Built as a multi-purpose stadium, it was the home park of Major League Baseball's New York Mets for 45 seasons as well as the New York Jets football team from 1964 to 1983. The venue was named in honor of William Shea, the man who was most responsible for bringing National League baseball back to New York after the Dodgers and Giants left for California in 1957.
west coast in 1958, which left New York without a National League baseball team for the next four years. Prior to the Dodgers' departure, New York City official Robert Moses tried to interest owner Walter O'Malley in the site as the location for a new stadium, but O'Malley refused, unable to agree on location, ownership, and lease terms.
This was very common for ballparks built during the 1960s, in part due to the need to accommodate the larger football field.
The 1960s-style decorations were removed in 1980.
had to personally wire all National League owners and assure them that the city would build a stadium. On October 6, 1961, the Mets signed a 30-year stadium lease, with an option for a 10-year renewal.
Rent for what was originally budgeted as a $9 million facility was set at $450,000 annually, with a reduction of $20,000 each year until it reached $300,000 annually. In their inaugural season in 1962, the expansion Mets played in the Polo Grounds, with original plans to move to a new stadium in 1963.
In October 1962, Mets official Tom Meany said, "Only a series of blizzards or some other unforeseen trouble might hamper construction." That unforeseen trouble surfaced in a number of ways: the severe winter of 1962–1963, along with the bankruptcies of two subcontractors and labor issues.
Rent for what was originally budgeted as a $9 million facility was set at $450,000 annually, with a reduction of $20,000 each year until it reached $300,000 annually. In their inaugural season in 1962, the expansion Mets played in the Polo Grounds, with original plans to move to a new stadium in 1963.
Built as a multi-purpose stadium, it was the home park of Major League Baseball's New York Mets for 45 seasons as well as the New York Jets football team from 1964 to 1983. The venue was named in honor of William Shea, the man who was most responsible for bringing National League baseball back to New York after the Dodgers and Giants left for California in 1957.
The stadium opened five days before the 1964-65 New York World's Fair, across Roosevelt Avenue.
The game was eventually completed on September 16, with the Cubs winning 5–2. ===Boxing=== Shea Stadium held boxing matches in the mid-1960s. ===Football=== The New York Jets of the American Football League and later, the National Football League played at Shea for 20 seasons, from 1964 through 1983 (excluding their first home game in 1977, played at Giants Stadium).
The Giants played their final five home games of 1973 and all seven in 1974 at the Yale Bowl in New Haven, Connecticut; Yankee Stadium was closed in October 1973 for a massive renovation, which was completed in time for the 1976 baseball season. On the night of October 9, 1965, Shea Stadium hosted the football rivalry between Army and Notre Dame for the first and only time.
In March 1965, a plan was formally announced to add a glass dome and add 15,000 seats.
The Fighting Irish blanked the Cadets, 17–0, beginning a 15-game winning streak for Notre Dame in the storied series. In 1966, the Brooklyn Dodgers of the minor Continental Football League unsuccessfully sued the Jets in an attempt to use the stadium; the team wound up playing on Randall's Island and soon folded.
Nevertheless, it was the first concert to be held at a major stadium and set records for attendance and revenue generation, demonstrating that outdoor concerts on a large scale could be successful and profitable, and led the Beatles to return to Shea for a successful encore on August 23, 1966.
The stadium hosted three Jets playoff games: the American Football League Championship in 1968 (defeating the Oakland Raiders, 27–23), an AFL Divisional Playoff in 1969 (a 13–6 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs) and the 1981 AFC Wild Card Playoff game (lost 31–27 to the Buffalo Bills). For most of the Jets' tenure at Shea, they were burdened by onerous lease terms imposed at the insistence of the Mets.
On the plus side, Shea always used a natural grass surface, in contrast to other multi-purpose stadiums such as Three Rivers Stadium, Veterans Stadium, and Riverfront Stadium, which were built in the same era and style and had artificial turf. Shea Stadium hosted postseason baseball in 1969, 1973, 1986, 1988, 1999, 2000, and 2006; it hosted the World Series in , , , and .
It had the distinction of being the home of the 1969 "Miracle Mets"— led by former Brooklyn Dodger Gil Hodges that defied 100–1 odds and won the World Series, after seven straight seasons in last or next-to-last place.
The spot was marked with a sign featuring Agee's number 20 and the date, which was April 10, 1969.
The Mets won both their World Series titles at Shea Stadium (in Game 5 in 1969, and Game 7 in 1986). The New York Yankees played their home games in Shea Stadium during the 1974 and 1975 seasons while Yankee Stadium was being renovated.
The stadium hosted three Jets playoff games: the American Football League Championship in 1968 (defeating the Oakland Raiders, 27–23), an AFL Divisional Playoff in 1969 (a 13–6 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs) and the 1981 AFC Wild Card Playoff game (lost 31–27 to the Buffalo Bills). For most of the Jets' tenure at Shea, they were burdened by onerous lease terms imposed at the insistence of the Mets.
For instance, in 1969, the defending Super Bowl champion Jets didn't play a home game until October 20 due to the Mets advancing to (and winning) the World Series.
As a result, the 1969 Jets opened with five consecutive road games, and then played all seven home games in consecutive weeks before closing with two road games.
The 1986 mural was removed after the 2006 season because of deterioration (the wall was re-painted solid blue, and a window was opened on the mezzanine level where fans could view the progress of Citi Field), but the 1969 mural survived until the final game at the end of . With its refurbishment in 1988, the scoreboard was topped by a representation of the New York Skyline, a prominent part of the team logo.
The stadium was also not well maintained in the 1970s.
The attendance record stood until 1973 when it was broken by Led Zeppelin with 56,800 fans at Tampa Stadium. The next major music event to play Shea Stadium after the Beatles' successful appearances was the Summer Festival for Peace on August 6, 1970.
In 1980, it hosted a simulcast of the first fight between Roberto Duran and Sugar Ray Leonard, won by Duran. From 1970 to 1987, the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL) played its annual all-star game at various major league stadiums.
These panels can be seen in the 1970s movie The Wiz, which used the exterior pedestrian ramps for a motorcycle chase scene with Michael Jackson and Diana Ross.
It came in the second inning, and Agee hit another in the seventh over the center field wall; both solo shots were off of Montreal Expos starter Larry Jaster, and the Mets In 1971, Dave Kingman – then with the San Francisco Giants and later to play for the Mets on two occasions – hit a home run that smashed off the windshield of the Giants' team bus, parked behind the left field bullpen. For many years, the Mets' theme song, "Meet the Mets", was played at Shea before every home game.
It was a day-long fundraiser, which featured many of the era's biggest-selling and seminal rock, folk, blues and jazz performers including: Janis Joplin, Paul Simon, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Steppenwolf, The James Gang, Miles Davis, Tom Paxton, John Sebastian, and others. The next music show at Shea Stadium was the historic concert by Grand Funk Railroad in 1971, which broke the Beatles' then-record for fastest ticket sales.
Both suffered serious head injuries; Rourke survived but Bowen died four days later. Between 1972 and 1980, Shea also hosted a Showdown at Shea event three separate times, by the then World Wrestling Federation.
On the plus side, Shea always used a natural grass surface, in contrast to other multi-purpose stadiums such as Three Rivers Stadium, Veterans Stadium, and Riverfront Stadium, which were built in the same era and style and had artificial turf. Shea Stadium hosted postseason baseball in 1969, 1973, 1986, 1988, 1999, 2000, and 2006; it hosted the World Series in , , , and .
Jets". It was at Shea Stadium on December 16, 1973, that O.J.
The Giants played their final five home games of 1973 and all seven in 1974 at the Yale Bowl in New Haven, Connecticut; Yankee Stadium was closed in October 1973 for a massive renovation, which was completed in time for the 1976 baseball season. On the night of October 9, 1965, Shea Stadium hosted the football rivalry between Army and Notre Dame for the first and only time.
The attendance record stood until 1973 when it was broken by Led Zeppelin with 56,800 fans at Tampa Stadium. The next major music event to play Shea Stadium after the Beatles' successful appearances was the Summer Festival for Peace on August 6, 1970.
The Mets won both their World Series titles at Shea Stadium (in Game 5 in 1969, and Game 7 in 1986). The New York Yankees played their home games in Shea Stadium during the 1974 and 1975 seasons while Yankee Stadium was being renovated.
The Giants played their final five home games of 1973 and all seven in 1974 at the Yale Bowl in New Haven, Connecticut; Yankee Stadium was closed in October 1973 for a massive renovation, which was completed in time for the 1976 baseball season. On the night of October 9, 1965, Shea Stadium hosted the football rivalry between Army and Notre Dame for the first and only time.
In 1974, the New York Stars of the nascent World Football League also made inquiries to play at Shea, whose schedule was already overcrowded by the Mets, Jets and Yankees (and the following year, the Giants; see below).
The Mets won both their World Series titles at Shea Stadium (in Game 5 in 1969, and Game 7 in 1986). The New York Yankees played their home games in Shea Stadium during the 1974 and 1975 seasons while Yankee Stadium was being renovated.
In the 1983 season, a Jets game against the Los Angeles Rams featured an 85-yard touchdown run by rookie Eric Dickerson, as well as a brawl between Rams offensive tackle Jackie Slater and Jets defensive end Mark Gastineau when Slater blindsided Gastineau after the Jet performed his infamous "Sack Dance" over fallen Rams quarterback Vince Ferragamo. The NFL's New York Giants played their 1975 season at Shea while Giants Stadium was being built.
The Giants played their final five home games of 1973 and all seven in 1974 at the Yale Bowl in New Haven, Connecticut; Yankee Stadium was closed in October 1973 for a massive renovation, which was completed in time for the 1976 baseball season. On the night of October 9, 1965, Shea Stadium hosted the football rivalry between Army and Notre Dame for the first and only time.
The same filmmakers for the documentary of the Rolling Stones concert at Altamont were commissioned to film it, but to date, a final film has not been released. The stadium subsequently hosted numerous concerts, including Jethro Tull with opening act Robin Trower in July 1976 (billed as Tull v.
The Mets won the game 1–0 in the bottom of the 14th inning. During the 1977 New York City blackout the stadium was plunged into darkness at approximately 9:30 p.m.
The game was eventually completed on September 16, with the Cubs winning 5–2. ===Boxing=== Shea Stadium held boxing matches in the mid-1960s. ===Football=== The New York Jets of the American Football League and later, the National Football League played at Shea for 20 seasons, from 1964 through 1983 (excluding their first home game in 1977, played at Giants Stadium).
Until 1978, the Jets could not play their first home game until the Mets' season was finished.
Even after 1978, the Mets' status as Shea's primary tenants would require the Jets to go on long road trips (switching Shea from baseball to football configuration was a complex process involving electrical, plumbing, field, and other similar work).
The concert was the subject of a documentary film of the same name, which is used along with Shea's history to tell the story of changes in American suburban life. ===Other events=== The 1978 International Convention of Jehovah's Witnesses was held at Shea Stadium from July 12 to July 16, 1978. During his tour of America in October 1979, Pope John Paul II was also among those hosted by Shea Stadium.
In 1978, Manager Joe Torre suggested moving in the fences to in the corners with a wall in front of the original brick wall, to decrease the number of disputed calls. Originally, all of the seats were wooden, with each level having a different color.
The concert was the subject of a documentary film of the same name, which is used along with Shea's history to tell the story of changes in American suburban life. ===Other events=== The 1978 International Convention of Jehovah's Witnesses was held at Shea Stadium from July 12 to July 16, 1978. During his tour of America in October 1979, Pope John Paul II was also among those hosted by Shea Stadium.
But as the Popemobile entered the stadium, the rain stopped although the deep mud remained. On December 9, 1979, as part of the halftime show of a National Football League game between the New York Jets and New England Patriots, a model airplane group put on a remote control airplane display.
The panels were removed in 1980. ===Demolition=== In accordance with New York City law, in 2009 Shea Stadium was dismantled, rather than imploded.
Both suffered serious head injuries; Rourke survived but Bowen died four days later. Between 1972 and 1980, Shea also hosted a Showdown at Shea event three separate times, by the then World Wrestling Federation.
In 1980, it hosted a simulcast of the first fight between Roberto Duran and Sugar Ray Leonard, won by Duran. From 1970 to 1987, the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL) played its annual all-star game at various major league stadiums.
The 1960s-style decorations were removed in 1980.
Before the 1980 baseball season, they were replaced with red (upper deck), green (mezzanine), blue (loge), and orange (field level) plastic seats. Unlike Yankee Stadium, Shea was built on an open field, so there was no need to have it conform to the surrounding streets. Before Shea Stadium closed in 2008, it was the only stadium in the major leagues with orange foul poles.
It was first installed in May 1980 as a symbol of the Mets' advertising slogan "The Magic Is Back!" (the hat originally said "Mets Magic" in script but was changed in the mid-1980s to a simple "Home Run" in block capital letters).
The stadium hosted three Jets playoff games: the American Football League Championship in 1968 (defeating the Oakland Raiders, 27–23), an AFL Divisional Playoff in 1969 (a 13–6 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs) and the 1981 AFC Wild Card Playoff game (lost 31–27 to the Buffalo Bills). For most of the Jets' tenure at Shea, they were burdened by onerous lease terms imposed at the insistence of the Mets.
Boeing because of the proximity to LaGuardia Airport), The Who with opening act The Clash in October 1982, and Simon & Garfunkel in August 1983.
The 1982 and 1986 games were played at Shea.
In 1982, a new Mitsubishi DiamondVision screen was installed in left field.
Built as a multi-purpose stadium, it was the home park of Major League Baseball's New York Mets for 45 seasons as well as the New York Jets football team from 1964 to 1983. The venue was named in honor of William Shea, the man who was most responsible for bringing National League baseball back to New York after the Dodgers and Giants left for California in 1957.
The game was eventually completed on September 16, with the Cubs winning 5–2. ===Boxing=== Shea Stadium held boxing matches in the mid-1960s. ===Football=== The New York Jets of the American Football League and later, the National Football League played at Shea for 20 seasons, from 1964 through 1983 (excluding their first home game in 1977, played at Giants Stadium).
Fans ripped apart Shea after the last game of the 1983 season, which also was the last game for Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw, who threw two touchdown passes to lead the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 34–7 victory.
In the 1983 season, a Jets game against the Los Angeles Rams featured an 85-yard touchdown run by rookie Eric Dickerson, as well as a brawl between Rams offensive tackle Jackie Slater and Jets defensive end Mark Gastineau when Slater blindsided Gastineau after the Jet performed his infamous "Sack Dance" over fallen Rams quarterback Vince Ferragamo. The NFL's New York Giants played their 1975 season at Shea while Giants Stadium was being built.
Boeing because of the proximity to LaGuardia Airport), The Who with opening act The Clash in October 1982, and Simon & Garfunkel in August 1983.
On August 18, 1983, The Police played in front of 70,000 fans at Shea, a concert that the band's singer and bassist Sting described as "like playing the top of Everest", and announced near the end of the concert: "We'd like to thank the Beatles for lending us their stadium." The Rolling Stones performed at Shea for a six-night run in October 1989, and Elton John and Eric Clapton played a concert in August 1992.
Giants Stadium), after the Jets left Flushing Meadows for New Jersey following the 1983 NFL season.
The Jets moved to Giants Stadium for the 1984 season, enticed by the more than 15,000 additional seats there.
After the New York Jets football team moved to Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey in 1984, the Mets took over operation of the stadium and retrofitted it for exclusive baseball use.
On the plus side, Shea always used a natural grass surface, in contrast to other multi-purpose stadiums such as Three Rivers Stadium, Veterans Stadium, and Riverfront Stadium, which were built in the same era and style and had artificial turf. Shea Stadium hosted postseason baseball in 1969, 1973, 1986, 1988, 1999, 2000, and 2006; it hosted the World Series in , , , and .
The Mets won both their World Series titles at Shea Stadium (in Game 5 in 1969, and Game 7 in 1986). The New York Yankees played their home games in Shea Stadium during the 1974 and 1975 seasons while Yankee Stadium was being renovated.
The 1982 and 1986 games were played at Shea.
The 1986 contest starred game MVP and future Cincinnati Reds all-star pitcher Jack Armstrong. In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, the stadium became a staging area for rescuers, its parking lots filled with food, water, medical supplies, even makeshift shelters where relief workers could sleep.
The stadium boasted 54 restrooms, 21 escalators, seats for 57,343 fans (although as seating configuration changed constantly over the life of the stadium, that number varied often, dropping to 55,601 by the 1986 World Series, and then increased again over following years to between approximately 56,000 and 57,000, until its closing), and a massive 86' x 175' scoreboard.
The 1986 mural was removed after the 2006 season because of deterioration (the wall was re-painted solid blue, and a window was opened on the mezzanine level where fans could view the progress of Citi Field), but the 1969 mural survived until the final game at the end of . With its refurbishment in 1988, the scoreboard was topped by a representation of the New York Skyline, a prominent part of the team logo.
In 1980, it hosted a simulcast of the first fight between Roberto Duran and Sugar Ray Leonard, won by Duran. From 1970 to 1987, the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL) played its annual all-star game at various major league stadiums.
The plaques feature engravings of the neon baseball players that graced the exterior of the stadium from 1988 onward. ===Redevelopment=== On October 9, 2013, the New York City Council approved a plan to build a mall and entertainment center called Willets West in the Citi Field parking lot where Shea Stadium stood, as part of an effort by the city to redevelop the nearby neighborhood of Willets Point.
On the plus side, Shea always used a natural grass surface, in contrast to other multi-purpose stadiums such as Three Rivers Stadium, Veterans Stadium, and Riverfront Stadium, which were built in the same era and style and had artificial turf. Shea Stadium hosted postseason baseball in 1969, 1973, 1986, 1988, 1999, 2000, and 2006; it hosted the World Series in , , , and .
As part of the refitting, Shea Stadium's exterior was painted blue and neon signs of baseball player silhouettes were added to the windscreens prior to the 1988 season.
The 1986 mural was removed after the 2006 season because of deterioration (the wall was re-painted solid blue, and a window was opened on the mezzanine level where fans could view the progress of Citi Field), but the 1969 mural survived until the final game at the end of . With its refurbishment in 1988, the scoreboard was topped by a representation of the New York Skyline, a prominent part of the team logo.
On August 18, 1983, The Police played in front of 70,000 fans at Shea, a concert that the band's singer and bassist Sting described as "like playing the top of Everest", and announced near the end of the concert: "We'd like to thank the Beatles for lending us their stadium." The Rolling Stones performed at Shea for a six-night run in October 1989, and Elton John and Eric Clapton played a concert in August 1992.
On August 18, 1983, The Police played in front of 70,000 fans at Shea, a concert that the band's singer and bassist Sting described as "like playing the top of Everest", and announced near the end of the concert: "We'd like to thank the Beatles for lending us their stadium." The Rolling Stones performed at Shea for a six-night run in October 1989, and Elton John and Eric Clapton played a concert in August 1992.
However, when the city stepped in to pay for renovating Yankee Stadium, the Mets had little choice but to agree to share Shea with the Yankees. On the afternoon of April 15, 1998, the Yankees also played one home game at Shea, against the Anaheim Angels after a beam collapsed at Yankee Stadium two days before, destroying several rows of seats.
Stadium operators partially raised the Mets' home run apple signal before lowering it back down, to the delight of the crowd. Shea Stadium also hosted the first extra-inning regular season baseball opener played in New York, on March 31, 1998, when the Mets opened their season against their rival Philadelphia Phillies, playing the longest scoreless opening day game in the National League and the longest one in Major League Baseball since .
On the plus side, Shea always used a natural grass surface, in contrast to other multi-purpose stadiums such as Three Rivers Stadium, Veterans Stadium, and Riverfront Stadium, which were built in the same era and style and had artificial turf. Shea Stadium hosted postseason baseball in 1969, 1973, 1986, 1988, 1999, 2000, and 2006; it hosted the World Series in , , , and .
On the plus side, Shea always used a natural grass surface, in contrast to other multi-purpose stadiums such as Three Rivers Stadium, Veterans Stadium, and Riverfront Stadium, which were built in the same era and style and had artificial turf. Shea Stadium hosted postseason baseball in 1969, 1973, 1986, 1988, 1999, 2000, and 2006; it hosted the World Series in , , , and .
In the latter film, the exterior pedestrian ramps were used for a motorcycle chase scene with Michael Jackson and Diana Ross. A scene in the 2002 movie Two Weeks Notice takes place at Shea. In Men in Black, a Mets game at Shea was featured in the film, with outfielder Bernard Gilkey dropping a fly ball after being distracted by an alien spacecraft in the sky.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band ended The Rising Tour with three concerts at Shea in early October 2003, with Bob Dylan making a special guest appearance at the final show to perform "Forever Young" with Springsteen. The last concert event was a two-night engagement by Billy Joel on July 16 and July 18, 2008.
This tradition is carried on at Citi Field as the foul poles there are the same color. After the Jets left Shea, the exterior of the stadium was painted blue and white, two of the Mets' team colors. In 2003, large murals celebrating the Mets' two world championships were added, covering the two ends of the grandstand.
Jane Jarvis, a local jazz artist, played the popular songs on the Thomas organ at Mets games for many years at the stadium. On October 3, 2004, it was the venue for the last game in the history of the Montreal Expos, and the Mets won Montreal's major league story ended where it had started 35 years earlier: at Shea Stadium.
On the plus side, Shea always used a natural grass surface, in contrast to other multi-purpose stadiums such as Three Rivers Stadium, Veterans Stadium, and Riverfront Stadium, which were built in the same era and style and had artificial turf. Shea Stadium hosted postseason baseball in 1969, 1973, 1986, 1988, 1999, 2000, and 2006; it hosted the World Series in , , , and .
The 1986 mural was removed after the 2006 season because of deterioration (the wall was re-painted solid blue, and a window was opened on the mezzanine level where fans could view the progress of Citi Field), but the 1969 mural survived until the final game at the end of . With its refurbishment in 1988, the scoreboard was topped by a representation of the New York Skyline, a prominent part of the team logo.
The seats were the first ($869 per pair plus tax, a combination of '86 and '69, the team's two World Series championship years), followed by other memorabilia such as the foul poles, dugouts, stadium signage, and the giant letters that spelled out "SHEA" at the front of the building. After salvaging operations concluded, demolition of the ballpark began on October 14, 2008.
and became the Nationals. The last game played at Shea Stadium was a loss to the Florida Marlins on September 28, 2008.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band ended The Rising Tour with three concerts at Shea in early October 2003, with Bob Dylan making a special guest appearance at the final show to perform "Forever Young" with Springsteen. The last concert event was a two-night engagement by Billy Joel on July 16 and July 18, 2008.
Before the 1980 baseball season, they were replaced with red (upper deck), green (mezzanine), blue (loge), and orange (field level) plastic seats. Unlike Yankee Stadium, Shea was built on an open field, so there was no need to have it conform to the surrounding streets. Before Shea Stadium closed in 2008, it was the only stadium in the major leagues with orange foul poles.
It was demolished in 2009 to create additional parking for the adjacent Citi Field, Shea's replacement and the current home of the Mets. ==History== ===Planning and construction=== The origins of Shea Stadium go back to the Brooklyn Dodgers' and the New York Giants' relocations to the U.S.
The panels were removed in 1980. ===Demolition=== In accordance with New York City law, in 2009 Shea Stadium was dismantled, rather than imploded.
The plaques feature engravings of the neon baseball players that graced the exterior of the stadium from 1988 onward. ===Redevelopment=== On October 9, 2013, the New York City Council approved a plan to build a mall and entertainment center called Willets West in the Citi Field parking lot where Shea Stadium stood, as part of an effort by the city to redevelop the nearby neighborhood of Willets Point.
All text is taken from Wikipedia. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License .
Page generated on 2021-08-05