Stan's Sports Bar Across from Yankee Stadium Responsible for Many Marriages

The iconic bar has been a matchmaker for employees and Yankees fans alike.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 7:10pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Working at Stan's Sports Bar, located across the street from Yankee Stadium, has led to many employees finding their spouses. Some have married fellow staffers, while others have tied the knot with Yankees or Mets fans who frequented the bar to pregame before games. The bar's owner, Mike Rendino, even met his wife at the bar during the 2005 Subway Series. The staff actively encourages single patrons to mingle, resulting in an estimated 100 customers who have married each other over the years.

Why it matters

Stan's Sports Bar has become an iconic part of the Yankee Stadium experience, serving as a gathering place for fans and a hub for the local community. The bar's ability to bring people together and foster relationships highlights the enduring appeal of traditional social spaces in an era of increasing digital disconnection.

The details

Stan's Sports Bar, which opened in 1979, has a long history of bringing people together. Bartenders Brian and Jessica Kirby met and fell in love while working at the bar, and have since had four children, celebrating many milestones at the establishment. Co-owner Mike Rendino met his wife, Lauren, during the 2005 Subway Series when she visited the bar wearing a Mets shirt. The staff actively encourages single patrons to mingle, often intervening to facilitate conversations between potential matches. The bar has an old-school vibe that Rendino says allows for more physical and social interaction than modern bars, leading to an estimated 100 customers who have married each other over the years.

  • Stan's Sports Bar opened in 1979.
  • Mike Rendino met his wife, Lauren, during the 2005 Subway Series.
  • Brian and Jessica Kirby met as bartenders at Stan's in 2008.
  • Jennifer McPartland first saw her husband, Mike, bartending at Stan's in 2013.
  • Chris Martucci met his wife, Natalie, when she visited the bar before a Yankees game in 2021.

The players

Stan's Sports Bar

An iconic sports bar located across the street from Yankee Stadium, known for its ability to bring people together and facilitate relationships among its patrons and employees.

Brian and Jessica Kirby

A married couple who met while bartending at Stan's Sports Bar in 2008 and have since had four children, celebrating many milestones at the bar.

Mike and Lauren Rendino

The co-owner of Stan's Sports Bar and his wife, who met during the 2005 Subway Series when Lauren visited the bar wearing a Mets shirt.

Jennifer and Mike McPartland

A couple who met at Stan's Sports Bar in 2013 when Jennifer first saw Mike bartending and was immediately smitten.

Chris and Natalie Martucci

A couple who met when Natalie, a Chicago native, visited Stan's Sports Bar before a Yankees game in 2021. Chris's father was the original owner of the bar.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I walked in and told him I was pregnant at Stan's. And he said, 'That's great. Let's do a shot of Jameson.'”

— Jessica Kirby, Bartender

“People used to make out in bars. The next generation, they don't do that anymore, except at Stan's because it feels like it's the late '90s.”

— Mike Rendino, Co-owner, Stan's Sports Bar

“It was just love at first sight. When I saw him at the bar, I told my best friend, 'Oh my God, that's the cutest man I've ever seen in my life.'”

— Jennifer McPartland, Patron

What’s next

As the Yankees prepare for their home opener against the Miami Marlins on April 3, Stan's Sports Bar is sure to be a hub of activity, with fans gathering to celebrate the start of the new season and potentially find their own love connections.

The takeaway

Stan's Sports Bar has become a beloved institution in the Bronx, not just for its proximity to Yankee Stadium, but for its ability to bring people together and foster lasting relationships. In an age of increasing digital disconnection, the bar's old-school vibe and staff's active role in facilitating interactions have made it a matchmaker for employees and patrons alike.