“When they (Giants) turned down the offer, I urged them to accept the lease, because the future of the league in New York had to be protected and there was no assurance a lease for the stadium could be had a gain at a later time.” ~ NFL Commissioner Bert Bell in 1956 when the New York Football Giants franchise turned down an offer to be purchased for $1 million and the Polo Grounds lease was over, but Bell struck a deal with Yankee Stadium.

The Move Uptown: The New York Giants from the Polo Grounds to Yankee Stadium

The New York Football Giants shared a deep, thirty-year history with the Polo Grounds in Upper Manhattan, calling it home from their inaugural season in 1925 through 1955. As the primary tenants of the New York Giants baseball team, the football Giants played in a horseshoe-shaped stadium that, while iconic, was becoming increasingly cramped and outdated for the growing ambitions of the NFL.

The Catalyst for Change

The move away from the Polo Grounds was officially finalized on January 27, 1956. The decision was driven by a combination of financial opportunity and the need for modern prestige. At the time, NFL Commissioner Bert Bell informed Giants owner Tim Mara that a Texas-based oil company was interested in purchasing the franchise for $1 million—a massive sum at the time—on the condition that the team move to a larger, more modern venue.

Why They Switched

While Tim Mara ultimately declined the offer to sell the team, the proposal served as a “wake-up call” regarding the franchise’s untapped potential. Mara realized that to maximize revenue and accommodate a burgeoning fan base, he needed “more butts in the stands.”

The primary reasons for the switch to Yankee Stadium included:

• Increased Capacity: Yankee Stadium offered significantly more seating than the Polo Grounds, allowing the Giants to capitalize on the NFL’s post-war spike in popularity.
• Modern Amenities: Known as “The Cathedral of Baseball,” Yankee Stadium was considered the premier sporting venue in the country, offering a more “big-league” feel than the aging Polo Grounds.
• The “Yankee” Brand: Playing in the same house as icons like Mickey Mantle elevated the Giants’ status in the New York sports hierarchy.

A New Era

The Giants began their tenure at Yankee Stadium in the 1956 season, a move that paid immediate dividends. That same year, the team won the NFL Championship, defeating the Chicago Bears 47-7 in their new home. The Giants would remain at Yankee Stadium until 1973, cementing their status as a cornerstone of New York sports culture before eventually moving to New Jersey.