Oct 10, 2009 7:46 am US/Pacific
'The Boss' Plays Final Show At Giants Stadium
Springsteen Packs Venerable Old Barn One Last Time
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (CBS) ―
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The Boss and his band will play the final show at Giants Stadium and fans could not be more excited to hear those history final notes. (File)
Marit Hommedal/AFP/Getty Images
"The Boss" rocked the Meadowlands on Friday night as tens of thousands of fans came out to be part of history, reports CBS station WCBS-TV.
It was the final show ever at Giants Stadium before it will be torn down and WCBS was there for all the revelry.
Springsteen has played many stadiums and arenas during his long career, but in the swamps of Jersey they have had homefield advantage for more than two decades. On Friday night it was a grand goodbye.
It could not be more fitting than to wrap up the "Glory Days" of Giants Stadium with the ultimate Jersey boy -- Springsteen, along with his mates, the E Street Band.
"This is the last one. Let me hear it!" Springsteen yelled to the crowd just after things got going.
Before the show, the fans could not wait to be part of yet another special New York tri-state area musical moment.
"This is going to be awesome. It's the last concert at Giant's Stadium. Bruce rocks baby!" said fan Beatriz Goncalvez.
Springsteen has played 24 shows on this home turf, starting with the "Born in the USA" tour in 1985. Jonathan Gold was there.
"It just brings out a lot of nostalgia from the past. And it makes you feel good to be here on closing night," Gold said.
"It's just historic and it's wonderful."
Since Giants Stadium opened in 1976, it has played host to giant names in music -- The Grateful dead, The Rolling Stones, Billy Joel, Bon Jovi and U2. Pope John Paul II celebrated mass here back in 1985.
Frank Maisano said he's had many musical memories here.
"I've seen Bruce, I've seen The Police, I've seen Billy Joel. I've seen Rush, but there's nothing like the atmosphere here," Maisano said.
Springsteen wrote and played his new song "The Wrecking Ball," commemorating the end of an era at Giants Stadium. Fans like 13-year-old Eli Schechner, who saw Springsteen eight times at Giants Stadium, are excited for what the future holds at the new stadium next door.
"Nothing compares to the Bruce concerts though. But I still think the legendary aspect of Giants Stadium can't compare to what'll go on like across the street," Schechner said.
Added Frank Gianuzzi: "As Springsteen would say, 'Better days are coming and shining through.'"
It's no secret Springsteen fans are die-hards, and many are hoping that the rumors are true -- that when the new stadium opens in 2010, Springsteen will be the first show.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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