Army Adds Three More "Home" Games At Yankee Stadium

July 22, 2009 by CFP Staff and Army Athletic Communications

Playing football games at the original Yankee Stadium was a staple of the Army football program throughout much of the last century. The Black Knights will be returning to their New York City heritage in the near future as Army has agreed to play three of its home games at the new Yankee Stadium in the years ahead, it was announced on Wednesday by Army Director of Athletics Kevin Anderson and New York Yankees Chief Operating Officer Lonn Trost at a Yankee Stadium press conference.

The "Army at Yankee Stadium Series" will include games against Rutgers on Nov. 12, 2011, Air Force on Nov. 3, 2012, and Boston College on Nov. 8, 2014. Army will serve as the home team for all three contests, with CBS College Sports Network televising the games to a national audience.

"Playing football games at Yankee Stadium was a big part of Army's football history from the 1920s through the 1960s," said Anderson. "This exciting partnership with the Yankees allows the Army program to harken back to its past. Our fans will enjoy the state-of-the-art amenities offered by the new Yankee Stadium and will provide an unforgettable experience for our fans, players and the Corps of Cadets. We feel that being associated with a world-class organization like the Yankees will help carry our marketing and branding efforts to new heights.

"I can't thank the Steinbrenner family enough for providing us with the opportunity to make Yankee Stadium Army's home away from home. Teaming with the country's premier professional sports franchise is very exciting to everyone at West Point. The U.S. Military Academy and the New York Yankees have long shared a tremendous partnership. Today's announcement will only strengthen that bond."

Army teams played at the original Yankee Stadium on 38 occasions from 1925 to 1969. Notre Dame ranked as the Black Knights' most common opponent during that span with Army battling the Fighting Irish 22 times over that time. The long-standing tradition of Army-Notre Dame games at Yankee Stadium will also be renewed on Nov. 20, 2010, when the Black Knights and Fighting Irish clash in the schools' 50th matchup. That agreement was announced earlier this week and remains independent of the "Army at Yankee Stadium Series" announced today.

"When constructing Yankee Stadium, it was important that it serve as a viable venue for hosting multiple sporting events," said Trost.  "We felt it was a natural fit that we carry the storied tradition of Army football at Yankee Stadium from the original Stadium to our new home."

The Black Knights and Fighting Irish squared off at the original Yankee Stadium each year from 1925 to 1929, and from 1931 to 1946. The teams met for the final time at Yankee Stadium in 1969 (helping to commemorate the 100th anniversary of college football). Notre Dame holds a 14-5-3 series advantage against Army in games played at the original Yankee Stadium. Overall, the Black Knights posted a 14-19-5 mark at Yankee Stadium.

Army and Air Force began their series matchup with a Yankee Stadium encounter in 1959, while the Black Knights have never faced Rutgers or Boston College in the Bronx.

In addition to battling Notre Dame at the original Yankee Stadium on 22 occasions, Army stood 2-0 against both Michigan and Navy; 1-0-1 versus Illinois; 1-1 against Stanford and Syracuse; 1-0 versus Columbia and Princeton; 0-0-1 opposite Air Force; and 0-1 against Southern California, Oklahoma and Pittsburgh.

Coupled with Monday's announcement that Army and Notre Dame will play at Yankee Stadium next fall, the Black Knights are slated to play four games at Yankee Stadium over the next five years.