The stadium earned the colorful nickname ‘The Launching Pad’ thanks to its elevation of roughly 1,050 feet above sea level, which made the thin air particularly favorable to home run hitters. That reputation reached its peak on April 8, 1974, when Hank Aaron stepped to the plate and launched his 715th career home run off Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Al Downing, surpassing Babe Ruth’s long-standing all-time record in front of a packed home crowd. The stadium later hosted the 1991 and 1992 World Series and the baseball competition at the 1996 Summer Olympics before closing its doors for good on October 24, 1996.

Stats at a Glance

• Teams: Atlanta Braves (MLB) 1966–1996; Atlanta Falcons (NFL) 1966–1991
• Location: 521 Capitol Avenue SE, Atlanta, Georgia
• Opened: 1965
• Closed: October 24, 1996
• Demolished: August 2, 1997
• Capacity (Baseball): 52,007
• Capacity (Football): 60,606
• Construction Cost: $18 million (1965)
• Notable Fact: Site of Hank Aaron’s record-breaking 715th home run (April 8, 1974)

The Launching Pad Legacy

Few nicknames in baseball history were as well-earned as ‘The Launching Pad.’ Sitting at an elevation of about 1,050 feet above sea level — unusually high for a major league ballpark — Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium produced a noticeably thinner atmosphere that allowed batted balls to travel farther than at sea-level parks. Home run totals at the venue consistently ranked among the highest in the National League, drawing sluggers and frustrating pitchers throughout its three-decade run.

The stadium’s most transcendent moment came on April 8, 1974, when Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record with his 715th career blast. The swing took place before a national television audience and remains one of the most celebrated instants in American sports history. Beyond that milestone, the park hosted the 1972 MLB All-Star Game, two consecutive World Series (1991 and 1992), and an early Beatles concert on August 18, 1965, underscoring its versatility as an entertainment venue.

Final Years and Demolition

The stadium’s fate was sealed when Atlanta was awarded the 1996 Summer Olympics. A new facility — Centennial Olympic Stadium — was constructed adjacent to the old ballpark to host the Games’ track and field events, while Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium handled the Olympic baseball competition. After the Braves played their final game there on October 24, 1996, the club relocated to Centennial Olympic Stadium, which was converted into Turner Field.

With the Braves gone, Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium sat empty. On August 2, 1997, the 32-year-old structure was demolished by controlled implosion, taking less than a minute to fall. The site was later converted into a parking lot for Turner Field. Today, a home plate marker and a silhouette of the stadium’s outline are embedded in the parking surface, preserving the memory of the spot where one of baseball’s greatest records was broken.

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Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium FAQs

Why was Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium called ‘The Launching Pad’?

The nickname referred to the stadium’s elevation of roughly 1,050 feet above sea level in Atlanta. At that altitude, the thinner air reduced drag on batted balls, helping them carry farther and leading to consistently high home run totals compared with most other National League parks.

When was Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium demolished?

The stadium was demolished by controlled implosion on August 2, 1997, approximately ten months after the Atlanta Braves played their final game there on October 24, 1996. The site was subsequently converted into a parking lot for the adjacent Turner Field.

Did Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium host the 1996 Olympics?

Yes. While the newly constructed Centennial Olympic Stadium (later Turner Field) hosted track and field events for the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics, Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium served as the venue for the Olympic baseball competition that same summer before the Braves vacated it at the end of the 1996 season.

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Known affectionately as ‘Football Heaven’ and ‘The Old Horseshoe in Little Havana,’ the Orange Bowl expanded repeatedly over the years, eventually reaching a peak capacity of around 80,010. It hosted five Super Bowls and became one of the most storied venues in American sports history before closing on January 26, 2008, and being demolished that same spring.

Stats at a Glance

• Location: Little Havana, Miami, Florida
• Opened: December 10, 1937
• Closed: January 26, 2008
• Demolished: March 3 – May 14, 2008
• Original Capacity: 23,330 (1937)
• Peak Capacity: About 80,010 (1968–1976)
• Final Capacity: 72,319 (2003–2007)
• Primary Tenants: Miami Hurricanes (1937–2007), Miami Dolphins (1966–1986)
• Super Bowls Hosted: 5 (II, III, V, X, XIII)

Seven Decades of Expansion and Growth

Built for $340,000 and opened as Burdine Stadium, the venue was renamed the Orange Bowl in 1949 to reflect its long association with the annual college football bowl game played there each winter. The stadium grew dramatically over the decades: end-zone seats were added in 1944 raising capacity to around 35,000, and further expansions pushed it past 59,000 by 1947. By the late 1960s the venue held over 80,000 fans, cementing its status as one of the largest stadiums in the country.

The field alternated between natural grass and artificial turf over the years, with Poly-Turf installed from 1970 to 1975 before the stadium returned to natural grass for the remainder of its life. Despite aging infrastructure, the Orange Bowl retained a fierce local identity and passionate fanbase until the Miami Hurricanes departed for Sun Life Stadium (now Hard Rock Stadium) ahead of the 2008 season.

Home to Champions and Super Bowls

The Orange Bowl’s greatest claim to national fame was its role as a Super Bowl destination. Miami’s winter climate made it an ideal host, and the stadium welcomed five championship games: Super Bowl II (1968), Super Bowl III (1969), Super Bowl V (1971), Super Bowl X (1976), and Super Bowl XIII (1979). Super Bowl III was particularly historic, as it featured Joe Namath’s famous guarantee before the New York Jets upset the heavily favored Baltimore Colts.

Beyond the Super Bowls, the stadium hosted the Orange Bowl college football game almost every year from 1938 through 1995 and again in 1999, drawing top programs from across the country. When demolition was completed in May 2008, LoanDepot Park — home of the Miami Marlins — was eventually constructed on the same footprint, opening in 2012.

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Miami Orange Bowl FAQs

When was the Miami Orange Bowl demolished?

The Miami Orange Bowl was demolished between March 3 and May 14, 2008, shortly after its final event was held on January 26, 2008.

How many Super Bowls did the Orange Bowl host?

The Orange Bowl hosted five Super Bowls: II (1968), III (1969), V (1971), X (1976), and XIII (1979), making it one of the most frequently used Super Bowl venues of its era.

What was built on the Orange Bowl site?

LoanDepot Park, the home ballpark of the Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball, was constructed on the former Orange Bowl site and opened on March 5, 2012.

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Despite its utilitarian design, Foxboro Stadium punched well above its weight as a major-event host. The stadium welcomed six FIFA World Cup matches in 1994 and five FIFA Women’s World Cup matches in 1999, while also serving as the founding home of MLS side the New England Revolution from 1996 through 2001. Its final game — the January 19, 2002, AFC Divisional playoff against the Oakland Raiders, forever known as the ‘Tuck Rule Game’ — became one of the most controversial and celebrated moments in NFL history before demolition crews arrived weeks later.

Stats at a Glance

• Location: Foxborough, Massachusetts
• Teams: New England Patriots (NFL), New England Revolution (MLS), New England Tea Men (NASL)
• Opened: August 15, 1971
• Closed: January 19, 2002
• Demolished: 2002
• Final Capacity: 60,292
• Construction Cost: $7.1 million
• Notable Events: 1994 FIFA World Cup (6 matches), 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup (5 matches)

A Stadium of Many Names

The stadium’s three name changes mirrored the shifting fortunes of the Patriots franchise. It opened as Schaefer Stadium, named for the Schaefer Brewing Company’s sponsorship deal, giving the venue a blue-collar identity that matched its exposed-concrete construction. In 1983 it became Sullivan Stadium, honoring the Sullivan family who then owned the team, before the final rebrand to Foxboro Stadium in 1989 tied it more closely to its host town.

Throughout these changes the physical structure remained largely the same — an unenclosed bowl that offered little protection from New England winters. Critics frequently cited its spartan amenities, but generations of Patriots fans embraced the rawness of the environment, and the frigid late-season atmosphere gave the home team a genuine competitive edge on cold January playoff nights.

World Stage and Final Chapter

Foxboro Stadium’s hosting of the 1994 FIFA World Cup elevated its international profile, welcoming matches that drew crowds from around the globe to a venue better known for cold-weather football. Five years later it reprised that role for the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup, cementing its legacy as more than a single-sport facility despite its relatively small footprint by late-1990s NFL standards.

The stadium’s final moments proved unforgettable. On a snow-covered field on January 19, 2002, referee Walt Coleman’s controversial reversal of a Tom Brady fumble ruling — upheld under the NFL’s tuck rule — sent the Patriots past the Oakland Raiders 16–13 in overtime in the AFC Divisional playoff. The win launched New England’s dynasty era. Demolition of Foxboro Stadium began within days, and Gillette Stadium opened on the same site in 2002.

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Foxboro Stadium FAQs

When was Foxboro Stadium demolished?

Demolition began in late January 2002, shortly after the ‘Tuck Rule Game’ on January 19, 2002, and was completed by mid-2002. Gillette Stadium was built on the same site and opened in September 2002.

What was the last game played at Foxboro Stadium?

The last game was the AFC Divisional playoff on January 19, 2002, between the New England Patriots and the Oakland Raiders. The Patriots won 16–13 in overtime in what became known as the ‘Tuck Rule Game,’ one of the most debated officiating decisions in NFL history.

How many people did Foxboro Stadium hold?

At its final configuration, Foxboro Stadium had a listed capacity of 60,292, making it one of the smaller venues in the NFL during its final years of operation.

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After a major expansion in 1974–75 that enclosed the open end zones and pushed capacity to 74,301, the stadium became home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from the franchise’s inaugural 1976 NFL season through 1997. It also hosted the Tampa Bay Rowdies, the USFL’s Tampa Bay Bandits, and MLS’s Tampa Bay Mutiny, making it one of the most multi-purpose venues of its era before demolition was completed on April 11, 1999.

Stats at a Glance

• Location: 4201 N Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa, Florida
• Opened: November 4, 1967
• Closed: September 13, 1998
• Demolished: April 11, 1999
• Original Capacity: 46,481
• Final Capacity: 74,301
• Primary Tenant: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL, 1976–1997)
• Super Bowls Hosted: Super Bowl XVIII (1984) and Super Bowl XXV (1991)

From the Big Sombrero to Super Bowl Host

Tampa Stadium earned its beloved nickname from its dramatic overhanging upper-deck design, which gave the bowl a wide-brimmed silhouette when viewed from outside or from the air. The stadium hosted Super Bowl XVIII on January 22, 1984, when the Los Angeles Raiders routed the Washington Redskins 38–9. Seven years later, Super Bowl XXV on January 27, 1991, produced one of the most memorable finishes in championship history, with the New York Giants edging the Buffalo Bills 20–19 on a missed Scott Norwood field goal in the final seconds.

Beyond football, the venue made rock history on May 5, 1973, when Led Zeppelin drew nearly 57,000 fans — a then-record for a single-artist concert performance. The show demonstrated the stadium’s appeal as a major entertainment hub well beyond its sporting role, cementing its place in Tampa cultural history.

Demolition and Legacy

Construction of Raymond James Stadium began just south of Tampa Stadium in October 1996, and as the new venue neared completion the old stadium’s days were numbered. The Buccaneers played their final game at Tampa Stadium in 1997, and the facility officially closed on September 13, 1998. Demolition wrapped up on April 11, 1999, with the cleared land repurposed for parking serving the new stadium next door.

Although no trace of The Big Sombrero remains, its legacy endures in Tampa Bay sports lore. It gave the region its first NFL franchise home, delivered two Super Bowl spectacles, and served generations of fans across football, soccer, and live music over more than thirty years of operation.

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Tampa Stadium FAQs

Why was Tampa Stadium called ‘The Big Sombrero’?

The nickname came from the stadium’s distinctive design featuring a wide overhanging upper deck that gave the entire structure the silhouette of a large sombrero when viewed from outside or from the air.

Which Super Bowls were played at Tampa Stadium?

Tampa Stadium hosted Super Bowl XVIII on January 22, 1984 — Los Angeles Raiders 38, Washington Redskins 9 — and Super Bowl XXV on January 27, 1991, where the New York Giants defeated the Buffalo Bills 20–19.

When was Tampa Stadium torn down?

Tampa Stadium officially closed on September 13, 1998, and demolition was completed by April 11, 1999. The site was cleared to provide additional parking for the nearby Raymond James Stadium.

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During the Cowboys’ tenure at Texas Stadium, the franchise won five Super Bowls and eight NFC championships, cementing the team’s reputation as ‘America’s Team.’ The stadium hosted legendary players including Roger Staubach, Tony Dorsett, Troy Aikman, and Emmitt Smith, and its blue seats witnessed some of the most memorable moments in NFL history. After 37 seasons, the Cowboys left for the new AT&T Stadium in Arlington for the 2009 season, and Texas Stadium was demolished by controlled implosion on April 11, 2010.

Stats at a Glance

• Team: Dallas Cowboys (NFL)
• Location: Irving, Texas
• Opened: October 24, 1971
• Closed: December 20, 2008
• Demolished: April 11, 2010
• Capacity: 65,675
• Construction Cost: $35 million (1971)
• Luxury Suites: 381

The Hole in the Roof

Texas Stadium’s most famous feature was its partial roof—a design born of compromise. Plans for the NFL’s first fully retractable roof were abandoned when engineers determined the structure could not support the mechanism. The resulting canopy covered the seating areas but left a large oval opening above the field, exposing players to the Texas sky while keeping fans sheltered. This accident of architecture became the stadium’s defining characteristic, inspiring Cowboys linebacker D.D. Lewis’s often-quoted line: ‘Texas Stadium has a hole in its roof so God can watch His favorite team play.’ When AT&T Stadium opened in 2009, designers paid tribute by incorporating a transparent roof panel above the field as a direct nod to the famous opening.

A Legacy Larger Than Football

Beyond Cowboys games, Texas Stadium hosted the 1973 Pro Bowl, numerous NFC Championship Games, high school football playoffs, major concerts, and religious gatherings over nearly four decades. Its 381 luxury suites were among the first in the NFL, pioneering a premium-seating business model that reshaped professional sports venues nationwide. The Cowboys won 213 of 313 games played there, and the stadium’s final contest on December 20, 2008, marked the end of an era. On April 11, 2010, a controlled implosion brought the structure down in roughly 25 seconds, drawing large crowds who gathered to watch Irving’s most iconic landmark disappear from the skyline.

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Texas Stadium FAQs

Why did Texas Stadium have a hole in its roof?

The partial roof resulted from abandoned plans to build the NFL’s first retractable roof. Engineers could not design a mechanism strong enough to retract the canopy, so the structure was left open above the playing field. The uncovered oval became the stadium’s signature feature and inspired the famous quip that God could watch His favorite team through the opening.

When was Texas Stadium demolished?

Texas Stadium was demolished on April 11, 2010, by a controlled implosion that brought the structure down in about 25 seconds. It had hosted its final Dallas Cowboys game on December 20, 2008, before the team relocated to AT&T Stadium in Arlington for the 2009 season.

How many Super Bowls did the Cowboys win while playing at Texas Stadium?

The Dallas Cowboys won five Super Bowls during their 37 seasons at Texas Stadium—Super Bowls VI, XII, XXVII, XXVIII, and XXX—along with eight NFC championship titles, making it one of the most trophy-laden home venues in NFL history.

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Over more than five decades, the stadium became a landmark of Denver civic identity. The Denver Broncos called it home from their founding in 1960 through the 2000 season, while the Colorado Rockies set Major League Baseball attendance records within its walls during their inaugural 1993–94 seasons. After the Broncos moved into the new stadium next door, Mile High was demolished between January and April 2002, leaving behind a parking lot and an outsized legacy.

Stats at a Glance

• Primary Tenant: Denver Broncos (AFL/NFL, 1960–2000)
• Other Tenants: Colorado Rockies (MLB, 1993–94), Colorado Rapids (MLS, 1996–2001)
• Location: Denver, Colorado (elevation 5,280 ft)
• Opened: August 14, 1948 (as Bears Stadium)
• Closed: September 8, 2001
• Demolished: January–April 17, 2002
• Peak Capacity: 76,273
• Notable Fact: Hosted Pope John Paul II and the 1969 Denver Pop Festival (feat. Jimi Hendrix)

A Stadium That Grew With Its City

What began as a bare-bones bleacher structure for minor-league baseball was transformed through a series of expansions into a 76,000-seat colossus. The most dramatic change came between 1975 and 1977, when an innovative set of movable lower-deck bleachers — capable of shifting 145 feet on a water-cushion system — allowed the field to be reconfigured between baseball and football layouts. The Broncos’ passionate fanbase packed the stands season after season, and the thin-air altitude at 5,280 feet gave Denver a genuine home-field advantage that opposing teams dreaded.

The stadium’s atmosphere reached its peak during the Broncos’ Super Bowl-era runs of the late 1970s and mid-1980s, when sellout crowds became a permanent fixture. Denver fans were so reliably loud that the stadium’s noise was considered a legitimate competitive factor in AFC West games.

Historic Moments Beyond Football

Mile High Stadium was never just an NFL venue. The Colorado Rockies used it as a temporary home for their first two MLB seasons (1993–94), drawing record-breaking crowds that demonstrated Denver’s appetite for major-league baseball. The 1969 Denver Pop Festival, headlined by Jimi Hendrix, put the stadium on the rock-and-roll map, and subsequent concerts by acts including U2, Metallica, and Guns N’ Roses cemented its reputation as a premier large-scale event venue.

In 1993, Pope John Paul II celebrated an outdoor Mass at Mile High during his visit to Denver for World Youth Day — an event that drew an estimated 375,000 pilgrims to the surrounding area and stands as one of the most significant non-sporting gatherings in Colorado history. The stadium was demolished shortly after the Broncos departed, and the site now serves as parking for Empower Field at Mile High, its purpose-built successor next door.

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Mile High Stadium FAQs

When was Mile High Stadium demolished?

Mile High Stadium was demolished between January and April 17, 2002, after the Denver Broncos played their final game there on December 10, 2000, and the venue officially closed on September 8, 2001.

What was the capacity of Mile High Stadium?

At its peak, Mile High Stadium held 76,273 spectators. It started at roughly 18,000 seats when it opened in 1948 as Bears Stadium and expanded significantly over the following decades.

What teams played at Mile High Stadium?

The Denver Broncos (NFL, 1960–2000) were the primary tenant, but the stadium also hosted the Denver Bears and Denver Zephyrs (minor-league baseball), the Colorado Rockies (MLB, 1993–94), the Colorado Rapids (MLS, 1996–2001), and the Denver Gold of the USFL (1983–85).

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At its peak, RFK held 56,454 fans for football, and its upper deck was legendary for physically swaying when crowds stomped in unison. The stadium hosted the NFL’s Washington Redskins, two MLB franchises — the Senators and later the Nationals — and D.C. United of MLS, while also staging 1994 FIFA World Cup matches, nine 1996 Summer Olympics soccer games, and concerts by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Michael Jackson. D.C. United played their final match there in October 2017, after which the stadium sat vacant until demolition commenced in January 2025.

Stats at a Glance

• Teams: Washington Redskins (NFL, 1961–1996), Washington Senators (MLB, 1962–1971), Washington Nationals (MLB, 2005–2007), D.C. United (MLS, 1996–2017)
• Location: Washington, D.C. (2400 East Capitol Street SE)
• Opened: October 1, 1961
• Original Name: District of Columbia Stadium (1961–1969)
• Peak Capacity: 56,454
• Demolished: January 2025 – early 2026
• Construction Cost: $24 million (1961)

A Pioneer of the Multipurpose Stadium Era

RFK Stadium was conceived as a single venue that could serve multiple sports franchises simultaneously — a radical idea in 1961. Its movable seating sections allowed the field to be reconfigured between baseball and football layouts, spawning the ‘cookie-cutter’ stadium era that defined American sports architecture through the 1970s. The Redskins era produced some of the stadium’s most electric memories: Washington captured three Super Bowl titles (XVII, XXII, and XXVI) during their RFK tenure, and sellout crowds routinely rattled the stadium’s upper deck to its structural limits.

Beyond football and baseball, RFK also served as U.S. soccer’s spiritual home. The stadium hosted group-stage matches during the 1994 FIFA World Cup and nine matches at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games’ soccer tournament. D.C. United won three MLS Cup championships while playing at RFK, cementing the stadium’s unexpected role as a cradle of American soccer.

Final Years and Demolition

After D.C. United relocated to Audi Field in 2018, RFK Stadium entered a long dormancy. A farewell public event was held in September 2019, but the hulking concrete structure sat idle on federal land managed by the National Park Service for years afterward. The path to demolition required an act of Congress to transfer land jurisdiction back to the District of Columbia, which was accomplished in 2024.

Structural demolition began in January 2025, and by early 2026 the main bowl had been brought down. The Washington Commanders — formerly the Redskins — secured approval to build a new 65,000-seat NFL stadium on the same campus, with a targeted opening of 2030. The redevelopment is expected to include parks, mixed-use development, and riverfront access along the Anacostia.

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RFK Stadium FAQs

When did RFK Stadium close, and when was it demolished?

D.C. United played the last professional sports game at RFK Stadium in October 2017. The stadium hosted a public farewell event in September 2019 but otherwise sat vacant. Structural demolition began in January 2025 and was largely complete by early 2026.

What teams played at RFK Stadium?

RFK Stadium was home to the Washington Redskins (NFL, 1961–1996), the Washington Senators (MLB, 1962–1971), the Washington Nationals (MLB, 2005–2007), and D.C. United (MLS, 1996–2017), making it one of the most multi-sport venues in American history.

What will be built on the RFK Stadium site?

The Washington Commanders plan to construct a new 65,000-seat NFL stadium on the RFK campus, with a targeted opening of 2030. The broader redevelopment is also expected to include public green space and mixed-use development along the Anacostia River.

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Over its 34-year history, Giants Stadium hosted far more than professional football. The venue was a key site during the 1994 FIFA World Cup and the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup, welcomed Pope John Paul II for a mass attended by nearly 83,000 people in October 1995, and set its all-time attendance record of 84,467 at a U2 concert in September 2009. After demolition in 2010, MetLife Stadium opened on the same site, carrying the Meadowlands legacy forward.

Stats at a Glance

• Teams: New York Giants (NFL), New York Jets (NFL), New York Cosmos (NASL), New York Red Bulls (MLS)
• Location: East Rutherford, New Jersey
• Opened: October 10, 1976
• Closed: January 3, 2010
• Demolished: February–August 2010
• Capacity: 80,242
• Construction Cost: $78 million (approx. $441 million today)
• Notable Event: 1994 FIFA World Cup host site

A Home for More Than Football

While the New York Giants were the stadium’s original tenants, the New York Jets joined as co-tenants in 1984, making Giants Stadium one of the few NFL venues to simultaneously house two franchises from the same market. The New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League also called the stadium home from 1977 to 1984, and the MetroStars — later the New York Red Bulls — played Major League Soccer there from 1996 until the stadium closed.

The stadium’s versatility extended well beyond team sports. Its selection as a venue for the 1994 FIFA World Cup brought international attention to the Meadowlands, and the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup returned soccer’s global stage to the same turf. Concerts by major artists, including U2’s record-setting 2009 show, underscored the stadium’s status as one of the Northeast’s premier large-scale event venues.

Demolition and the End of an Era

By the late 2000s, Giants Stadium had aged considerably relative to modern NFL standards. It lacked many amenities that newer facilities offered, and both the Giants and Jets agreed to fund a replacement without public subsidy. The final NFL event was played on January 3, 2010, when the Jets defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 37–0. Demolition crews began tearing down the structure on February 4, 2010, completing the work by August of that year.

MetLife Stadium rose adjacent to the original footprint and opened in August 2010, offering 82,500 seats and dramatically updated facilities. Though Giants Stadium is gone, its legacy endures in the Super Bowl championships won by teams that called it home, the World Cup memories made on its field, and the more than 70 million fans who passed through its gates over three-and-a-half decades.

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Giants Stadium FAQs

When did Giants Stadium close and why was it torn down?

Giants Stadium hosted its final event on January 3, 2010. It was demolished because it had aged significantly and lacked modern amenities. The New York Giants and Jets jointly funded a replacement — MetLife Stadium — built adjacent to the old site without public money.

What replaced Giants Stadium?

MetLife Stadium replaced Giants Stadium and opened in August 2010 on the same Meadowlands site in East Rutherford, New Jersey. It seats about 82,500 fans and continues to serve as the shared home of the New York Giants and New York Jets.

Which teams played at Giants Stadium?

The New York Giants (NFL) were the original tenants from 1976. The New York Jets joined as co-tenants in 1984. The New York Cosmos (NASL) played there from 1977 to 1984, and the MetroStars — later the New York Red Bulls — used the stadium from 1996 to 2009.

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Beyond baseball, Shea Stadium became a cultural landmark. The New York Jets called it home from 1964 to 1983, and the New York Yankees temporarily played there in 1974–75 while Yankee Stadium was being renovated. Its greatest claim to pop-culture immortality came in August 1965, when The Beatles performed the first large-scale outdoor rock concert ever held in a stadium—a moment that redefined live music. The stadium was demolished between October 2008 and February 2009 to make way for additional parking for the adjacent Citi Field.

Stats at a Glance

• Location: Flushing, Queens, New York City
• Opened: April 17, 1964
• Closed: September 28, 2008
• Demolished: October 14, 2008 – February 18, 2009
• Baseball Capacity: 57,333
• Football Capacity: 60,372
• Primary Tenant: New York Mets (MLB, 1964–2008)
• Construction Cost: $28.5 million

Championships and Legendary Moments

Shea Stadium served as the stage for some of baseball’s most dramatic moments. The Mets won the World Series in 1969—the miracle ‘Amazin’ Mets’—and again in 1986, both times clinching at Shea. The stadium also hosted the 1964 MLB All-Star Game and four World Series appearances in total (1969, 1973, 1986, and 2000). Off the diamond, it welcomed Pope John Paul II in October 1979 and a string of legendary concerts, culminating in Billy Joel’s emotional ‘Last Play at Shea’ farewell shows in July 2008.

The End of an Era

As the Mets’ new home, Citi Field, rose just beyond the outfield fence, Shea Stadium’s fate was sealed. The final regular-season game was played against the Florida Marlins on September 28, 2008, with former Mets players participating in a tearful post-game ceremony. Demolition began just two weeks later and was completed by February 2009. The site was converted into parking lots serving Citi Field, though a replica of the iconic ‘Home Run Apple’ was preserved and displayed outside the new ballpark as a tribute to Shea’s legacy.

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Shea Stadium FAQs

When did Shea Stadium open and close?

Shea Stadium opened on April 17, 1964, and hosted its final game on September 28, 2008. It was demolished between October 2008 and February 2009.

Which teams played at Shea Stadium?

The New York Mets (MLB) were the primary tenant from 1964 to 2008. The New York Jets (AFL/NFL) played there from 1964 to 1983, and the New York Yankees used it temporarily in 1974–75 during Yankee Stadium renovations.

Why are The Beatles associated with Shea Stadium?

On August 15, 1965, The Beatles performed at Shea Stadium before a crowd of about 55,600 fans—widely regarded as the first major outdoor stadium rock concert in history, a milestone that transformed live music forever.

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