Giants Stadium, part of the The Meadowlands Sports and Entertainment Complex, is a multi-purpose stadium, used for sporting events and concerts. It is the home stadium of the NFL's New York Giants and New York Jets.
Construction
After signing a 30 year lease for a new stadium in August 1971, construction began the following year on Giants Stadium. Construction continued over the following four years, until Giants Stadium opened on October 10, 1976.
Giants and Jets, oh my!
During the first few seasons, the New York Giants were the only team to play at the stadium full time. In 1984, the New York Jets left Shea Stadium and moved in with the Giants, to share the stadium.
Soccer joins the mix
From 1977 to 1985, the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League used Giants Stadium as their home turf. In 1996, the Major League Soccer team Red Bull New York joined the Giants and the Jets, playing their home games there. The MLS team will be moving to a new stadium in 2009, Red Bull Park.
Urban legends
Many speculate that the former Teamsters union leader Jimmy Hoffa may be buried in one of the end zones of the field. The end zones have never been dug up to either prove or refute this theory.
New Meadowlands Stadium
In 2005 it was announced that there would be a new stadium constructed near The Meadowlands. Construction began on September 5, 2007, and is expected to open in 2010. On February 4, 2010, demolition of the old stadium began.
Fast Facts:
- Location: 50 Route 120 East Rutherford, New Jersey 07073
- Broke ground: 1972
- Opened: 1976
- Owner: New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority
- Surface: FieldTurf
- Capacity: 80,242
Giants Stadium Timeline
1972: Giants Stadium breaks ground
1976: Giants Stadium opens
1984: New York Jets become co-tenants with the Giants
1994: Nine FIFA World Cup games held at Giants Stadium
1995: Largest crowd to ever attend Giants Stadium (82,948) as Pope John Paul II celebrates Mass
2003: Surface changed to FieldTurf
2005: New stadium announced to replace Giants Stadium in 2010
