| New
York Jets - Giants Stadium |
| Address: |
50 State Route 120
East Rutherford, NJ 7073 |
|
| Name: |
Giants Stadium |
| Home Team:
|
New York Jets |
| Capacity:
|
7,9469 |
| Playing
Surface: |
Grass |
| Year Opened:
|
1976 |
|
In the late 1960’s, after
playing at Yankee Stadium for many years, a local sportswriter
proposed an idea for a new sports complex that would include
a football stadium. The New York Giants immediately became interested
in getting this idea to become a reality. The team was tired
of playing in run down Yankee Stadium, which they shared with
the New York Yankees (MLB), and was built primarily for baseball.
In August 1971, the Giants signed a 30 year lease for the new
stadium. Built in the Meadowlands, across from New York City
in New Jersey, construction started on the stadium in 1972.
Originally scheduled to be completed by 1975, several obstacles
forced the opening of the stadium to be pushed back by a year.
Named after the team, Giants
Stadium opened on October 10, 1976. Over 77,000 seats in three
tiers circle the entire playing field. Two scoreboard/video-boards
are located above the upper deck beyond both end zones. The
Giants were the primary tenant at the stadium until 1984,
when the New York Jets moved from Shea Stadium to the stadium.
The Jets move to Giants Stadium was not a very wise decision
by the team during their first several seasons. During many
Jets games, the stands were half empty, and the stadium did
not have many things to make it look like the Jets home.
Prior to the 2000 season, Giants Stadium
had an Astroturf field, but after the 1999 season, the Astroturf
was ripped up and replaced with grass. However after the 2002
season the grass field was replaced with Fieldturf. Giants
Stadium has over 70 luxury suites, and also has a restaurant
that can seat 2,000 people. Giants Stadium is also the host
to many concerts, the NY/NJ Metro Stars (MLS), and many other
events. Currently, many Giants and Jets games sellout on a
regular basis. The Jets would like to have their own stadium
built by the time their lease runs out at Giants Stadium in
2008.
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