161st St - Yankee Stadium

161st Street - Yankee Stadium is the dedicated subway stop for one of the most famous sports franchises in American history. The New York Yankees - 27 World Series titles, the most in baseball - play their home games at the current Yankee Stadium, which opened in 2009 directly across the street from the station exit. On game days, the streets around the station fill with vendors, fans and the particular electricity that surrounds a major league baseball event. Even for visitors with no particular interest in baseball, the stadium is impressive from the outside, and tours run daily when the team is away.

The surrounding South Bronx neighbourhood contains more than just the stadium. The Grand Concourse - the wide boulevard running south from 161st Street - is lined with some of the finest Art Deco residential architecture in New York, built in the 1920s and 1930s when the Bronx was a prosperous middle-class community. The Bronx Museum of the Arts is nearby and presents contemporary art with a focus on the borough's cultural communities.

Station Overview

161st Street - Yankee Stadium sits in Zone 3 and first opened in 1918. Three lines serve the station: the 4, B and D trains. The station is fully accessible. Facilities include toilets, ATMs, shops and an information booth.

Lines and Connectivity

The 4 train is an express that runs from the South Bronx through the entire length of Manhattan on Lexington Avenue, reaching Grand Central in about 18 minutes and Fulton Street in about 25. The B and D trains run along the Sixth Avenue line in Manhattan, stopping at Rockefeller Center and 34th Street, and reaching the Upper West Side. These three lines between them cover a substantial portion of the subway system, making Yankee Stadium reasonably accessible from all parts of Manhattan.

Station Layout and Facilities

The station is elevated above street level - one of the relatively few above-ground stations in the Bronx section of the network, which gives good views of the surrounding neighbourhood from the platforms. The Yankee Stadium sits directly across River Avenue from the main exit. On game days, the area around the station is heavily managed by police and stadium staff - follow the crowd flow and the signs. Toilets, ATMs and shops are available in and around the station.

Travel Tips

• For Yankees games, arrive at least 45 minutes before first pitch. The B and D trains are often less crowded than the 4 train for game-day travel.
• Yankee Stadium tours (when the team is on the road) are excellent and worth taking even without a game interest - the Monument Park section contains plaques to every Yankees legend.
• Walk south along the Grand Concourse from 161st Street for two or three blocks to appreciate the Art Deco apartment buildings - a largely overlooked piece of New York architectural history.
• The Bronx Museum of the Arts on the Grand Concourse is free and has a strong collection of contemporary art focused on Bronx and diaspora artists.

Nearby Attractions

Yankee Stadium - directly across the street. 50,000-seat home of the New York Yankees, open for games from April through October (and potentially into November during the playoffs). Stadium tours run on non-game days.

Grand Concourse Art Deco district - 5 minutes on foot south. The Grand Concourse between 153rd and 167th Streets has some of the most impressive Art Deco residential buildings in New York, constructed in the late 1920s and 1930s. A free architectural walking tour is a worthwhile afternoon activity.

Bronx Museum of the Arts - 5 minutes on foot south. Free admission, with a programme of contemporary art exhibitions focused on Bronx, Latino, Asian and African-American artists.

Timings and Best Time to Travel

The 4 train runs 24 hours; the B and D run during standard service hours without overnight service. On game days, the station and surrounding streets are busy for two hours before first pitch and for 45 minutes to an hour after the final out. If you want to visit the Grand Concourse architecture or the Bronx Museum, a weekday morning visit avoids any game-day crowds entirely and gives a more authentic feel for the neighbourhood.