Reports: Rutgers will face Maryland at Yankee Stadium in 2017
Rutgers coach Chris Ash threw out the first pitch at a New York Yankees game earlier this week. He already has a future appearance at Yankees Stadium booked.
According to multiple reports, Rutgers will move its 2017 home game against Maryland on Nov. 4 to Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. The game was previously scheduled for High Point Solutions Stadium in Piscataway, so Rutgers will give up a home game for this neutral site matchup (though Rutgers has the obvious geographic edge).
Scarlet Knights athletic director Pat Hobbs told the Asbury Park Press that the agreement with the Yankees actually originated a few years ago when Julie Hermann was still athletic director.
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“There were discussions by the previous administration with the Yankees about the Maryland game,” Hobbs said, “and they had reached an agreement in principle which I am reviewing.”
Hobbs, who threw out a first pitch alongside Ash on Tuesday, hinted that a return to Yankee Stadium could be on the horizon for Rutgers.
“We want to look at maybe bringing a game here and announcing that sometime down the road,” Hobbs said Tuesday. “I guess the Yankees see Rutgers is starting to move forward and is a good story so they want to be a part of it, too.”
Hobbs also mentioned the school’s alumni base in New York City as a reason for the partnership.
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“There are a tremendous amount of Rutgers alums who work here in the city,” Hobbs said. “It’s important for our relationship if we can be with an iconic organization like the Yankees. They have a lot of history that we would like to start building at Rutgers.”
Rutgers has previously played three games at Yankees Stadium – one regular season “road” game against Army in 2011, plus the Pinstripe Bowl against Iowa State (also in 2011) and Notre Dame in 2013.
For more Rutgers news, visit ScarletNation.com.
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Sam Cooper is a writer for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
