There’s no place like Yankee Stadium. A New York City landmark in its own right, the baseball cathedral draws thousands of fans from all over the globe to experience America’s pastime in its purest form.
The stadium was built on championships, legends, and tradition, but that doesn’t mean that it’s stuck in time. In fact, there’s a party happening right above Monument Park.
Fans pour into the iconic ballpark to the sound of an expertly curated, high-energy playlist provided by Jay Jung, the official DJ for the New York Yankees. Perched on the Mastercard Batter’s Eye Deck beyond center field at approximately 25 home games each season, Jung fires up the Yankee faithful with the perfect soundtrack for the gameday experience.
“I want the fans to have fun,” Jung told amNewYork. “Have a good time, clap your hands, dance, move around a little bit. Maybe you get caught on camera, we show you on the Jumbotron. Just have a good time, that’s it. If you’re smiling and enjoying the game, there’s nothing more satisfying for me as a DJ than to see people reacting to those things.”
For Jung, it all started at a high school house party in 1994. He recalled watching a pair of DJs command the room, mesmerized by how they evoked a crowd reaction with every track they spun. In that moment, he knew he had to follow in their footsteps. And after months of begging, he finally convinced some mentors to take him under their wing.
Jung became a staple of the New York City nightlife scene, spinning at clubs every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday for well over a decade. In 2015, he made the jump into professional sports, landing the role of official DJ for the Brooklyn Nets, where he continues to excite the crowd at the Barclays Center to this day.
Through his work with the Nets, Jung built connections that eventually led him to the Yankees. In 2022, he became the club’s official DJ, a job he described as an “absolute dream.”
“As a kid coming up, if I was doing somebody’s Sweet 16, I would have been happy,” he said. “If I did a New York City nightclub, I was like, ‘I’m done, I’m good.’ To get an opportunity to DJ for over 50,000 fans in Yankee Stadium. Growing up as a big Yankee fan, as a kid to just like – it’s a complete dream come true, something that I would have never dreamed of to ever happen to me.”
On gameday, Jung starts spinning before the doors even open. His first set kicks off during warmups, where he supplies a lively mix to pump up the players as they stretch and take batting practice. He then starts the pre-game set when fans arrive, warming them up for a memorable experience at Yankee Stadium.
Given the ever-shifting landscape of the industry, Jung stays on top of the current music trends. Asked about his go-to tracks, he listed “HOT TO GO!” By Chapel Roan, “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” by Shaboozey, and “APT” by ROSÉ and Bruno Mars as some of his current favorites. He also mixes in some New York flair by bumping the team’s official stadium anthem, “Yankee, Baby” by Johnny 2 Phones.
When coupled with his expert ability to read a crowd, Jung can seamlessly shift gears and tailor his family-friendly mix to ensure that everyone is having a great time, whether they’re five years old or in their 70s.
“It’s generally less about what I really want to hear,” he said, when asked about what music he plays. “When I see the fans dancing and grooving to the music, that’s when I’m happy.”
Yankee Stadium has served as a backdrop for some of the most unforgettable moments of Jung’s career. Last October, he watched in awe as Anthony Volpe launched a grand slam in Game 4 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. “I’ve done sports for about 10 years now,” he said. “That’s got to be the highlight of my entire sports DJing career.”
While the shortstop’s go-ahead blast was electric on its own, Jung’s favorite part of the moment, much like his favorite part of DJing, was the reaction from the crowd. He reflected on the moment as if it had happened yesterday, describing how it felt like the stadium was shaking. He emphasized that there’s nothing like being immersed in the energy of the crowd at Yankee Stadium, wishing he could bottle that feeling up for everyone to experience.
“They are the most dedicated, diehard fans I’ve ever seen,” said Jung. “Every single game, they’re here. Up or down, the fans are here, always cheering the guys on. The energy is always incredible. There’s never a dull moment. Just the loyalty that the Yankee fans have, I’ve never seen anything like it before. It’s amazing.”
Check out Jay Jung on Instagram (@JayJungOfficial) and head to his website for more information and upcoming events.
