New York and I believe it would be yours too if you get the chance to watch a game. It’s not only for the baseball lover but a checklist for NYC lover!