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After calling four different stadiums home in
their first 50 years in the National Football
League, the Giants moved into Giants Stadium in
1976. The idea of playing at a stadium built in
the Meadowlands first attracted the Giants'
attention when they realized that they could
provide 15,000 more seats and help meet the
increasing demands of the fans without a major
switch in location. Giants Stadium is only 6.9
miles from Times Square, compared to Yankee
Stadium which is 6.6. |
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When
the New York Jets departed the Big Apple for the Garden
State in 1984, they left behind a dilapidated stadium
and second-class citizenship foisted upon them by the
New York Mets. What did they get when they crossed the
river from Queens to Manhattan to alight in East Rutherford,
New Jersey? More seats, better parking, a better financial
deal and second-class citizenship courtesy of the Stadium's
prime tenants, the New York Giants. The Jets try to
make the place homey by hanging green coverings and
bunting over the (Giants') blue walls, but they failed
a few years ago in an attempt to get the New Jersey
Sports and Exposition Authority to rename the big cement
dish.
By contrast, Giants fans seem positively genteel. Tickets
have been in their families longer, and they're more
respectful of neighboring patrons. Jets fans tend to
be younger and, well, more boisterous. Win or lose,
you can expect a hot time at the ballpark when the Jets
play."
Some New York Giants history: In 1925 New York
City sports enthusiast Tim Mara paid $500 for an NFL
franchise, which he named the Giants. The team
played its home games at the Polo Grounds, which was
also the home of the baseball Giants. Legendary
halfback Jim Thorpe was recruited to join the team,
which earned its first league title in 1927 under
head coach Earl Potteiger. The Giants shut out 9 of
12 opponents and surrendered only 20 points during
the entire season
Some New York Jets history: In 1969 the Jets,
then members of the American Football League (AFL),
recorded one of the most dramatic upsets in
professional football history, stunning the
Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III. The team was led
by head coach Weeb Ewbank, wide receiver Don
Maynard, and charismatic quarterback Joe Namath. New
York joined the NFL in 1970.
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