Soccer Match Slated to Be First Pro Event At New Meadowlands Stadium

4573793

Mexico’s soccer team will play Ecuador in a World Cup warmup on May 7 is the first professional sports event at the $1.6 billion new Meadowlands Stadium.

The exhibition game in East Rutherford, N.J., is part of a six-game U.S. tour for Mexico as it prepares to face South Africa in the World Cup opener June 11 in Johannesburg. In addition, Mexico will play England at Wembley on May 24 as the English get ready for their World Cup match against the United States on June 12.

The first scheduled event at the new home of the NFL’s New York Giants and Jets is a college lacrosse triple-header on April 10, but only the lower bowl up to the club level will be open. The entire stadium will be open for the soccer match.

Bon Jovi is scheduled to perform the first concert at the stadium on May 26.

A grass surface will be installed over the FieldTurf at the Meadowlands for the Mexico-Ecuador game and corner seats will be removed to allow for the soccer field, which has a wider playing surface than the NFL.