Icahn Stadium
10 Central Road | Randall's Island | built 2004
Open on the map13 entries
The city photographed every building for its tax records around 1940 and again in the 1980s. NYC Municipal Archives.
Written with AI from the source each entry cites, then fact-checked.
- 1936
Jesse Owens races at the opening of the stadium that stood on this site
An earlier stadium on this site, later named Downing Stadium, opened on July 11, 1936, with the men's U.S. Olympic Trials. About 15,000 people watched Jesse Owens compete that first night, and he qualified for the Berlin Olympics held later that summer.
Source: Wikipedia
- 1938
Duke Ellington's orchestra plays a Gershwin memorial concert at Randalls Island's stadium
In 1938 the Duke Ellington Orchestra played a memorial concert for the composer George Gershwin at the Randalls Island stadium that stood on this site, later named Downing Stadium. It was among the big music events held there before Icahn Stadium replaced it.
Source: nycgovparks.org
- 1939
Fordham and Waynesburg play the first televised American football game
On September 30, 1939, Fordham played Waynesburg at Triborough Stadium on Randalls Island in the first televised American football game. This was the earlier stadium on the site of today's Icahn Stadium, a WPA project that was later renamed Downing Stadium, demolished and replaced.
Source: Wikipedia
- 1970
The New York Pop Festival draws radical pickets and crowds that crash the gates
The three-day New York Pop Festival opened on July 17, 1970, at Downing Stadium, the earlier stadium on this site, in an attempt to recreate Woodstock's success. Half of the big-name lineup never arrived, though Jimi Hendrix gave a memorable set. Radical groups picketed, some wanting ticket money steered to worthy causes and others wanting free admission, and thousands of fans forced their way through the gates.
Source: Wikipedia
- 1973
Haitian exiles hold up a friendly for close to three hours
At a July 1973 friendly at Downing Stadium, the earlier stadium on this site, Haiti played Colombia's Millonarios. Haitian exiles protesting the Duvalier regime held up the match by more than two hours and forty-five minutes. Haiti's manager, Antoine Tassy, marched his players off and announced they were leaving. Calls to the federation president and a visit from a Haitian delegate to the United Nations persuaded them to resume, and police cordoned off the field.
“…was delayed for more than two hours and forty five minutes by Haitian exiles protesting against the Duvalier regime…”
Source: Wikipedia
- 1975
Pelé plays his first North American league game on this site
On June 15, 1975, Pelé made his North American Soccer League debut against the Dallas Tornado at Downing Stadium, the stadium that then stood here, in front of 21,567 fans. The old stadium was torn down in 2002 and replaced by the smaller Icahn Stadium.
Source: Wikipedia
- 1996
Tiger Woods runs a golf clinic for city kids at Downing Stadium
In 1996 Tiger Woods hosted a golf clinic for New York City children at Downing Stadium, the earlier stadium on this site and for many years the centerpiece of Randalls Island. The NYC Parks history of the island lists the clinic alongside Jesse Owens's 1936 Olympic Trials victory and Pele's American debut for the Cosmos in 1975.
Source: nycgovparks.org
- 2005
Justin Gatlin re-creates Jesse Owens's run in front of Owens's daughter
At the opening of Icahn Stadium in April 2005, Justin Gatlin, the 2004 Olympic gold medalist, recreated Jesse Owens's victory from the 1936 Olympic Trials, with Owens's daughter, Marlene Owens Rankin, in attendance. The $42 million stadium was financed in part with $18 million in private donations. A $10 million gift from Carl and Gail Icahn was the largest ever from a private donor to a city park facility.
Source: nycgovparks.org
- 2005
Icahn Stadium opens on Randall's Island, replacing Downing Stadium
Icahn Stadium opens on Randall's Island on the site of the old Downing Stadium, built with a $10 million gift from businessman Carl Icahn, for whom it is named. The new venue features a World Athletics Class 1 certified track and becomes home to an annual Grand Prix track meet, first held as the Reebok Grand Prix and known today as the Adidas Grand Prix.
Source: Wikipedia
- 2008
Usain Bolt sets a 100-meter world record at Icahn Stadium
Icahn Stadium, a 5,000-seat stadium built with a $10 million gift from Carl Icahn, opened in 2005. On May 31, 2008, Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt ran the 100 meters here in 9.72 seconds, a world record at the time.
Source: Wikipedia
- 2012
David Rudisha sets a U.S. all-comers 800-meter record at Icahn Stadium
Kenyan runner David Rudisha sets a US all-comers record in the 800 meters, clocking 1:41.74 at Icahn Stadium. The mark follows Usain Bolt's 100-meter world record set at the same track four years earlier, cementing the Randall's Island venue's reputation for elite outdoor track meets.
Source: Wikipedia
- 2024
A $3 million bluegrass pitch turns the track stadium into a soccer venue
A Kentucky bluegrass soccer field was installed inside Icahn Stadium's running track, paid for by a $3 million donation from New York City FC. Work began in August 2023, widening the field, moving the long jump and triple jump runways to the outer edge of the track and upgrading drainage and irrigation. The reserve team NYCFC II could then play home games here, and rugby and lacrosse were also expected to use the field.
Source: amny.com
- 2026
The Netherlands beat Uzbekistan 2-1 behind closed doors before the World Cup
The Netherlands beat Uzbekistan 2-1 at Icahn Stadium on June 8, 2026, in a friendly played behind closed doors. It was a warm-up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Source: Wikipedia
Further reading
- Icahn StadiumWikipedia
Nearby
- Manhattan Psychiatric Center102 Rivers Edge Road | 8 entries
- East River Plaza517 East 117th Street | 4 entries
- Robert Moses Building14 Bronx Shore Road | 3 entries
- Wards Island Wastewater Treatment Plant102 LaGuardia Circle | 2 entries
- Benjamin Franklin High School (Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics)260 Pleasant Avenue | 10 entries
- Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel473 East 115th Street | 6 entries