View source for Giants Stadium

{{short description|Former stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey}}
{{about|the stadium in East Rutherford|the stadium in Sydney, Australia formerly known as Giants Stadium|Sydney Showground Stadium}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name = Giants Stadium
| nickname = ''The Meadowlands''<br>''Home of the New York Giants''
| logo_image = [[File:Giantsstadiumlogo.png]]
| image = Giants Stadium Hosts the 1994 World Cup.jpg
| caption = Giants Stadium during the [[1994 FIFA World Cup]]
| address = 50 [[New Jersey Route 120|Route 120]]
| location = [[East Rutherford, New Jersey]]
| coordinates = {{coord|40|48|44|N|74|4|37|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|display=inline,title}}
| broke_ground = November 19, 1972<ref name="history">{{cite web |url=http://www.njsea.com/economic.aspx?id=73 |title=NJSEA Economic Development |publisher=New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority |access-date=May 24, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117043053/http://www.njsea.com/economic.aspx?id=73 |archive-date=January 17, 2012}}</ref>
| opened = October 10, 1976
| closed = January 3, 2010 (final game)
| demolished = February 4 – August 10, 2010
| owner = [[New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority]]
| operator = New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority
| surface = {{unbulleted list|[[AstroTurf]] (1976–1999)|[[Grass]] (2000–2002)|[[FieldTurf]] (2003–2009)}}
| construction_cost = US$78 million<br>(${{format price|{{Inflation|US|78000000|1976}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})
| architect = {{unbulleted list|[[Kivett and Myers]]<ref name="history"/>|Ewing Cole Erdman & Eubank<ref name="history"/>|Clauss & Nolan<ref name="history"/>}}
| general_contractor = [[George A. Fuller|George A. Fuller Company]]<ref name="history"/>
| tenants = {{Unbulleted list|[[New York Giants]] ([[National Football League|NFL]]) 1976–2009|[[New York Cosmos (1971–85)|New York Cosmos]] ([[North American Soccer League (1968–84)|NASL]]) 1977–1984|[[Garden State Bowl]] ([[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]]) 1978–1981|[[New Jersey Generals]] ([[United States Football League|USFL]]) 1983–1985|[[New York Jets]] ([[National Football League|NFL]]) 1984–2009|[[New York/New Jersey Knights]] ([[World League of American Football|WLAF]]) 1991–1992|[[Rutgers Scarlet Knights]] ([[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]]) 1993|[[New York Red Bulls|MetroStars/New York Red Bulls]] ([[Major League Soccer|MLS]]) 1996–2009|[[New York/New Jersey Hitmen]] ([[XFL (2001)|XFL]]) 2001|[[Hartford Colonials|New York Sentinels]] ([[United Football League (2009–12)|UFL]]) 2009}}
| seating_capacity = 80,242<ref name="history"/>
}}

'''Giants Stadium''' (sometimes referred to as '''Giants Stadium at the Meadowlands''') was a [[stadium]] located in [[East Rutherford, New Jersey]], in the [[Meadowlands Sports Complex]]. The venue was open from 1976 to 2010, and primarily hosted sporting events and concerts. It was the home field of the [[New York metropolitan area]]'s two [[National Football League]] teams, the [[New York Giants]] (from [[1976 New York Giants season|1976]] to [[2009 New York Giants season|2009]]) and the [[New York Jets]] (from [[1984 New York Jets season|1984]] to [[2009 New York Jets season|2009]]). It also was the home field of two New York metro area professional soccer teams, the [[North American Soccer League (1968–1984)|NASL]]'s [[New York Cosmos (1970–1985)|New York Cosmos]] (from [[1977 New York Cosmos season|1977]] to [[1984 New York Cosmos season|1984]]) and [[Major League Soccer]]'s [[New York Red Bulls]] (from [[1996 New York/New Jersey MetroStars season|1996]] to [[2009 New York Red Bulls season|2009]]).

The stadium's maximum [[seating capacity]] was 80,242.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gotickets.com/venues/nj/giants_stadium.php |title=Giants Stadium Seating Chart, Giants Stadium Tickets, Giants Stadium Maps |publisher=Gotickets.com |access-date=February 7, 2010}}</ref> The structure was {{convert|756|ft}} long, {{convert|592|ft}} wide and {{convert|144|ft}} high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and {{convert|178|ft}} high to the top of the south tower. The volume of the stadium was {{convert|64.5|e6cuft|m3}}, and 13,500 tons of structural steel were used in the building process while 29,200 tons of concrete were poured.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bigbluetailgate.com/giants_stadium_facts.html |title=Giants Stadium Facts |publisher=bigbluetailgate.com |access-date=September 9, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120116162257/http://www.bigbluetailgate.com/giants_stadium_facts.html |archive-date=January 16, 2012}}</ref> It was owned and operated by the [[New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority]] (NJSEA). The stadium's field was aligned northwest to southeast, with the press box along the southwest sideline.

In the early 1970s, the [[New York Giants]] were sharing [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]] with the [[New York Yankees]] baseball team, and began looking for a home of their own. The Giants struck a deal with the fledgling [[New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority]] in 1971 and broke ground on the construction of the new facility in 1972. The Giants' last full season in Yankee Stadium was [[1972 New York Giants season|1972]], as the ballpark was closed for a massive reconstruction following the end of the Yankees' [[1973 New York Yankees season|1973 season]]. Since their new stadium would take a significant amount of time to finish, and they could not use their home facility due to the construction, the Giants moved out of state and played in [[New Haven, Connecticut]] at the [[Yale Bowl]] from October [[1973 New York Giants season|1973]] through [[1974 New York Giants season|1974]], but won just once in twelve games there. They returned to New York for one final season in [[1975 New York Giants season|1975]] and shared [[Shea Stadium]] in [[Flushing, Queens]], with the [[1975 New York Yankees season|Yankees]], [[1975 New York Mets season|Mets]], and [[1975 New York Jets season|Jets]]. The Giants finally moved into their new home on October 10, [[1976 New York Giants season|1976]], week five of the season.

Eight years after Giants Stadium opened, it gained a second major tenant. The Jets' lease at Shea Stadium, the home of the New York Mets, had expired at the end of the [[1983 New York Jets season|1983]] season and team owner [[Leon Hess]] was having trouble negotiating terms of a new lease to stay in Queens. The city of New York was unwilling to agree to his terms and Hess decided to move the Jets to the Meadowlands permanently (the team previously played a regular season game there in [[1977 New York Jets season|1977]]). Their first game in Giants Stadium was on September 6, [[1984 New York Jets season|1984]]. With the Jets now playing at the stadium, the grounds crew needed to find a way to set their games apart from Giants games and make them more inviting for their fans and eventually came up with a series of green and white banners and coverings that were hung over the field-level blue walls that circled the stadium and (later) the four entrance gates outside the stadium. The Jets also called the stadium "The Meadowlands" for their games.

The sharing of the stadium by both the Giants and Jets enabled it to break a record that had long been held by Chicago's [[Wrigley Field]]. Entering the [[2003 New York Giants season|2003]] season, its 28th, Giants Stadium had played host to 364 NFL games, second only to the 365 played at Wrigley by the [[Chicago Bears]] in their 50 seasons there. The Giants' season opening game with the [[2003 St. Louis Rams season|St. Louis Rams]] tied the record, and the following week the Jets' home opener against the [[2003 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]] broke it.

Giants Stadium was also home to the [[New York Cosmos (1970–85)|New York Cosmos]], a professional soccer team of the [[North American Soccer League (1968–84)]], that attracted record crowds during the late 1970s. The stadium was later home to another soccer team, the New York/New Jersey MetroStars (now the [[New York Red Bulls]]) of [[Major League Soccer]], who played there from 1996 to 2009.

Giants Stadium closed following the [[2009 NFL season]] following the construction of [[MetLife Stadium]] in the surrounding parking lot. The stadium's final event was the January 3, 2010, game featuring the Jets hosting the [[2009 Cincinnati Bengals season|Cincinnati Bengals]] on ''[[NBC Sunday Night Football|Sunday Night Football]]''. Demolition of the structure began a month after the game and was completed on August 10, 2010. The New York Giants and New York Jets both moved to MetLife Stadium in 2010.

==History==
Giants Stadium was the first [[Major professional sports leagues of the United States and Canada|major league]] sporting venue in [[New Jersey]] (though the [[Brooklyn Dodgers]] had played seven home games at [[Roosevelt Stadium]] in [[Jersey City]] in 1956 and 1957), and its success, along with that of the Giants in the 1980s was a major impetus behind increased pride and enthusiasm among New Jersey residents.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}}

===First year in business===

Giants Stadium opened on October 10, 1976, as 76,042 fans witnessed a 24–14 loss by the Giants to the [[Dallas Cowboys]]. The Giants had played their first four games on the road that season. [[College football]] made its debut at Giants Stadium on October 23, 1976, with [[Rutgers Scarlet Knights football|Rutgers University]] defeating [[Columbia Lions|Columbia]] 47–0 and extending their winning streak to 14 games.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dorsett Breaks Rushing Mark; Rutgers Trounces Columbia |first=Neil |last=Amdur |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/10/24/archives/dorsett-breaks-rushing-mark-rutgers-trounces-columbia-streak.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=October 24, 1976 |access-date=January 4, 2010}}</ref>

===Other pro football teams that have used Giants Stadium===
Other professional football teams that have called Giants Stadium home over the years include the [[New Jersey Generals]] of the [[United States Football League|USFL]]; the [[New York/New Jersey Knights]] of the [[World League of American Football]]; the [[New York/New Jersey Hitmen]] of the [[XFL (2001)|XFL]] and the [[New York Sentinels]] (who played one game at the stadium in the [[United Football League (2009)|United Football League]]'s inaugural season). The 1985 USFL championship game which turned out to be the last USFL game played was held at Giants Stadium.

In the second week of the [[2005 NFL season|2005 season]], the [[2005 New Orleans Saints season|New Orleans Saints]] used the stadium for a "home" game against the Giants because of extensive damage to the [[Louisiana Superdome]] after [[Hurricane Katrina]]. One [[end zone]] was painted in Saints colors, Saints banners were hung on the walls around the sidelines, and the Saints wore their home jerseys. The game was rescheduled to a Monday night with a special start time of 7:30 PM [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]], preceding the other scheduled game on ''[[Monday Night Football]]''.<ref>{{cite news |title=N.F.L. Tries to Create Home Field for Saints |first=Dave |last=Caldwell |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9903E3DE1E31F936A2575AC0A9639C8B63 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 15, 2005 |access-date=February 7, 2010}}</ref> The Giants were normally not visitors at Giants Stadium unless they were playing the Jets.

===College football games===
The stadium hosted college football games, including the [[Garden State Bowl]] from 1978 to 1981; the [[Kickoff Classic]] from 1983 to 2002; the [[New York Urban League Classic]] since 1981; a number of Rutgers homes games (including all their home games during the [[1993 NCAA Division I-A football season|1993 season]]); several [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish football|Notre Dame]]–[[Navy Midshipmen football|Navy]] and Notre Dame–[[Army Black Knights football|Army]] games; and the [[Army–Navy Game]] on three occasions, most recently in [[2002 NCAA Division I-A football season|2002]]. [[Syracuse Orange football|Syracuse]] also played two home games at Giants Stadium during the [[1979 NCAA Division I-A football season|1979 season]], against [[West Virginia Mountaineers football|West Virginia]] and [[1979 Penn State Nittany Lions football team|Penn State]], while the [[Carrier Dome]] was under construction. Columbia also played some home games at Giants Stadium in [[1983 NCAA Division I-A football season|1983]], due to construction at its home stadium. [[Temple Owls football|Temple]], needing a home field due to a schedule conflict with [[Veterans Stadium]] in [[Philadelphia]], used Giants Stadium as their home field versus [[Penn State Nittany Lions football|Penn State]] in September [[1996 NCAA Division I-A football season|1996]]. [[Princeton Tigers|Princeton]] also played one home game at Giants Stadium (against [[Yale Bulldogs football|Yale]]) during the construction of Princeton's new stadium in [[1997 NCAA Division I-A football season|1997]].

==Soccer at Giants Stadium==
[[File:Boca vs cosmos giants stadium.jpg|thumb|New York Cosmos playing v Argentine side Boca Juniors at Giants Stadium, September 1978]]
The [[New York Cosmos (1971–85)|New York Cosmos]] of the [[North American Soccer League (1968–84)|North American Soccer League]] moved to Giants Stadium for the [[1977 North American Soccer League season|1977 season]], hosting the final game of Brazilian star [[Pelé]] on October 1, 1977.<ref>[https://www.espn.com/soccer/santos-fc/story/3216210/farewell-to-the-king-remembering-peles-final-game-40-years-ago Farewell to The King: When Pele played his last game 40 years ago] by Jon Gold on ESPN, 29 Sep 2017</ref><ref>[https://www.nycosmos.com/news/2017/10/01/the-40th-anniversary-of-pels-farewell THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF PELÉ’S FAREWELL] on NY Cosmos, 1 Oct 2017</ref> Giants Stadium remained as the home venue for the Cosmos until the league folded in 1985. Additionally, the NASL championship game [[Soccer Bowl '78]] and [[Soccer Bowl '79]] were held at Giants Stadium.

Seven games of the [[1994 FIFA World Cup]] soccer tournament were held at Giants Stadium (including the [[Italy national football team|Italy]] v [[Bulgaria national football team|Bulgaria]] semifinal), along with four games of the [[FIFA Women's World Cup 1999|1999 FIFA Women's World Cup]].

In 2003, the [[SuperCoppa Italiana]], an annual match pitting the winners of [[Serie A]] (Italy's top division) and the [[Coppa Italia]] (Italian Cup), was held in Giants Stadium instead of in Italy because both clubs involved ([[Juventus FC|Juventus]] and [[A.C. Milan|Milan]]) were touring the United States late in the summer, when the event is normally scheduled.

[[File:NY Red Bulls vs LA Galaxy.jpg|thumb|left|A New York Red Bulls match at Giants Stadium in 2007]]
In 2005, the stadium played host to several matches in the [[CONCACAF Gold Cup 2005|CONCACAF Gold Cup]], including the final, which saw the [[United States men's national soccer team|USA]] defeat [[Panama national football team|Panama]], 3–1 in a [[penalty shootout (football)|penalty shootout]] after the sides played to a scoreless draw. In 2007, it hosted the [[2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup|Gold Cup]] again featuring four group stage matches. In, 2009 the stadium hosted the final for the [[2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup|CONCACAF Gold Cup]] for a second time which saw [[Mexico national football team|Mexico]] defeat the [[United States men's national soccer team|USA]] 5–0.

It saw many European soccer tours, hosting games involving such major soccer clubs as [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]], [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]], [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]], [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]], [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] and [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]].

It also hosted [[England national football team|England]]'s 3–2 victory over [[Colombia national football team|Colombia]] on May 31, 2005.<ref>{{cite news |title=For a Day, Giants Stadium Is a Friendly Pub |first=George |last=Vecsey |author-link=George Vecsey |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/01/sports/soccer/01vecsey.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=June 1, 2005 |access-date=July 4, 2010}}</ref>

The [[New York Red Bulls]] (formerly the New York/New Jersey MetroStars) of [[Major League Soccer]] played at the stadium for their first 14 seasons. They moved to the soccer-specific [[Red Bull Arena (MLS)|Red Bull Arena]] in nearby [[Harrison, New Jersey|Harrison]] in 2010.
{{Clear}}

=== 1994 FIFA World Cup matches ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left; width:;"
|-
!scope="col" style=" ;"| Date
!scope="col" style=" ;"| Time ([[Eastern Time Zone|UTC−5]])
!scope="col" style="width:120px ;"| Team #1
!scope="col" style=" ;"| Res.
!scope="col" style="width:120px;"| Team #2
!scope="col" style=" ;"| Round
!scope="col" style=" ;"| Attendance
|-
|1994-06-18||16:00|| rowspan="2" |{{fb|ITA}} ||style="text-align:center;"|0–1||{{fb|IRL|name=Ireland}} || rowspan="2" |[[1994 FIFA World Cup Group E|Group E]]||style="text-align:center;"|75,338
|-
|1994-06-23||16:00|| style="text-align:center;" |1–0||{{fb|NOR}} || style="text-align:center;" |74,624
|-
|1994-06-25||19:30||{{fb|SAU}} ||style="text-align:center;"|2–1||{{fb|Morocco}} ||[[1994 FIFA World Cup Group F|Group F]]||style="text-align:center;"|76,322
|-
|1994-06-28||12:30||{{fb|IRL|name=Ireland}} ||style="text-align:center;"|0–0||{{fb|NOR}} ||[[1994 FIFA World Cup Group E|Group E]]||style="text-align:center;"|72,404
|-
|1994-07-05||16:30||{{fb|MEX}}||style="text-align:center;"|1–1 (1–3 {{pso}})||{{fb|BUL}} ||[[1994 FIFA World Cup knockout stage#Mexico vs Bulgaria|Round of 16]]||style="text-align:center;"|71,030
|-
|1994-07-10||12:00|| rowspan="2" |{{fb|BUL}}||style="text-align:center;"|2–1||{{fb|GER}}||[[1994 FIFA World Cup knockout stage#Bulgaria vs Germany|Quarterfinal]]||style="text-align:center;"|72,000
|-
|1994-07-13||16:00|| style="text-align:center;" |1–2||{{fb|ITA}} ||[[1994 FIFA World Cup knockout stage#Bulgaria vs Italy|Semifinal]]||style="text-align:center;"|74,110
|}

===1999 FIFA Women's World Cup matches===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left; width:%;"
|-
!scope="col" style=" ;"| Date
!scope="col" style=" ;"| Time ([[Eastern Time Zone|UTC−5]])
!scope="col" style="width:120px;"| Team #1
!scope="col" style=" ;"| Res.
!scope="col" style="width:120px ;"| Team #2
!scope="col" style=" ;"| Round
!scope="col" style=" ;"| Attendance
|-
| rowspan="2" |1999-06-19||15:00||{{fbw|DEN}} ||style="text-align:center;"|0–3||{{fbw|USA}} ||[[1999 FIFA Women's World Cup#Group A|Group A]]||style="text-align:center;"|78,972
|-
|17:30||{{fbw|BRA}} ||style="text-align:center;"|7–1||{{fbw|MEX}} ||[[1999 FIFA Women's World Cup#Group B|Group B]]||style="text-align:center;"|78,972
|-
| rowspan="2" |1999-06-26||12:00||{{fbw|CAN}} ||style="text-align:center;"|1–4||{{fbw|RUS}} ||[[1999 FIFA Women's World Cup#Group C|Group C]]||style="text-align:center;"|29,401
|-
|14:30||{{fbw|CHN}} ||style="text-align:center;"|3–1||{{fbw|AUS}} ||[[1999 FIFA Women's World Cup#Group D|Group D]]||style="text-align:center;"|29,401
|}

==Pope John Paul II at Giants Stadium==
On October 5, 1995, [[Pope John Paul II]] celebrated Mass during a rainstorm, before a crowd of 82,948, the second-largest to ever attend an event at Giants Stadium. The record was broken on September 24, 2009, with an attendance of 84,472 at the [[U2]] concert.

==Concerts==
[[File:MagicTourGiantsStadiumBTR.jpg|thumb|Bruce Springsteen & E Street Band performing at Giants Stadium, July 2008]]

The first concert at Giants Stadium occurred on June 25, 1978, with [[the Beach Boys]] as the headliners, with [[the Steve Miller Band]], [[Pablo Cruise]], and Stanky Brown also performing.<ref name="Concert Archives">{{Cite web | url=https://www.concertarchives.org/concerts/the-beach-boys-steve-miller-pablo-cruise |title=The Beach Boys at Giants Stadium | publisher=Concert Archives | access-date=April 14, 2024}}</ref>

[[The Grateful Dead]] played Giants Stadium 14 times between 1978 and 1995. In 2019 the Grateful Dead released the [[Giants Stadium 1987, 1989, 1991]] boxed set. 

The stadium played host to [[Amnesty International]]'s final [[A Conspiracy of Hope]] Benefit Concert on June 15, 1986. The show was a sold-out, all-day event, running from noon until 11 p.m. and broadcast on [[MTV]]. The show was headlined by [[U2]] and [[Sting (musician)|Sting]] and also featured [[Bryan Adams]], [[Peter Gabriel]], [[Joan Baez]], [[the Neville Brothers]], and [[the Police]]. Additional artists that performed included [[John Eddie]], with [[Max Weinberg]], [[Third World (band)|Third World]], [[the Hooters]], [[Peter, Paul and Mary]], [[Steven van Zandt]], with [[Bob Geldof]], [[Stanley Jordan]], [[Joan Armatrading]], [[Jackson Browne]], [[Rubén Blades]], with [[Fela Kuti]] and [[Carlos Santana]], [[Yoko Ono]], [[Howard Jones (British musician)|Howard Jones]], [[Miles Davis]], and [[Joni Mitchell]]. Spoken introductions were made by [[Billy Graham]], [[Bill Bradley]], [[Daryl Hannah]], [[Robert De Niro]], [[Christopher Reeve]], [[Michael J. Fox]], and [[Muhammad Ali]]. [[Pete Townshend]] was scheduled to perform, but cancelled at the last minute, when his father, Cliff Townshend, became gravely ill, which would have been his first US solo appearance. This also marked the Police's final full-live performance together, until their [[The Police Reunion Tour|2007 Reunion Tour]], 21 years later.

The stadium played host to the [[Tattoo the Earth]] Tour on July 20, 2000. The show featured performances by [[Slipknot (band)|Slipknot]], [[Slayer]], [[Sevendust]], [[Sepultura]], [[Hed PE]], [[Mudvayne]], [[downset.]], [[Hatebreed]], [[Full Devil Jacket]], Famous, [[Amen (American band)|Amen]], [[U.P.O.]], [[Nothingface (band)|Nothingface]], PPM, [[Cold (band)|Cold]], Relative Ash, [[Systematic (band)|Systematic]], [[Six Feet Under (band)|Six Feet Under]], [[Candiria]], [[Lamb of God (band)|Lamb of God]], [[God Forbid]], [[Darkest Hour (band)|Darkest Hour]], [[Unearth]], [[All That Remains (band)|All That Remains]], [[Dropkick Murphys]], [[Sick of It All]], [[Tiger Army]], [[Converge (band)|Converge]], [[The Unseen (band)|The Unseen]], [[Reach the Sky]], [[Stretch Arm Strong]], [[Kill Your Idols]], and [[Nashville Pussy]], including the only appearance by [[Metallica]] during the tour and also featured 42 tattoo artists from Australia, Austria, France, Germany, Malaysia, Manitoba, Spain, Switzerland, and the US.

The stadium has also played host to music festivals, including The [[Monsters of Rock Tour 1988|Monsters of Rock Festival]], [[Music at the Meadowlands]], [[Ozzfest]], and [[The Bamboozle]] (in the parking lot, annually, since 2003).

[[Dave Matthews Band]] played the stadium 10 times from 1998 to 2007, including three nights each in 2000 and 2001.<ref>{{Cite web|title=DMBAlmanac.com²|url=http://dmbalmanac.com/VenueStats.aspx?vid=988|access-date=2022-02-10|website=dmbalmanac.com}}</ref> On June 11, 2001 (the first of three nights), the band played the song "Two Step", where Dave Matthews sang the improvisational lyrics "let it rain", where then a thunderstorm broke out. This has been called "Two Step In The Rain" by fans, and can be heard on [[The Best of What's Around Vol. 1]]. When Matthews learned of the closing of Giants Stadium, he said, "I can't imagine I'll ever fall in love with a stadium like I did with Giants Stadium."

U2's concert on September 24, 2009, on their 360 Tour, broke the Pope's attendance record at Giants Stadium; the U2 crowd was in excess of 84,400.
[[File:Bruce Springsteen at Giants Stadium.jpg|thumb|Bruce Springsteen at Giants Stadium, 1985]]
Many locals say it is the home turf of [[Bruce Springsteen]] and the [[E Street Band]], due to the fact that they came from [[Freehold Township, New Jersey|Freehold, New Jersey]]. They performed a total of 24 shows at the stadium from 1985 to 2009, with a record 10 shows during [[the Rising Tour]] in 2003. Several songs on his 1986 live album ''[[Live/1975–85]]'' were recorded at shows at the stadium in August 1985. Springsteen wrote the song "Wrecking Ball" in response to the closing of the stadium and in 2009 performed it for the first time at the final five concerts at Giants Stadium.<ref>Billboard -Vol. 121, No. 45  November 14, 2009 ""And tearing down Giants Stadium is so symbolic for us that Bruce wrote his recent song, 'Wrecking Ball,' about his feelings about the end of his neighborhood football field, where he has played 24 times.""</ref> It would go on to be the title track of his [[Wrecking Ball (Bruce Springsteen album)|next studio album]], released over two years later.

==Seating capacity==
The [[seating capacity]] over the years went as the following:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|New York Giants}};"|Years
! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|New York Jets}};"|Capacity
|-
! scope="row" style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|New York Giants}};"|1976–1990
| 76,891<ref>{{cite news |title=Why Jets Will Move to Jersey|first=Dave|last=Anderson|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8jhOAAAAIBAJ&pg=6411,5264335&dq=en|newspaper=Star-News|location=Wilmington|date=September 19, 1983|access-date=November 22, 2011}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|New York Giants}};"|1991–1993
| 77,311<ref>{{cite book |year=1992|title=Official 1992 National Football League Record & Fact Book|publisher=Workman Publishing Company|publication-date=1992|page=116|isbn=978-1-56-305247-7}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|New York Giants}};"|1994
| 77,121<ref>{{cite news |title=Jets Hope for Enough Sound to Make the Broncos Furious|first=Adam|last=Schefter|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=RM&p_theme=rm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB4DEDE962617F4&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|newspaper=The Rocky Mountain News|location=Denver|date=September 14, 1994|access-date=November 22, 2011}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|New York Giants}};"|1995–1998
| 78,148<ref>{{cite news |title=Giants Fans A Mite Ticked Still Waiting On Tickets To Game Today|url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/1997-12-27/news/18048331_1_playoff-tickets-giants-officials-mail|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707010731/http://articles.nydailynews.com/1997-12-27/news/18048331_1_playoff-tickets-giants-officials-mail|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 7, 2012|first=Owen|last=Moritz|newspaper=Daily News|location=New York|date=December 27, 1997|access-date=November 22, 2011}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|New York Giants}};"|1999–2001
| 79,469<ref>{{cite news |title=Pro Football: Jets Heed Coach's Warnings and Wallop Colts
|first=Mike|last=Freeman|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/09/21/sports/pro-football-jets-heed-coach-s-warnings-and-wallop-colts.html|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=September 21, 1998|access-date=November 22, 2011}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|New York Giants}};"|2002–2010
| 80,242<ref>{{cite news |title=December Surprise: Giants Stadium; Keeping the Asles Clear|first=Robert|last=Hanley|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/06/nyregion/december-surprise-giants-stadium-keeping-the-aisles-clear.html|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=December 6, 2002|access-date=November 22, 2011}}</ref>
|}

==Demolition==
Demolition work on Giants Stadium began at approximately 10:00 AM EST on February 4, 2010, at the Gate B spirals, the closest point to the new stadium. The demolition work was expected to cost more than $10 million and took approximately four months to complete.<ref>{{cite news |title=Demolition of Giants Stadium begins as Giants, Jets ready to move into new stadium |first=Larry
 |last=McShane |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/2010/02/04/2010-02-04_giants_stadium_demolition.html |newspaper=Daily News |location=New York |date=February 4, 2010 |access-date=February 4, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/football/nfl/02/04/giants.ap/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103163450/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/football/nfl/02/04/giants.ap/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 3, 2012 |title=Giants Stadium Demolition Begins |work=SI.com |date=February 4, 2010 |access-date=February 6, 2010}}</ref> As of May 10, 2010, approximately 50% of the Stadium had been demolished. On May 19, 2010, at 8:30 pm, demolition crews pulled down the press box, the highest part of the stadium. In the early afternoon of June 28, 2010, the last section of stadium grandstand came down, leaving just two later demolished upper-level escalators standing.

Much of the stadium's memorabilia was sold to a sports memorabilia company, such as the framed pictures from the suites, all of the building's signage and a good portion of the saved bowl seats. Other property was liquidated to other NJSEA facilities such as the [[IZOD Center]] and [[Monmouth Park]] Racetrack.

==Changes and co-tenants==
To accommodate these varied events, Giants Stadium sported various playing surfaces in its history. From its opening until the end of the 1999 NFL season, Giants Stadium sported an [[AstroTurf]] playing surface. This surface was covered by [[Bermuda grass]] [[sod]] for the World Cup in 1994, identical to that at the [[Rose Bowl (stadium)|Rose Bowl]] where the other semifinal and the finals were held (so that both teams in the finals would have played on identical surfaces). The grass was removed after the World Cup, as it would have died in the New Jersey winter. The MetroStars installed a grass field with interchangeable trays each spring that was removed prior to football season, forcing the team to play the remainder of its season on the AstroTurf field used by the football teams. (When the [[New York Cosmos (1971–85)|New York Cosmos]] called Giants Stadium home, they played on the stadium's artificial surface and never used a grass field.)

The AstroTurf was replaced in 2000 by a system of interchangeable grass trays similar to those put in place for soccer, but was kept in place under the trays to aid in draining the field when it got wet. Over the next three years, the conditions would worsen as the season went on and the field quality was typically rated just as low as the old, hard AstroTurf had been. Giants Stadium finally scrapped the grass in favor of [[FieldTurf]] for the 2003 season, a surface that remained in place until the stadium closed.

The [[New York Jets]] left [[Shea Stadium]] and moved to Giants Stadium in 1984 after years of suffering under onerous lease terms imposed at the insistence of baseball's [[New York Mets]]. When they moved across the Hudson, many predicted the stadium would be renamed. While the Jets were attracted by the stadium's larger capacity (it held 15,000 more seats than Shea did in its football configuration), they were understandably displeased at the prospect of playing in a facility named after another team. However, under the terms of the stadium lease, changing the name of the stadium required the approval of the Giants, and they were unwilling to do so. As such, for years afterward the Jets referred to Giants Stadium as "The Meadowlands" whenever they played there.

Thanks largely to the dual occupancy of Giants Stadium by two NFL teams since 1984, it surpassed [[Wrigley Field]] (home of the [[Chicago Bears]] for 50 seasons) as the venue to have hosted more NFL games than any other in league history. The game played between the [[2003 New York Jets season|Jets]] and [[2003 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]] on September 14, 2003, was the 366th regular season NFL game at Giants Stadium breaking Wrigley's regular season record.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The runaround: Sticking with ground game pays off in Week 2 |first=B. Duane |last=Cross |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2003/writers/b_duane_cross/09/14/full.blitz.2/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030919034053/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2003/writers/b_duane_cross/09/14/full.blitz.2/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 19, 2003 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |date=September 14, 2003 |access-date=August 6, 2008 |quote=According to Elias Sports Bureau via Michael Eisen of the G-Men, the Dolphins-Jets game was the 366th NFL regular season game played in Giants Stadium, surpassing Wrigley Field in Chicago as the most frequently used stadium in NFL history (regular season only).}}</ref>

Since the stadium was originally built for the Giants, the stadium's lower walls were blue and the seats and the stadium's four gates were red and blue to reflect the team colors. When the Jets moved in, green banners were hung over the walls and eventually over the outer gates of the stadium anytime the team hosted a game.<ref>{{cite news |title=Home Is Wherever the Jets Hang Their Banners |first=Richard Lezin |last=Jones |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/17/sports/football/17jets.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=October 17, 2004 |access-date=January 4, 2010}}</ref> In addition, team-specific end zone decorations would be changed for Jets home games. This was accomplished by either painting over the Giants logos, or replacing the turf section of each end zone. Midfield decorations at the 50-yard line were typically not team-specific (in early years a Meadowlands logo, and later an NFL shield), which could be used for both teams' games.

In mid-December, traditionally the stadium hosted a Saturday-Sunday NFL doubleheader, with the Giants playing a home game one day and the Jets playing the other. The night between the games was a challenge for the stadium grounds crew, as they only had hours to convert the stadium from one team's colors to the other. As per the NFL schedule, the Giants and the Jets play each other once every four years. In that case, there was a predetermined home team, and a predetermined away team. In those games, the away team gets a rare away game in their own home stadium. The Giants and Jets typically play each other every year in the third week of the [[National Football League exhibition season|NFL Preseason]], and the teams annually rotated the home and away teams.

==Jimmy Hoffa urban legend==
For some years, a popular urban legend purported that the remains of [[Jimmy Hoffa]], whose disappearance coincided with construction of the stadium, had been buried under one of the end zones at the field.<ref>{{cite news |title=So Who Really Is Buried Under Giants Stadium? |first=Robert |last=Strauss |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9807E4D61330F930A25755C0A9629C8B63 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=June 13, 2004 |access-date=January 20, 2008 |quote=For years, New Jersey lore has had the body of Mr. Hoffa, the longtime Teamsters president, interred somewhere under Giants Stadium, whose construction coincided roughly with his disappearance in 1975.}}</ref> This led ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' to suggest that this "takes on special meaning when a punter goes for the '[[coffin corner (football)|coffin corner]].'"<ref>{{cite news |title=Super Bowl Glossaries |first1=Paul JJ |last1=Payack |first2=Robert |last2=Beard |first3=Peter |last3=Payack |first4=Lou |last4=Lorenzo  |first5=Joe |last5=Marcello |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/2001/playoffs/news/2001/01/26/superbowl_glossary/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030820130201/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/2001/playoffs/news/2001/01/26/superbowl_glossary/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 20, 2003 |work=CNN Sports Illustrated |date=January 26, 2001 |access-date=March 11, 2010}}</ref> In a similar vein, sportscaster [[Marv Albert]] once said that a team was "kicking towards the Hoffa end of the field." The rumor was referenced in ''The Simpsons'' episode "[[Last Exit to Springfield]]", when the leader of the Springfield chapter of the "International Brotherhood of Jazz Dancers, Pastry Chefs and Nuclear Technicians" trade union is said to have mysteriously disappeared after promising to clean up the union; the body of the missing leader is then shown buried under a football field.

The rumor was tested by the [[Discovery Channel]] show ''[[MythBusters]]'', and they were unable to find any sign of a body. Furthermore, no human remains were found during the demolition of the stadium in 2010.

==Notable moments==
*October 10, 1976: The Giants played their first ever regular season game at Giants Stadium, a 24–14 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in front of 76,042 fans.<ref>{{cite news |title=$68 Million Stadium for Football Giants Is Opened in Jersey |first=Neil |last=Amdur |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/10/11/archives/68-million-stadium-for-football-giants-is-opened-in-jersey-76042.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=October 11, 1976 |access-date=January 4, 2010}}</ref>
[[File:Pele carlos alberto cosmos.jpg|thumb|150px|[[Pelé]] being consoled by teammate Carlos Alberto at the end of his farewell game v Brazilian side Santos, 1 October 1977]]
*October 1, 1977: [[association football|Soccer]] legend [[Pelé]] played his last game, an exhibition match between the Cosmos and [[Santos Futebol Clube|Santos]]. He played the first half for the Cosmos and the second half for his old Brazilian team.<ref>{{cite news |title='Love! Love! Love!' Cries Pele to 75,646 in Farewell |first=Tony |last=Kornheiser |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/10/02/archives/love-love-love-cries-pele-to-75646-in-farewell-love-love-cries-pele.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=October 2, 1977 |access-date=January 4, 2010}}</ref>
* June 25, 1978: First concert at Giants Stadium, with [[The Beach Boys]], [[The Steve Miller Band]], [[Pablo Cruise]], and Stanky Brown performing.<ref name="Concert Archives"/>
*October 28, 1978: [[Rutgers Scarlet Knights football|Rutgers]] beat [[Columbia Lions|Columbia]] 69–0. The Lions' humiliating defeat was the last game in one of the oldest rivalries in [[college football]]. Columbia's young coach [[William Campbell (business executive)|Bill Campbell]] retired from coaching after the game and went on to a vastly more successful career in the [[Silicon Valley]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.college.columbia.edu/cct_archive/may05/cover.php |title=Columbia College Today |publisher=College.columbia.edu |access-date=February 7, 2010 |archive-date=January 9, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100109065630/http://www.college.columbia.edu/cct_archive/may05/cover.php |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*November 19, 1978: Giants quarterback [[Joe Pisarcik]] fumbled the handoff to [[Larry Csonka]] with just seconds remaining in the game, allowing [[Herman Edwards]] (later a Jets head coach) to scoop it up and run it back for a touchdown, giving the Philadelphia Eagles an improbable 19–17 win. This play would be known as "[[The Miracle at the Meadowlands]]", and helped lead to the hiring of [[George Young (football executive)|George Young]] as general manager, and later [[Bill Parcells]] as head coach. <ref>{{cite news |title=Two Fumbles In a Time Tunnel Separated by 30 Years  |first=Vincent M. |last=Mallozzi |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9907E7DE113AF932A15751C1A96E9C8B63 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=December 21, 2008 |access-date=January 10, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Crushing blows and devastating fumbles mark Giant–Eagle rivalry |first1=Hank |last1=Gola |first2=Ralph |last2=Vacchiano  |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/2009/01/10/2009-01-10_crushing_blows_and_devastating_fumbles_m.html |newspaper=Daily News |location=New York |date=January 10, 2009 |access-date=January 10, 2010}}</ref> Pisarcik's career in New York never recovered, and [[Phil Simms]] was drafted shortly after.<ref>{{cite news
 |title=Giants Defend 'Value' in Choice of Simms; Perkins Optimistic Giants Selections |first=Michael |last=Katz |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/05/05/archives/giants-defend-value-in-choice-of-simms-perkins-optimistic-giants.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=May 5, 1979 |page=S17 |access-date=November 22, 2011}}</ref>
*September 6, 1984: The New York Jets moved into Giants Stadium, losing their first game to the Pittsburgh Steelers by a score of 23–17.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ineffective Jets Lose to Steelers |first=Gerald |last=Eskenazi |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/09/07/sports/ineffective-jets-lose-to-steelers.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 7, 1984 |access-date=January 4, 2010}}</ref>
*July 29, 30 and 31, 1984: [[The Jacksons]] performed three sold-out shows during their [[Victory Tour (The Jacksons 5 tour)|Victory Tour]] with 136,000 total attendance.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jacksons at Giant Stadium |first=Jon |last=Pareles |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/07/30/arts/concert-jacksons-at-giants-stadium.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=July 30, 1984 |access-date=January 10, 2009}}</ref>
*July 14, 1985: The [[Baltimore Stars]] defeated the [[Oakland Invaders]], 28–24, in the 1985 [[USFL]] Championship Game, the final game in league history.<ref>{{cite news |title=Stars Beat Invaders for U.S.F.L. Title |first=William N. |last=Wallace |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/07/15/sports/stars-beat-invaders-for-usfl-title.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=July 15, 1985 |access-date=January 10, 2009}}</ref>
*August–September 1985: [[Bruce Springsteen]] and the [[E Street Band]] performed six sold-out shows on the final leg of their [[Born in the U.S.A. Tour]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Srpingsteen Begins 6-Concert Series {{sic|nolink=y|expected="Springsteen" in title and URL}} |first=John |last=Rockwell |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/08/19/arts/rock-srpingsteen-begins-6-concert-series.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=August 19, 1985 |access-date=January 24, 2010}}</ref>
*December 28–29, 1985: Giants Stadium made history by playing host to multiple playoff games in the same weekend. The Jets hosted the first playoff game in stadium history, as well as their first since hosting the [[1981 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]] in 1981 at [[Shea Stadium]], on December 28, losing to the eventual AFC champion [[1985 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]] 26–14 in the AFC wild card game. The next day the Giants, who are playing their first playoff game at home since they lost the [[1962 NFL Championship Game]] at [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]], defeat the defending Super Bowl champion [[1985 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers]] 17–3 in the NFC Wild Card Game.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jets Routed from Playoffs by Patriots, 26–14 |first=Gerald |last=Eskenazi |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/12/29/sports/jets-routed-from-playoffs-by-patriots-26-14.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=December 29, 1985 |access-date=January 17, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Giants Stop 49ers in Wild-Card Playoff, 17–3 |first=Frank |last=Litsky |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/12/30/sports/giants-stop-49ers-in-wild-card-playoff-17-3.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=December 30, 1985 |access-date=January 17, 2010}}</ref>
*September 22, 1986: In a dramatic game, the Jets defeated the Miami Dolphins 51–45 in overtime. Jets quarterback Ken O'Brien threw for 479 yards and 4 touchdowns while Dan Marino threw for 448 yards and 6 touchdowns. Jets receiver Wesley Walker caught 6 passes for 194 yards and 4 touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/09/22/sports/jets-and-o-brien-outduel-marino-and-dolpins-51-45.html|title=Jets and O'Brien Outduel Marino and Dolpins, 51-45|newspaper=The New York Times|date=September 22, 1986 |last=Eskenazi |first=Gerald}}</ref> 
*January 11, 1987: The [[1986 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] shut out the [[1986 Washington Redskins season|Washington Redskins]] 17–0 in the NFC Championship game to advance to [[Super Bowl XXI]] in Pasadena. Two weeks later, the Giants won [[Super Bowl XXI]], their first Super Bowl victory.<ref>{{cite news |title=Giants Defeat Redskins by 17–0; Reach Super Bowl with Broncos |first=Frank |last=Litsky |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/01/12/sports/giants-defeat-redskins-by-17-0-reach-super-bowl-with-broncos.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=January 12, 1987 |access-date=January 26, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Giants Rout Broncos in the Super Bowl |first=Frank |last=Litsky |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/01/26/sports/super-bowl-xxi-giants-rout-broncos-in-the-super-bowl.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=January 26, 1987 |access-date=January 26, 2010}}</ref>
*November 8, 1987: The [[New York Giants]] defeated the [[New England Patriots]] 17–10 in ESPN's first televised regular season game.<ref>{{cite news |title=Giants Pull Together to Win, 17–10 |first=Gerald |last=Eskenazi |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/11/09/sports/giants-pull-together-to-win-17-10.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=November 9, 1987 |access-date=January 17, 2010}}</ref>
*June 30, 1989: [[The Who]] sold out four consecutive shows performing portions of the rock opera ''[[Tommy (1975 film)|Tommy]]'' to open the first of two sets each night.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thewholive.de/konzerte/zeige_konzert.php?GroupID=1&Status=0&Jahr=1989 |title=Concerts |work=The Who Concert Guide |access-date=January 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106023554/http://www.thewholive.de/konzerte/zeige_konzert.php?GroupID=1&Status=0&Jahr=1989 |archive-date=January 6, 2009}}</ref>
*June–July 1994: Giants Stadium served as a venue for the [[1994 FIFA World Cup]], opening with [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Ireland]]'s 1–0 win over [[Italy national football team|Italy]], and concluding with Italy's 2–1 win over [[Bulgaria national football team|Bulgaria]] in the semifinals.<ref>{{cite news |title=Glory for The Green: Ireland Stuns Italy |first=Alex |last=Yannis |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/19/sports/world-cup-94-glory-for-the-green-ireland-stuns-italy.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=June 19, 1994 |access-date=January 22, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Italians Save Their Best for the Cup's Next to Last |first=Lawrie |last=Mifflin |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/14/sports/world-cup-94-italians-save-their-best-for-the-cup-s-next-to-last.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=July 14, 1994 |access-date=January 22, 2010}}</ref>
*[[File:Pope John Paul II at Giants Stadium.jpg|thumb|[[Pope John Paul II]] celebrates Mass at Giants Stadium]]October 6, 1995: 83,000 people filled the stadium on a rainy Thursday night to participate in a Mass led by [[Pope John Paul II]] during a trip to the United States.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1995/oct/06/pope-celebrates-mass-in-the-land-of-giants/ | title=Pope Celebrates Mass in the Land of Giants Thousands Pack Rainy New York Stadium to See, Hear Pontiff |work=The Spokesman-Review |agency=The New York Times |last=Kleinfield |first=N.R. |date=October 6, 1995}}</ref>
*December 23, 1995: In what was perhaps the most embarrassing moment in Stadium and New York Giants franchise history, frustrated Giants fans pelted the field with snowballs during a late season loss to the San Diego Chargers. A Chargers equipment manager was knocked unconscious and some 175 spectators were ejected.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/26/sports/football/snowballs-at-giants-stadium-and-then-arrests.html|title = Snowballs at Giants Stadium, and then Arrests |newspaper=The New York Times |date=January 25, 2014 |last=Anderson |first=Dave}}</ref>
*December 13, 1998: The [[1998 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] defeated the then 13–0 [[1998 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]] 20–16 in front of 72,336 spectators.<ref>{{cite news |title=Broncos Jarred Awake From Their Dream of Perfection |first=Bill |last=Pennington |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/12/14/sports/pro-football-broncos-jarred-awake-from-their-dream-of-perfection.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=December 14, 1998 |access-date=January 22, 2010}}</ref>
*October 23, 2000: In what has been called the greatest game on ''[[Monday Night Football]]'', the New York Jets came back from a 30–7 deficit by scoring 30 points in the fourth quarter and another 3 in overtime to beat the Miami Dolphins 40–37. The game is known as [[The Monday Night Miracle (American football)|the Monday Night Miracle]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Former New York Jets Quarterback Vinny Testaverde Recalls 'Miracle' Comeback Over Miami Dolphins |first=Rich |last=Cimini |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/2010/01/02/2010-01-02_magical_night.html |newspaper=[[New York Daily News]] |date=January 2, 2010 |access-date=January 22, 2010 |archive-date=January 7, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107130415/http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/2010/01/02/2010-01-02_magical_night.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*January 14, 2001: On a field of painted mud, the New York Giants defeated the Minnesota Vikings 41–0 in the NFC Championship Game in front of 79,310 in attendance to send the Giants to [[Super Bowl XXXV]] in Tampa.<ref>{{cite news |title=Giants Reach Super Bowl in a 41–0 Rout |first=Bill |last=Pennington |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/15/sports/giants-reach-super-bowl-in-a-41-0-rout.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=January 15, 2001 |access-date=January 24, 2010}}</ref>
*December 29, 2002: The New York Jets defeated the Green Bay Packers 42–17 to clinch the AFC East Division Title after a last-minute Patriots rally to defeat Miami changed the Jets' fortunes. Had New England lost, the Jets would've been eliminated from playoff contention. New England scored 11 points in the final two minutes to tie and won the game in overtime. The stadium crowd erupted furiously when the news spread like wildfire of the Patriots victory. This opened the door for a scintillating Jets rout.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/29/sports/football/jets-clinch-afc-east-title.html|title = Jets Clinch A.F.C. East Title|newspaper = The New York Times|date = December 29, 2002|agency=Associated Press}}</ref>
*July–August 2003: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band broke their own record with 10 sold-out shows on [[the Rising Tour]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Springsteen's Homecoming, With 55,000 Guests |first=Michael |last=Wilson |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/16/nyregion/springsteen-s-homecoming-with-55000-guests.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=July 16, 2003 |access-date=January 24, 2010}}</ref>
*December 20, 2003: The [[New England Patriots]] defeated the [[New York Jets]] 21–16 in ESPN's 200th NFL regular season game.<ref>{{cite news |title=Patriots Pick Off Jets' Bid for .500 Season |first=Judy |last=Battista |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/21/sports/pro-football-patriots-pick-off-jets-bid-for-.500-season.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=December 21, 2003 |access-date=March 7, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Namath Incident Not Being Kissed Off |first=Bill |last=Griffith |url=https://www.boston.com/sports/other_sports/articles/2003/12/23/namath_incident_not_being_kissed_off/ |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=December 23, 2003 |access-date=March 7, 2010}}</ref>
[[File:Giants Stadium.jpg|thumb|Giants Stadium during a December 17, 2005, game between the Giants and Kansas City Chiefs]]
*September 1, 2005: The punk rock band [[Green Day]] sold out Giants Stadium with [[Against Me!]] and [[Jimmy Eat World]]. It was their biggest concert played in North America.<ref>{{cite news |title=Now a Band That It Once Would Parody |first=Jon |last=Pareles |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/03/arts/music/03gree.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 3, 2005 |access-date=January 30, 2010}}</ref>
*December 26, 2005: The New York Jets and the New England Patriots played each other in the last ''Monday Night Football'' game on ABC. The Patriots defeated the Jets 31–21.<ref>{{cite news |title=For Testaverde, One More Memory and a Milestone; for the Jets, One More Loss |first=Karen |last=Crouse |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/27/sports/football/27jets.ready.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=December 27, 2005 |access-date=January 8, 2010}}</ref>
*January 8, 2006: The Giants attracted their largest crowd in stadium history when they hosted the [[Carolina Panthers]] in the [[2005–06_NFL_playoffs#NFC:_Carolina_Panthers_23,_New_York_Giants_0|2005–06 Wild Card Game]]. 79,378 fans witnessed the Giants' 23–0 shutout loss to the Panthers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://history.giants.com/page/Giants+Stadium+Facts |title=Giants Stadium Facts – New York Giants |publisher=History.giants.com |access-date=February 7, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090923164327/http://history.giants.com/page/Giants+Stadium+Facts |archive-date=September 23, 2009}}</ref>
*July 7, 2007: The "New York" portion of [[Live Earth]], a worldwide series of concerts of pop and rock music featuring various bands and musical artists planned to inspire global warming activism, was held at Giants Stadium.<ref>{{cite news |title=An Alignment of the Stars in a Plea for Green Heard Round the Planet |first=Jon |last=Pareles |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/09/arts/music/09eart.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=July 9, 2007 |access-date=January 30, 2010}}</ref>
*[[File:Live Earth at Giants Stadium, 2007.jpg|thumb|Giants Stadium hosts [[Live Earth (2007 concert)|Live Earth]]]]August 18, 2007: 66,237 attended as the largest crowd ever for a regular-season [[Major League Soccer|MLS]] match at Giants Stadium.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sdmlsproject.com/beckhamwatchmain.html |title=18 August 2007 - Beckham's first league start...2 assists in 9 Goal-Fest ! |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070910222638/http://sdmlsproject.com/beckhamwatchmain.html |archive-date=September 10, 2007 |website=San Diego MLS Project}}</ref>
*September 9, 2007: [[New England Patriots]] CB Ellis Hobbs set an NFL record by taking the second-half kickoff 108 yards for a touchdown against the New York Jets in a 38–14 opening day victory. The play also tied the record for the longest play in NFL history at the time, matching the 108-yard missed field goal returns by the [[Chicago Bears]]' [[Devin Hester]] against the Giants in 2006, and the Bears' [[Nathan Vasher]] the previous season against San Francisco.<ref>{{cite news |title=Patriots' Ellis Hobbs Sets NFL Record with 108-yard Kickoff Return |url=http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/article/2007-09-09/patriots-ellis-hobbs-sets-nfl-record-108-yard-kickoff-return |newspaper=Sporting News |agency=Associated Press |date=September 9, 2007 |access-date=January 30, 2010}}</ref>
*December 29, 2007: The New England Patriots closed out their undefeated 16–0 regular season at Giants Stadium with a 38–35 [[2007 New England Patriots–New York Giants game|win]] over the [[New York Giants]] in front of a record regular season crowd on 79,110. In the fourth quarter, Patriots QB [[Tom Brady]] broke [[Peyton Manning]]'s NFL record of 49 TD passes set in 2004, with his NFL record 50th TD pass, a 65-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver [[Randy Moss]], who on the same play set the record for most touchdown receptions in a single season with 23, breaking the record held previously by [[Jerry Rice]] with 22 touchdown receptions set in 1987.<ref>{{cite news |title=Record-Setting Night, Perfect Finish for Patriots |first=Judy |last=Battista |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/30/sports/football/30patriots.html |work=The New York Times |date=December 30, 2007}}</ref>
*June 8, 2008: The [[United States men's national soccer team]] played then world #1 Argentina to a scoreless draw in front of a crowd of 78,682.<ref>{{cite news |title=U.S. Is Kept on Move by Argentina, but Earns a Tie in a Tuneup |first=Joshua |last=Robinson |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/09/sports/soccer/09soccer.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=June 9, 2008 |access-date=January 15, 2010}}</ref>
*January 11, 2009: The stadium hosted what would ultimately be its final playoff game, the Giants' [[2008–09_NFL_playoffs#NFC:_Philadelphia_Eagles_23,_New_York_Giants_11|2008–09 NFC Divisional Round]] matchup against the arch-rival Philadelphia Eagles. 79,193 fans watched the Giants lose to the Eagles, 23–11.<ref>{{cite news |title=Eagles End Giants' Bid to Repeat as Super Bowl Champions |first=Joe |last=Lapointe |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/12/sports/football/12giants.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=January 11, 2009 |access-date=April 22, 2024}}</ref>
*July 26, 2009: In the [[2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup]] final 79,156 fans witnessed [[Mexico national football team|Mexico]] beat the [[United States men's national soccer team|USA]] 5–0, Mexico's first win against the USA on American soil in a decade.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mexico Thumps U.S. to Win Gold Cup |first=Jeré |last=Longman |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/27/sports/soccer/27soccer.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=July 26, 2009 |access-date=January 15, 2010}}</ref>
*September 23–24, 2009: [[U2]] played two consecutive sold-out shows at Giants Stadium, their last two shows at the famous venue, as part of their [[U2 360]] tour. On the second night of the performance, Bono announced that the attendance record has been broken. He also joked that "not even the pope had as many people there." The final attendance was 84,467.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.u2.com/tour/index/ |title=> U2 360° Tour |publisher=U2.com |access-date=February 7, 2010}}</ref>
*October 9, 2009: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band played in the final concert at Giants Stadium. The concert capped a five-night stand of performances in September and October, highlighting Springsteen's classic albums ''[[Born to Run]]'', ''[[Darkness on the Edge of Town]]'', and ''[[Born in the U.S.A.]]'', as well as debuting a new song in honor of New Jersey and Giants Stadium, "Wrecking Ball."<ref>{{cite news |title=Bruce Springsteen Rocks Giants Stadium for the Last Time |first=Jay |last=Lustig |url=http://www.nj.com/entertainment/music/index.ssf/2009/10/bruce_springsteen_rocks_giants.html |newspaper=The Star-Ledger |date=October 10, 2009 |access-date=March 9, 2010}}</ref>
*October 24, 2009: The final soccer game at Giants Stadium was played between the [[New York Red Bulls]] and [[Toronto FC]], with New York winning 5–0.<ref>{{cite news |title=NY Red Bulls Win Final Soccer Game in Giants Stadium, 5–0 |first=Frank |last=Giase |url=http://www.nj.com/sports/njsports/index.ssf/2009/10/ny_red_bulls_win_final_soccer.html |newspaper=The Star-Ledger |date=October 24, 2009 |access-date=April 16, 2010}}</ref>
*December 27, 2009: The Giants played their final home game in the stadium against the [[Carolina Panthers]]. The Panthers prevailed, 41–9, eliminating the Giants from playoff contention.<ref>{{cite news |title=Giants Say Farewell to Stadium and Playoffs |first=Joe
 |last=Lapointe |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/28/sports/football/28giants.html |newspaper=The New York Times  |date=December 27, 2009 |access-date=January 15, 2010}}</ref>
*January 3, 2010: The Jets defeated the [[Cincinnati Bengals]] 37–0 in the final game at Giants Stadium. The victory also won the Jets a playoff berth.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jets Rout Bengals and Clinch Playoff Berth |first=Greg |last=Bishop |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/sports/football/04jets.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=January 4, 2010 |access-date=January 15, 2010}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
Giants Stadium is featured in the 2008 film, ''[[The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008 film)|The Day the Earth Stood Still]]'', where it is destroyed by [[nanites]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Adler |first=Shawn |title=EXCLUSIVE: 'The Day The Earth Stood Still' Director Reveals Trailer Secrets! |website=MTV Movies Blog |publisher=Viacom International Inc. |date=July 4, 2008 |access-date=August 14, 2012 |url=http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2008/07/04/the-day-the-earth-stood-still-trailer-is-here/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828035133/http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2008/07/04/the-day-the-earth-stood-still-trailer-is-here/ |archive-date=August 28, 2008}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{commons cat}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090505215908/http://www.stadiumguide.com/nfl/giantsstadium.htm Stadium guide page]

{{s-start}}
{{succession box
| title = Home of the<br />[[New York Giants]]
| years = 1976–2009
| before = [[Shea Stadium]]
| after = [[MetLife Stadium]] 
}}
{{succession box
| title = Home of the<br />[[New York Jets]]
| years = 1984–2010
| before = [[Shea Stadium]]
| after = [[MetLife Stadium]] 
}}
{{succession box
| title = Home of the<br />[[New York Cosmos (1971–85)|New York Cosmos]]
| years = 1977–1985
| before = [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]]
| after = last stadium
}}
{{succession box
| title = Home of the<br />[[New York Red Bulls]]
| years = 1996–2009
| before = first stadium
| after = [[Red Bull Arena (New Jersey)|Red Bull Arena]]
}}
{{Succession box |
| title= Home of the<br />[[New Orleans Saints]]<br />(with [[Alamodome]] &amp; [[Tiger Stadium (LSU)|Tiger Stadium]])
| years = 2005 ''(One Game)''
| before = [[Louisiana Superdome]]
| after = Louisiana Superdome
}}
{{succession box |
  title=[[CONCACAF Gold Cup]]<br />Final Venue|
  before=[[Estadio Azteca]] <br /> [[Mexico City]]|
  after=[[Soldier Field]] <br/> [[Chicago]]|
  years=[[2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup|2005]]
}}
{{succession box |
  title=[[CONCACAF Gold Cup]]<br />Final Venue|
  before=[[Soldier Field]] <br /> [[Chicago]]|
  after=[[Rose Bowl (stadium)|Rose Bowl]]<br>[[Pasadena, California|Pasadena]]|
  years=[[2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup|2009]]
}}
{{succession box |
 | title = Host of [[NFC Championship Game]]
 | years = 1987<br />2001
 | before = [[Soldier Field]]<br />[[Edward Jones Dome]]
 | after = [[RFK Stadium]]<br />[[Edward Jones Dome]]
}}
{{succession box
 | title = Host of the<br>[[United States Football League]] championship game
 | years = 1985
 | before = [[Tampa Stadium]]
 | after = None
}}
{{s-end}}
{{Meadowlands Sports Complex|state=autocollapse}} 
{{New York Giants}}
{{New York Jets}}
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{{New York Red Bulls}}
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{{1994 FIFA World Cup stadiums}}
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{{Former MLS stadiums}}
{{XFL (2001)}}
{{United Football League (2009)}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Meadowlands Sports Complex]]
[[Category:East Rutherford, New Jersey]]
[[Category:1994 FIFA World Cup stadiums]]
[[Category:1999 FIFA Women's World Cup stadiums]]
[[Category:CONCACAF Gold Cup stadiums]]
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[[Category:Defunct National Football League venues]]
[[Category:Defunct NCAA bowl game venues]]
[[Category:Defunct soccer venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Former Major League Soccer stadiums]]
[[Category:Soccer venues in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Columbia Lions football]]
[[Category:New York Giants stadiums]]
[[Category:New York Jets stadiums]]
[[Category:New Orleans Saints stadiums]]
[[Category:New York Cosmos]]
[[Category:New York Red Bulls]]
[[Category:Rutgers Scarlet Knights football]]
[[Category:United States Football League venues]]
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[[Category:United Football League (2009–2012) venues]]
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[[Category:American football venues in New Jersey]]
[[Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) stadiums]]
[[Category:New Jersey Generals stadiums]]
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[[Category:Syracuse Orange football venues]]