The scent of sunscreen and hot dogs filled the air as thousands of dedicated Bleacher Creatures gathered at the sweltering Yankee Stadium on Thursday afternoon to watch the New York Yankees get decimated by the Baltimore Orioles, with a final score of 5-17. Despite the scorching temperatures, which reached 90 degrees, fans braved the heat and doused themselves with water bottles to cool off as a “heat dome” hovered over the stadium. The players took the field at 4 p.m., just after the peak of summer’s first day heat wave hit.
As the game dragged on, temperatures slowly dipped but remained stubbornly around 90 degrees. Exhausted fans clutched cold beer and ice cream as they sat in their hot seats, with many opting to grab fistfuls of ice instead of using water bottles due to their higher price. The stadium’s exposed bleachers were noticeably emptier than usual, with many fans seeking shade even if it meant standing throughout the game.
The Yankees struggled in the heat as well, failing to score a single run in the last four innings and ultimately losing the game. Some fans felt that the heat was worth it, but only if the team had been winning; others disagreed and thought it was better to stay indoors or seek shade during the hottest parts of the day.
As the “heat dome” continues to impact New York City, temperatures are expected to remain high, with a real-feel temperature of 101 on Sunday, closing in on the record heat for June 23, which was set in 1888 at 96 degrees. The Atlanta Braves will visit Yankee Stadium on Friday, with their game scheduled for a slightly cooler start time at 7:05 p.m., providing some relief from the sweltering conditions.
