View source for Yale Bowl

{{Short description|College football stadium in Connecticut, US}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox venue
| name = Yale Bowl
| nickname = 
| caption = Aerial view of the stadium in 2023
| logo_image  = 
| logo_size = 
| image = Yale Bowl aerial view 2023 (Quintin Soloviev).jpg
| image_size = 250
| address = 81 Central Avenue
| location = [[New Haven, Connecticut]]<!-- 06515 -->
| coordinates = {{coord|41.313|N|72.960|W|type:landmark_region:US-CT|display=inline,title}}
| broke_ground = August 1913
| opened = {{Start date and age|1914|11|21|br=yes}}
| closed = 
| demolished = 
| owner = [[Yale University]]
| operator = Yale University
| surface =Field Turf (2019–present)<br />Natural grass (1914–2018)
| construction_cost = US$750,000<br />(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|750000|1914}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}}<!--dollars-->{{inflation-fn|US}})
| architect = Charles A. Ferry<br />(Class of 1871)
| former_names = 
| public_transit = {{bus icon}} [[File:CTtransit logo.png|16px|link=Connecticut Transit New Haven]] 255
| tenants = [[Yale Bulldogs football|Yale Bulldogs]] ([[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]]) 1914–present<br />[[New York Giants]] ([[National Football League|NFL]]) 1973–1974<br />[[Connecticut Bicentennials]] ([[North American Soccer League (1968–1984)|NASL]]) 1976–1977
| seating_capacity = 61,446 (2006–present)
'''Former capacity''':
{{collapsible list|
* 64,246 (1994–2005)
* 70,896 (1914–1993)
}}
| embedded = {{Infobox NRHP
| embed                = yes
| nrhp_type            = nhl
| locmapin             = Connecticut#USA
| coordinates          = {{coord|41|18|47|N|72|57|38|W}}
| area                 = 
| built                = 1914
| architect            = Charles A. Ferry;<br />Sperry Engineering Co.
| architecture         = 
| designated_nrhp_type = February 27, 1987 <ref name="nhlsum">{{cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1972&ResourceType=Structure
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001027235155/http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1972%26ResourceType=Structure
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=October 27, 2000
|title=Yale Bowl |access-date=2007-10-03|work=National Historic Landmark summary listing|publisher=National Park Service}}</ref>
| added                = February 27, 1987 <ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2007a}}</ref>
| refnum               = 87000756
}}
| website = {{URL|https://yalebulldogs.com/facilities/yale-bowl-class-of-1954-field/22|yalebulldogs.com/yale-bowl}}
}}

The '''Yale Bowl''' is a [[college football]] [[stadium]] located in [[New Haven, Connecticut]], near the border with [[West Haven, Connecticut|West Haven]], about {{convert|1.5|mi}} west of the main campus of [[Yale University]]. The home of the [[Yale Bulldogs football|Yale Bulldogs]] of the [[Ivy League]], it opened {{Years or months ago|1914}} in 1914 with 70,896 [[Seating capacity|seats]]; renovations have reduced its current capacity to 61,446, still making it the second largest stadium in the [[NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision]] (FCS), behind [[Nissan Stadium (Nashville)|Nissan Stadium]], used by [[Tennessee State Tigers football|Tennessee State]]. It is the largest on-campus FCS stadium that is in an automatic qualifying conference for the [[NCAA Division I Football Championship|FCS Playoffs]], which the Ivy League has participated in since 2025.

The Yale Bowl inspired the design and naming of the [[Rose Bowl (stadium)|Rose Bowl]], from which is derived the name of college football's post-season [[bowl games]] and the [[National Football League]]'s [[Super Bowl]].

In [[1973 New York Giants season|1973]] and [[1974 New York Giants season|1974]], the stadium hosted the [[New York Giants]] of the National Football League, as [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]] was renovated and while [[Giants Stadium]] was under construction. The Giants moved to [[Shea Stadium]] in [[1975 New York Giants season|1975]] and shared it with fellow NFL team the [[1975 New York Jets season|New York Jets]] as well as the two [[Major League Baseball]] teams in New York, the [[1975 New York Mets season|Mets]] and [[1975 New York Yankees season|Yankees]] (who were playing at Shea while Yankee Stadium was being renovated), and moved into new Giants Stadium in [[1976 New York Giants season|1976]].

== History ==
[[File:Harvard Yale game New Have 1908.jpg|thumb|left|Yale v Harvard game at Yale Field, 1908 (predecessor stadium to Yale Bowl)]]
Ground was broken on the stadium in August 1913. Fill excavated from the field area was used to build up a berm around the perimeter to create an elliptical bowl. The facade was designed to partially echo the campus's [[Neo-Gothic]] design, and, as with some central campus buildings, acid was applied to imitate the effects of aging.

[[File:Yale Bowl in 1924 NARA.jpg|thumb|left|Yale Bowl in 1924]]
[[File:YaleBowl-Field1a.JPG|thumb|left|View of the stadium in 2005]]
It was the first bowl-shaped stadium in the country, and inspired the design of such stadiums as the [[Rose Bowl (stadium)|Rose Bowl]], the [[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum]], and [[Michigan Stadium]].  It was declared a [[National Historic Landmark]] in 1987 for its role in [[History of American football|football history]].<ref name="nhlsum"/><ref name="nrhpinv3">{{cite web|url={{NHLS url|id=87000756}} |title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Yale Bowl |date=December 1985 |author=James H. Charleton |publisher=National Park Service}} and {{NHLS url|id=87000756|title=''Accompanying aerial photo, from 1985''|photos=y}}</ref>

The Yale Bowl's designer, Charles A. Ferry, for unknown reasons chose not to include locker rooms {{nowrap|(or restrooms).<ref name=hcspeccent>{{cite news|url=http://www.courant.com/sports/college/hc-yale-bowl-anniversary-1113-20141112-story.html |work=Hartford Courant |location=Connecticut |last=Amore |first=Dom |title=Yale Bowl starts big, and 100 years later, it remains special |date=November 13, 2014|access-date=December 1, 2017}}</ref>}} Players dress in the Smilow Field Center and walk {{convert|200|yd|round=5}} to the field.  When the NFL's Giants played at the stadium (1973, 1974), the pro players disliked the arrangement, but Yale players reportedly enjoy the walk. Fans cheer for the team as it marches to the stadium while the [[Yale Band]] plays, a tradition known as the "Bulldog Walk."<ref name="schonbrun20141102">{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/02/sports/ncaafootball/at-yale-bowl-100-years-of-tradition-pride-and-no-locker-rooms.html | title=At Yale Bowl, 100 Years of Tradition, Pride and No Locker Rooms | work=The New York Times | date=2014-11-02 | access-date=11 September 2015 | author=Schonbrun, Zach}}</ref>

The Bowl's first game, on November 21, [[1914 Yale Bulldogs football team|1914]], drew more than 68,000 spectators,<ref name="newlon">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SfogAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bXUFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6342%2C2362626|title=Greatest football crowd ever, sees big match|date=November 21, 1914|work=The Day|location=New London, Connecticut|page=13}}</ref> who watched the Bulldogs lose 36–0 to [[Harvard–Yale football rivalry|rival]] [[1914 Harvard Crimson football team|Harvard]].<ref name="hcspeccent" /><ref name="badbrks">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EaFQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=r-ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6617%2C4861318 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |title=Yale victim of bad breaks or score might have been closer |date=November 22, 1914 |page=1, part 3}}</ref>

In 1958, a new scoreboard was installed; its distinctive clock was arranged vertically instead of horizontally.

During the 1970s, the Bowl hosted several concerts. In 1971, [[Yes (band)|Yes]] performed on July 24 and the [[Grateful Dead]] on July 31, a recording of which was released as [[Road Trips Volume 1 Number 3]]. But neighborhood opposition to the concerts brought them to an end after a June 14, 1980, show featuring the [[Eagles (band)|Eagles]], [[Heart (band)|Heart]], and [[The Little River Band]].  A picture from the show was published with the vinyl edition of the [[Eagles (band)|Eagles]] double live album, issued later that year, though no recordings from the event are included on the discs.  A [[Paul McCartney]] concert was scheduled for June 1990, but cancelled amid neighbors' opposition; the show was moved to [[Chicago]].

The stadium has hosted many [[Association football|soccer]] matches over the years; it served as home field for the [[Connecticut Bicentennials]] of the [[North American Soccer League (1968–1984)|North American Soccer League]] during the 1976 and 1977 seasons.  Yale Bowl was mulled as a possible playing site when the United States hosted the [[FIFA World Cup|World Cup]] in [[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994]], but lost out to [[Foxboro Stadium]] in [[Massachusetts]] and [[Giants Stadium]] in [[New Jersey]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.courant.com/1992/03/24/yale-bowl-loses-world-cup-bid/|title=Hartford Courant: Yale Bowl Loses World Cup Bid}}</ref>

In 1991, the Bowl's vicinity saw the addition of the [[Cullman-Heyman Tennis Center]], home to the annual [[Association of Tennis Professionals|ATP]]/[[Women's Tennis Association|WTA]] event (the Pilot Pen tournament), across Yale Avenue from the stadium.

On October 5, 2001, the closing ceremony of the Yale Tercentennial was held at the Yale Bowl.  Guests included [[Tom Wolfe]] '57, [[William F. Buckley]] '50, ''[[Sesame Street]]''{{'}}s [[Big Bird]], [[Paul Simon]] '96 Hon, and [[Garry Trudeau]] '70.

By the 21st century, many of the outside retaining walls and portal entries were deteriorating. In the spring and summer of 2006, the bowl received a partial renovation, including a new scoreboard. The work was completed just in time for the first home game of the Yale football team's season on September 16.

The annual game between [[Yale]] and its rival [[Harvard]], known locally as [[Harvard–Yale football rivalry|The Game]], is held at the Yale Bowl every other year. In 2023, its attendance was over 51,000.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/yalealumnimagazine/posts/pfbid02JC1xswNjdUvccbhwArjLGRudKTRKXMLehE4PScLxXiW9xyP3oGV29Pa2d4zY63Fel|title=Facebook|website=www.facebook.com}}</ref>
{{Panorama
|image = File:Panorama of Yale Bowl.jpg
|height = 230
|caption = Panoramic view of Yale Bowl. Scoreboard at left. Yale/Cornell football game, September 28, 2019. The "147" stands for the number of Yale football seasons (and teams) until that point.}}

==Sports==
===Football===
====NFL====
The [[New York Giants]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL) won just one of the dozen home games they played in New Haven in the 1973 and 1974 seasons. (With the exception of the games played with replacement teams during the [[1987 NFL strike]] and the [[COVID-19]]-disrupted [[2020 NFL season|2020 season]], the attendance at the final game at the Yale Bowl is the smallest at a Giants' home game since 1955.) The team also played preseason games in the stadium, including the first-ever game against future [[Giants–Jets rivalry|rival]] and stadium share partner, the defending [[Super Bowl III|Super Bowl]] champion [[1969 New York Jets season|New York Jets]], a Sunday afternoon sellout in mid-August [[1969 New York Giants season|1969]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Wallace, William M. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1969/08/18/archives/jets-beat-giants-3714-namath-completes-14-of-16-passes-3-for-scores.html |title=Jets Beat Giants, 37–14; Namath Completes 14 of 16 Passes, 3 for Scores; BATTLE RETURNS PUNT FOR 86&nbsp;YARDS 70,874 Fans See Jet Rookie Score in Yale Bowl – Mathis Tallies Two Touchdowns |newspaper=The New York Times |date=August 18, 1969 |access-date=March 18, 2007}}</ref><ref name=jjhgi>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_L5SAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4H0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=922%2C2421676 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |agency=Associated Press |title=Joe, Jets handle Giants |date=August 18, 1969 |page=30}}</ref><ref name=nmtkony>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1WkbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NVAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4942%2C1693369 |work=Pittsburgh Press |agency=UPI |title=Namath king of New York|date=August 18, 1969 |page=33}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"  style="text-align:left; text-align:center;"
|-
!style="text-align:center; {{NFLPrimaryStyle|New York Giants|border=2}};"|Date
!style="text-align:center; {{NFLPrimaryStyle|New York Giants|border=2}};"|Home
!style="text-align:center; {{NFLPrimaryStyle|New York Giants|border=2}};"|Opponent
!style="text-align:center; {{NFLPrimaryStyle|New York Giants|border=2}};"|Score
!style="text-align:center; {{NFLPrimaryStyle|New York Giants|border=2}};"|Attendance
|-
| align=right|October 7, {{nfly|1973}} || [[1973 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] || '''[[1973 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]]''' || 14–16 || 70,050
|-
| align=right|October 14, 1973 || New York Giants || '''[[1973 Washington Redskins season|Washington Redskins]]''' || [[Giants–Washington rivalry|&nbsp; 3–21]] || 70,168
|-
| align=right|November 11, 1973 || New York Giants || '''[[1973 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]]''' || [[Cowboys–Giants rivalry|10–23]] || 70,128
|-
| align=right|November 18, 1973 || '''New York Giants''' || [[1973 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|St. Louis Cardinals]] || 24–13 || 65,795
|-
| align=right|December 16, 1973 || New York Giants || '''[[1973 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]]''' || &nbsp; 7–31 || 70,041
|-
| align=right|September 15, {{nfly|1974}} || [[1974 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] || '''[[1974 Washington Redskins season|Washington Redskins]]''' || [[Giants–Washington rivalry|10–13]] || 49,849
|-
| align=right|September 22, 1974 || New York Giants || '''[[1974 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]]''' || 20–28 || 44,082
|-
| align=right|October 6, 1974 || New York Giants || '''[[1974 Atlanta Falcons season|Atlanta Falcons]]''' || &nbsp; 7–14 || 42,379
|-
| align=right|October 27, 1974 || New York Giants || '''[[1974 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]]''' || [[Cowboys–Giants rivalry|&nbsp; 7–21]] || 57,381
|-
| align=right|November 10, 1974 || New York Giants || '''[[1974 New York Jets season|New York Jets]]''' || [[Giants–Jets rivalry|20–26]]<small><sup>OT</sup></small> || 64,327
|-
| align=right|November 24, 1974 || New York Giants || '''[[1974 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|St. Louis Cardinals]]''' || 21–23 || 40,615
|-
| align=right|December 8, 1974 || New York Giants || '''[[1974 Philadelphia Eagles season|Philadelphia Eagles]]''' || [[Eagles–Giants rivalry|&nbsp; 7–20]] || 21,170
|}

===Soccer===
====International====
{| class="wikitable"  style="text-align:left; text-align:center;"
|-
! Date
! Teams
! Attendance
|-
| [[1976 U.S.A. Bicentennial Cup Tournament|May 31, 1976]] || '''{{fb-rt|BRA}}''' 4–1 {{fb|ITA}} || 36,096
|-
| May 31, 1992 || {{fb-rt|ITA}} 0–0 {{fb|POR}} || 38,833
|-
| June 6, 1993 || {{fb-rt|USA}} 0–2 '''{{fb|BRA}}''' || 44,579
|-
| May 28, 1994 || {{fb-rt|USA}} 1–1 {{fb|GRE}} || 21,317
|-
| June 10, 1994 || {{fb-rt|ITA}} 1–0 {{fb|Costa Rica}} || 23,547
|-
| March 29, 1998 || {{fb-rt|COL}} 1–1 {{fb|PAR}} || 25,236
|}

====NASL (1976–1977)====
The [[Connecticut Bicentennials]] of the NASL played two seasons at the Yale Bowl, mostly in front of dismal crowds. Even their highest-ever home attendance, against the [[New York Cosmos (1971–1985)|New York Cosmos]] in 1977, drew only 17,302 fans, leaving the stadium more than three-quarters empty. However, the Bi's could only draw a ''total'' of 57,438—less than the Bowl's capacity for a single game—in their other 21 home games ''combined'', an average of only 2,735 per contest. After the 1977 season, the club relocated to become the [[Oakland Stompers]].
{| class="wikitable"  style="text-align:left; text-align:center;"
|-
! Date
! Home
! Opponent
! Score
! Attendance
|-
| June 2, 1976 || '''[[Connecticut Bicentennials]]''' || [[Rochester Lancers (1967–1980)|Rochester Lancers]] || 2–1 || 1,853
|-
| June 12, 1976 || '''Connecticut Bicentennials''' || [[Miami Toros]] || 1–1 [[Penalty shoot-out (association football)|(S/O)]] || 3,105
|-
| June 20, 1976 || '''Connecticut Bicentennials''' || [[Chicago Sting]] || 2–1 || 3,289
|-
| June 24, 1976 || '''Connecticut Bicentennials''' || [[San Diego Jaws]] || 1–1 (S/O) || 1,642
|-
| June 30, 1976 || Connecticut Bicentennials || '''[[San Antonio Thunder]]''' || 1–1 (S/O) || 1,426
|-
| July 7, 1976 || '''Connecticut Bicentennials''' || [[Washington Diplomats]] || 2–1 (S/O) || 2,100
|-
| July 24, 1976 || '''Connecticut Bicentennials''' {{flagicon|USA}} || {{flagicon|CAN}} [[Toronto Metros-Croatia]] || 4–4 (S/O) || 4,122
|-
| July 30, 1976 || Connecticut Bicentennials || '''[[Tampa Bay Rowdies (1975–93)|Tampa Bay Rowdies]]''' || 0–7 || 3,800
|-
| Aug. 14, 1976 || '''Connecticut Bicentennials''' || [[St. Louis Stars (soccer)|St. Louis Stars]] || 2–1 || 3,376
|-
| May 8, 1977 || Connecticut Bicentennials || '''[[New York Cosmos (1970–85)|New York Cosmos]]''' || 2–3 || 17,302
|-
| May 15, 1977 || Connecticut Bicentennials || '''Tampa Bay Rowdies''' || 1–4 || 1,520
|-
| May 29, 1977 || '''Connecticut Bicentennials''' || [[San Jose Earthquakes (1974–88)|San Jose Earthquakes]] || 3–2 || 2,257
|-
| June 12, 1977 || Connecticut Bicentennials || '''[[Fort Lauderdale Strikers (1977–1983)|Fort Lauderdale Strikers]]''' || 0–2 || 6,213
|-
| June 15, 1977 || Connecticut Bicentennials || '''[[Team Hawaii]]''' || 1–2 || 1,295
|-
| June 19, 1977 || Connecticut Bicentennials || '''St. Louis Stars''' || 0–3 || 1,222
|-
| June 26, 1977 || '''Connecticut Bicentennials''' || Rochester Lancers || 2–1 || 2,832
|-
| June 29, 1977 || Connecticut Bicentennials || '''[[Los Angeles Aztecs]]''' || 2–3 || 2,915
|-
| July 13, 1977 || '''Connecticut Bicentennials''' || [[Las Vegas Quicksilvers]] || 4–3 || 3,472
|-
| July 17, 1977 || Connecticut Bicentennials {{flagicon|USA}} || {{flagicon|CAN}} '''Toronto Metros-Croatia''' || 0–4 || 4,515
|-
| July 27, 1977 || Connecticut Bicentennials || '''[[Seattle Sounders (1974–1983)|Seattle Sounders]]''' || 1–4 || 2,169
|-
| August 3, 1977 || '''Connecticut Bicentennials''' || Washington Diplomats || 4–1 || 1,100
|-
| August 7, 1977 || Connecticut Bicentennials || '''Chicago Sting''' || 1–1 (S/O) || 3,215
|}

==Gallery==
<gallery mode=packed heights=100>
File:Yale-Harvard-Game.jpg|Yale v Harvard game, 2001
File:YaleBowl1.jpg|Grandstand, 2008
File:Yale Bowl scoreboard.jpg|Yale Bowl scoreboard, behind north end zone, 2019
File:Yale_Bowl_main_entrance.jpg|Main entrance, located on west side, 2019
File:Yale Bowl with New Haven skyline.jpg|Aerial view, looking at the [[New Haven]] skyline
File:Aerial Image Yale Bowl.jpg|Aerial view, looking south toward Long Island Sound, 2021
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[List of NCAA Division I FCS football stadiums]]
*[[List of National Historic Landmarks in Connecticut]]
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in New Haven, Connecticut]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{official website}}

{{s-start}}
{{succession box
 | title = Home of the<br />[[New York Giants]]
 | years = 1973–1974
 | before = [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]]
 | after = [[Shea Stadium]]
}}
{{end}}

{{Yale Bulldogs football navbox}}
{{Yale Bulldogs men's soccer navbox}}
{{New York Giants}}
{{Ivy League football venue navbox}}
{{Registered Historic Places}}
{{Connecticut college football venues}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:College football venues in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Yale Bulldogs football]]
[[Category:Yale University buildings]]
[[Category:National Historic Landmarks in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Defunct NFL venues]]
[[Category:New York Giants stadiums]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in New Haven, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1914]]
[[Category:Sports venues in New Haven, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Event venues on the National Register of Historic Places in Connecticut]]
[[Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) stadiums]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in New Haven, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Sports venues on the National Register of Historic Places]]
[[Category:1914 establishments in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Soccer venues in Connecticut]]