"Welcome home. It's an old name for a new stadium, but nobody's complaining. For Yankee Stadium, as befits its heritage, now holds the unique distinction of being the first ballpark completely restructured - giving fans the comfort and convenience they have come to expect while retaining the historic qualities which will continue to set it apart from all other ballparks.
Yankee Stadium, first built in 1923, was unique even then - the first triple-decked ballpark in the country. As the years passed, the feats of men such as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle came to bring the Stadium the tradition of greatness which now places it as one of the most famous structures in the world.
But, by the early 1970s, Yankee Stadium was showing its age. Great as its days had been, it was no longer a suitable facility for New York City to house a major sports organization. Faced with vital decisions and a variety of options, then Yankee President Michael Burke (then representing CBS, the Yankee owners), met with then Mayor John V. Lindsay. The result was the decision that the City would not forsake the arts and leisure so important to the fiber of a metropolitan area. And so it was decided that the old Yankee Stadium would be converted into the new Yankee Stadium - and New York - and the Yankees - would proudly have the most modern sports structure in the country.
With the dedicated work of thousands of men - showing the great enthusiasm of participating in a historic project - the task began on October 1, 1973, when fittingly, Mrs. Babe Ruth was presented with home plate and Mrs. Lou Gehrig was presented with first base.
Out came the columns which had for 50 years partially obstructed sightlines. Off came the magnificent copper facade - destined to be returned to the Stadium as the symbol of the distinct architecture.
Escalator towers are found at all gates of the Stadium ... a striking new addition and a great comfort to all.
The columns all gone, every seat offers a perfect view ... and every seat is new ... wider, self-retracting ... built for comfort.
The playing surface remains natural grass, meeting the elegance of the Yankee Blue stands. Unlike so many modern stadiums, Yankee Stadium remains a singularly unique structure, recognizable even its new form to any baseball fan.
It's the little things that make a park: the fine new sound system features scores of speakers suspended from the unusual ceilings over each deck; the area is spruced up with sensational new street lights to turn night into day; the flavor of the old days is retained by the vintage-looking ticket booths; the new multi-vapor lighting system replaces the old light towers; sections are color-coded on tickets, and easy directional signs are found on all escalators; the plaza is a pedestrian mall with an artistic sidewalk, and the design surrounds the neighborhood; fans can't miss the environmentally designed smokestack at the end of the plaza, shaped like a baseball bat; some fans will enjoy the luxury of the deluxe boxes which feature private indoor lounges and theatre-style seating; signs throughout the Stadium are large and clear. Even a first time visitor should have no problem finding his way around.
Yankee Stadium is now surrounded by parking for almost 7,000 cars. The highlight is the four-level garage facing the Stadium, joined to it by the new, artistic plaza. Parking, once a problem, is no longer one with such modern additions.
Perhaps the most striking feature of the new Stadium is the 560-foot scoreboard, graced by the famous Stadium facade, rebuilt as an exact replica. The center board is the Telescreen, capable of showing instant replays, as well as providing information, animation and bulletins. The replay capability is a first for baseball.
By April 15, 1976, Yankee Stadium was ready to show itself off. It was back home for the team - and for the fans who had come to look at Yankee Stadium as a neighborhood meeting place. This, then, is a welcome home to everyone ... ourselves and our friends."
-The New York Yankees Official 1976 Yearbook
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