Cubs, Yankees agree to play exhibition opener at Yankee Stadium

The Cubs and New York Yankees will play the first-ever exhibition games at the new Yankee Stadium on April 3 and April 4 before the MLB season opens on April 6.

"The Cubs are thrilled to be the Yankees' first opponent in the new Yankee Stadium," said Crane Kenney, chairman of the Cubs.

"As we welcome our fans into the ballpark for the first time, it is fitting to showcase two of baseball's greatest and most historic franchises," said Yankees co-chairman Hal Steinbrenner.

The two-game exhibition (7 p.m. April 3 at 7:05 p.m. and 1 p.m. April 4) will also mark the return of Cubs manager Lou Piniella, who played 11 seasons with the Yankees, was a member of two World Series Championship teams (1977, '78) and served as the Yankees' manager from 1986-88.

The complete Cubs 2009 Spring Training schedule will be released at a later date, and the Yankees will release ticket information for the exhibition games with the Cubs at a later date.