Yankee Stadium

New York City, United States

The original Yankee Stadium, built in 1923, was one of the most iconic structures in sport. As it neared the end of its life in the early 2000s, Populous was set the challenge of designing not just a replacement, but a new American icon.

Most commentators thought it would be impossible to emulate the intangible glory of the old ballpark, but when the new Yankee Stadium opened in 2009, it forged a bridge between eras — a place where fans could revel in shared memories, just as new stories were being written in the ongoing narrative of America’s favorite pastime. The new Yankee Stadium captures the pride needed to carry the most storied franchise in American sport into the next generation. 

Paying homage to ‘the house that Babe built,’ the ballpark is wrapped in four stories of limestone and granite, echoing the facade of its predecessor, while the field geometry matches that of the original. The 31,000-square-foot Great Hall through which most spectators arrive is the largest open air public entry at any sports venue in the world. Not only does it make a grand impression on anyone visiting, it also serves a sustainability function, cooling the space naturally with air flowing through its enormous open archways, eliminating the need for air conditioning. 

Although the ballpark was built across the street from the original location, the new Yankee Stadium has ignited a transformation of the Bronx community in which it is located. The stadium reinvigorated the area, injecting life into a franchise that arguably has the greatest history of any team in Major League Baseball. It has also seen fans from across the world of sport and entertainment pass beneath its arches, hosting international soccer matches, college football games, the NHL Stadium Series — facilitated by the Populous Event team — and concert performances by stars including Jay-Z, Madonna and Paul McCartney. 

The new community spirit surrounding the Yankees helped motivate them to success. With a loyal fan base and, most importantly, a new ballpark, the team won the World Series during New Yankee Stadium’s inaugural year.  

Every single thing about the stadium, every visual, every amenity ... has exceeded what I was hoping we'd get.

By designing the ballpark, we were able to produce a modern interpretation of baseball’s most prominent and historic brand. Yankee Stadium is a ballpark for the future with a soul of the past. It provides a special place where fans can gather and share the experience of what it means to be a Yankee. 

Paying homage to ‘the house that Babe built,’ the ballpark is wrapped in four stories of limestone and granite, echoing the facade of its predecessor, while the field geometry matches that of the original. The 31,000-square-foot Great Hall through which most spectators arrive is the largest open air public entry at any sports venue in the world. Not only does it make a grand impression on anyone visiting, it also serves a sustainability function, cooling the space naturally with air flowing through its enormous open archways, eliminating the need for air conditioning. 

Although the ballpark was built across the street from the original location, the new Yankee Stadium has ignited a transformation of the Bronx community in which it is located. The stadium reinvigorated the area, injecting life into a franchise that arguably has the greatest history of any team in Major League Baseball. It has also seen fans from across the world of sport and entertainment pass beneath its arches, hosting international soccer matches, college football games, the NHL Stadium Series — facilitated by the Populous Event team — and concert performances by stars including Jay-Z, Madonna and Paul McCartney. 

The new community spirit surrounding the Yankees helped motivate them to success. With a loyal fan base and, most importantly, a new ballpark, the team won the World Series during New Yankee Stadium’s inaugural year.  

By designing the ballpark, we were able to produce a modern interpretation of baseball’s most prominent and historic brand. Yankee Stadium is a ballpark for the future with a soul of the past. It provides a special place where fans can gather and share the experience of what it means to be a Yankee.