Pinstripe Bowl sells more than 40,000 tickets

NEW YORK - The Pinstripe Bowl will make money for the second straight season and all but 10 percent of the available tickets for today's game were sold, New York Yankees President Randy Levine said Friday afternoon.

"As of about an hour ago, we've sold approximately 40,000 tickets," Levine said. "The capacity of the stadium for college football is 44,000; that is really good. It's principally where we were last year."

The inaugural Pinstripe Bowl featured Syracuse and Kansas State and the game was played in a snowstorm. Today's game is the fourth at the new Yankee Stadium. Rutgers played Army on Nov. 12. Notre Dame and Army opened played the first college football game here on Nov. 20, 2010.

Old Yankee Stadium, which closed down after the 2008 season, played host to 185 college football games historically. Among the key moments include Notre Dame's "Win One For the Gipper" against Army on Nov. 12, 1928 and the "Heisman Showdown" featuring four Heisman Trophy winners between Army and Notre Dame on Nov. 9, 1946. Old Yankee Stadium also hosted the NFL's New York Giants until 1973 and what many consider the greatest game ever played on Dec. 28, 1958 between the Baltimore Colts and New York Giants.

The Iowa State-Rutgers winner earns the George Steinbrenner Trophy.

"For all the people who don't believe New York City is a college town, we now have two years of evidence as it is," Levine said. "This game will be in the black for the second year in a row, and it's just the way the Boss thought it would be."

The weather was remarkably better Friday with temperatures soaring into the mid-50s by kickoff. Iowa State Athletics Director Jamie Pollard praised Pinstripe Bowl officials for the experiences his student-athletes enjoyed this week.

"I called Chuck Neinas, commissioner of the Big 12, this morning and shared with him  that this is one of the best bowl destinations I've ever been to," Pollard said. "And I've been the Rose Bowl and a lot of great bowls. What (Pinstripe Bowl officials) have to offer our student-athletes, no one else can compete with. I told Chuck I hope every Big 12 team gets the opportunity to come to New York City and be part of the Pinstripe Bowl at some time."

Temperature for today's game is 50 degrees at kickoff with a south wind at 9 m.p.h.