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Writer's pictureIngram Arizmendi

Game Day Access: A Wheelchair User’s Guide to Yankee Stadium

Yankee Stadium is an iconic venue that brings fans from all over to experience the thrill of Major League Baseball games. For wheelchair users, getting to and navigating the stadium can be quite manageable with the right information. Luckily, the trip to Yankee Stadium is made easier by New York City's subway system, which is largely wheelchair accessible. Both Grand Central Station and the Yankee E. 153rd Street subway station offer ramps and elevators to assist wheelchair users. The subway also has dedicated spots for wheelchair users, ensuring that you're not only able to board but also travel in comfort.


From the Yankee E. 153rd Street station, it’s a short but accessible walk to the stadium. Once you arrive, Yankee Stadium staff are attentive and helpful, often escorting guests with wheelchairs and their families as close to the front of the line as possible. This thoughtful service can make the entrance process seamless, especially on busy game days.


Inside the stadium, the staff continues to offer excellent assistance. Although elevators can be tricky to locate in the bustling venue, the service ramp is always an option, providing an easy way to get to different levels. The seats for wheelchair users are spacious and accessible, and they offer great views of the action on the field. After the game, the return trip to the subway is just as simple, with easy access back to the station and subway spots reserved for wheelchairs.


Personal Experience

During our trip to New York, my family and I realized that the Texas Rangers—my favorite team—were going to play against the Yankees. Naturally, we bought tickets for the first game of the series, eager to catch the action. We started our day by purchasing subway tickets at Grand Central Station, excited for the game later that evening. However, as the day progressed, I checked our tickets and saw that the game had been canceled due to rain. We were a bit surprised that the staff at Grand Central Station hadn’t mentioned this when we bought our tickets, but we quickly adjusted our plans.


Later, I received an email stating that the game had been rescheduled for a doubleheader the next day, but unfortunately, our tickets would not be valid for any of the remaining games in the series. The next few hours were spent trying to resolve the issue with either an exchange or refund. The Yankee Stadium Box Office never returned my calls or emails, but thankfully, Ticketmaster came through and provided us with a refund. With that, we secured tickets for the final game of the series.


When game day finally arrived, getting to Yankee Stadium was a breeze. The subway stations and trains were extremely accessible with ramps, elevators, and designated wheelchair spots. Once inside the stadium, we discovered that our new tickets weren’t for ADA seats. We headed to Guest Services, where the staff did their best to exchange our tickets for wheelchair-accessible seating. They managed to swap two of the four tickets, but at least we were all seated somewhat close together thanks to a table behind the section.


We couldn’t find an elevator due to the sold-out crowd, so we decided to take the service ramp all the way up to our section. The view from our seats was incredible, and the game itself was thrilling. Despite all the challenges we faced with the ticketing situation and some accessibility hiccups, we had an amazing time at Yankee Stadium. The stadium was stunning, and Yankee fans were incredibly friendly.


Final Rating: 4 out of 5

Overall, Yankee Stadium is highly accessible, from the subway ride to entering the stadium and enjoying the game. The accessible seating offers great views, and the staff is attentive and helpful throughout the experience. However, the difficulty in locating elevators and the issues with ticket exchanges impacted the experience slightly, preventing it from being a perfect visit. With a few minor improvements, it would be an ideal venue for wheelchair users to enjoy a day at the ballpark.


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