Yanks Will Open New Stadium Against Cubs

It was rumored that this would be the case about a month ago, and today it was made official.

From MLB.com:

Before the regular season even begins, Yankee Stadium's new turnstiles will spin for the first times. The Yankees announced on Monday that gates will open to fans for a pair of exhibition games against the Chicago Cubs on April 3 and 4.

The $1.3 billion facility will host its first game as a Friday tilt under the lights on Friday, April 3, at 7:05 p.m. ET, then a weekend afternoon affair on Saturday, April 4, at 1:05.

"The Yankees organization is excited and honored to host the Chicago Cubs in two exhibition games to be played at the new Yankee Stadium," said Yankees co-chairperson Hal Steinbrenner. "As we welcome our fans into the ballpark for the first time, it is fitting to showcase two of baseball's greatest and most historic franchises."

"We are thrilled to have such a great organization in the Chicago Cubs agree to play the first-ever exhibition games as we unveil Yankee Stadium," said Yankees president Randy Levine. "It will be a symbolic event for the fans of two iconic teams while we celebrate the beginning of a new chapter in this proud franchise's history."

"The Cubs are thrilled to be the Yankees' first opponent in the new Yankee Stadium and are honored to take part in this historic event," said Cubs chairman Crane Kenney. "Lou Piniella and eight of our players had the honor to partake in All-Star Game festivities that helped say farewell to Yankee Stadium last summer, and we look forward to participating in the opening of the Yankees' new ballpark next spring."

It should be a pretty cool set of games, and a nice way to open up the new stadium.