Downing Stadium
Encyclopedia
Downing Stadium, previously known as Triborough Stadium and Randall's Island Stadium, was a 22,000-seat stadium
in New York City
. It was renamed Downing Stadium in 1955 after John J. Downing, a director at the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation
.
in the East River
as a WPA
project, 15,000 attendees witnessed Jesse Owens
compete at Randall's Island Stadium in the Olympic
Trials on July 11, 1936, the opening night of the new facility. Downing Stadium also hosted the Women's Olympic Trials in 1964.. It was the site of an international soccer friendly in which England defeated the USA 10-0 on May 27, 1964.
Triborough Stadium served as one of two home stadia of the football New York Yankees
of the second AFL (along with Yankee Stadium) in 1936
and 1937
; about four decades later, Downing Stadium became the home of the New York Stars of the WFL in 1974, and the New York Cosmos
of the NASL
in 1975 (for years after the Cosmos played there, the words "COSMOS SOCCER" remained on the stadium to be seen from the nearby highway viaduct on the Triborough Bridge).
Televised American football
began at the stadium with the 1939 Waynesburg vs. Fordham football game
on September 30, 1939.
The stadium was also used for some Negro League baseball games in the 1930s and was the site when the United States played Scotland
in soccer in 1949.
Additionally, the Brooklyn Dodgers of the Continental Football League
played their home games there in 1966. The stadium also played host to the All Blacks
several times, in the course of larger tours to Europe. They last played a New York Metropolitan selection in October 1972, beating their hosts 41-9.
After Downing Stadium stopped being a major sports venue it was occasionally used as a venue for rock concert
s such as Pearl Jam
and Tibetan Freedom Concert
. The stadium was torn down in 2002 in order to be replaced by a newer complex, Icahn Stadium
, which was completed in 2004. The stadium lights, which were taken from Ebbets Field
after it was torn down, were left in place to light the new field.
The site was considered for a 48,000 capacity soccer specific stadium, based on the design of the City of Manchester Stadium
, had the New York City bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics been successful. The plan was shelved when New York lost out to London
.
made his debut for the New York Cosmos
against the Dallas Tornado
on June 15, 1975, the pitch was spray painted green to look better on the television coverage of the game.
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. It was renamed Downing Stadium in 1955 after John J. Downing, a director at the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation
New York City Department of Parks and Recreation
The City of New York Department of Parks & Recreation is the department of government of the City of New York responsible for maintaining the city's parks system, preserving and maintaining the ecological diversity of the city's natural areas, and furnishing recreational opportunities for city's...
.
Overview
Built on Randall's IslandRandall's Island
Randall's Island is situated in the East River in New York City, part of the borough of Manhattan. It is separated from Manhattan island on the west by the river's main channel, from Queens on the east by the Hell Gate, and from the Bronx on the north by the Bronx Kill. It is joined to Wards...
in the East River
East River
The East River is a tidal strait in New York City. It connects Upper New York Bay on its south end to Long Island Sound on its north end. It separates Long Island from the island of Manhattan and the Bronx on the North American mainland...
as a WPA
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
project, 15,000 attendees witnessed Jesse Owens
Jesse Owens
James Cleveland "Jesse" Owens was an American track and field athlete who specialized in the sprints and the long jump. He participated in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany, where he achieved international fame by winning four gold medals: one each in the 100 meters, the 200 meters, the...
compete at Randall's Island Stadium in the Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
Trials on July 11, 1936, the opening night of the new facility. Downing Stadium also hosted the Women's Olympic Trials in 1964.. It was the site of an international soccer friendly in which England defeated the USA 10-0 on May 27, 1964.
Triborough Stadium served as one of two home stadia of the football New York Yankees
New York Yankees (1936 AFL)
The New York Yankees of the second American Football League was the second professional American football team competing under that name. It is unrelated to the Yankees of the first AFL , the Yankees of the third AFL, the Yankees of the American Association and the Yankees of the All America...
of the second AFL (along with Yankee Stadium) in 1936
1936 in sports
-American football:* Minnesota Golden Gophers are the National college football champions* Green Bay Packers defeated Boston Redskins 21–6 for the NFL championship...
and 1937
1937 in sports
-American football:* First Cotton Bowl Classic is played in Dallas.* Washington Redskins win the NFL title in their first year at Washington after moving from Boston...
; about four decades later, Downing Stadium became the home of the New York Stars of the WFL in 1974, and the New York Cosmos
New York Cosmos
The New York Cosmos were an American soccer club based in New York City, New York and its suburbs. The team played home games in three stadiums around New York before moving in 1977 to Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it remained for the rest of its history...
of the NASL
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
in 1975 (for years after the Cosmos played there, the words "COSMOS SOCCER" remained on the stadium to be seen from the nearby highway viaduct on the Triborough Bridge).
Televised American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
began at the stadium with the 1939 Waynesburg vs. Fordham football game
1939 Waynesburg vs. Fordham football game
The 1939 Waynesburg vs. Fordham football game was a college football game between the and the played on September 30, 1939. The game was played at Triborough Stadium on New York City's Randall's Island. Fordham won the game by a score of 34 to 7...
on September 30, 1939.
The stadium was also used for some Negro League baseball games in the 1930s and was the site when the United States played Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
in soccer in 1949.
Additionally, the Brooklyn Dodgers of the Continental Football League
Continental Football League
The Continental Football League was a professional minor American football league that operated in North America from 1965 through 1969. It was established following the collapse of the original United Football League, and hoped to become the major force in professional football outside of the...
played their home games there in 1966. The stadium also played host to the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
several times, in the course of larger tours to Europe. They last played a New York Metropolitan selection in October 1972, beating their hosts 41-9.
After Downing Stadium stopped being a major sports venue it was occasionally used as a venue for rock concert
Rock concert
The term rock concert refers to a musical performance in the style of any one of many genres inspired by "rock and roll" music. While a variety of vocal and instrumental styles can constitute a rock concert, this phenomenon is typically characterized by bands playing at least one electric guitar,...
s such as Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...
and Tibetan Freedom Concert
Tibetan Freedom Concert
Tibetan Freedom Concert is the name given to a series of rock festivals held in North America, Europe and Asia between 1996 and 2001 to support the cause of Tibetan independence. The concerts were organized by the Beastie Boys and the Milarepa Fund...
. The stadium was torn down in 2002 in order to be replaced by a newer complex, Icahn Stadium
Icahn Stadium
Icahn Stadium is a track and field venue located on Randall's Island, in New York City, and is one of only four Class 1 internationally certified tracks in the United States.-Overview:...
, which was completed in 2004. The stadium lights, which were taken from Ebbets Field
Ebbets Field
Ebbets Field was a Major League Baseball park located in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York, USA, on a city block which is now considered to be part of the Crown Heights neighborhood. It was the home of the Brooklyn Dodgers of the National League. It was also a venue for professional football...
after it was torn down, were left in place to light the new field.
The site was considered for a 48,000 capacity soccer specific stadium, based on the design of the City of Manchester Stadium
City of Manchester Stadium
The City of Manchester Stadium in Manchester, England – also known as the Etihad Stadium for sponsorship purposes– is the home ground of...
, had the New York City bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics been successful. The plan was shelved when New York lost out to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Trivia
When PelePelé
However, Pelé has always maintained that those are mistakes, that he was actually named Edson and that he was born on 23 October 1940.), best known by his nickname Pelé , is a retired Brazilian footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time...
made his debut for the New York Cosmos
New York Cosmos
The New York Cosmos were an American soccer club based in New York City, New York and its suburbs. The team played home games in three stadiums around New York before moving in 1977 to Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it remained for the rest of its history...
against the Dallas Tornado
Dallas Tornado
Dallas Tornado were a soccer team based in Dallas that played in the NASL. They played from 1967 to 1981. Their home fields were Cotton Bowl , P.C. Cobb Stadium , Franklin Field , Texas Stadium and Ownby Stadium on the SMU campus...
on June 15, 1975, the pitch was spray painted green to look better on the television coverage of the game.