PHOTOS: For NYU graduation, over 30,000 people pack into Yankee Stadium

Pharrell Williams was NYU’s 2017 commencement speaker.

On Wednesday, thousands of students across the US headed to their campus stadium or lawn for their commencement ceremonies.

Students at NYU took a different route.

Venturing far away from their lower Manhattan and Brooklyn campuses, they streamed up the subways en route to the Bronx.

Their destination? The iconic Yankee Stadium.

The stadium, which has a capacity of 54,251, is one of the largest and most expensive arenas ever built.

NYU has held its main ceremony at the stadium since 2008, having moved it from Washington Square Park after renovations to the park no longer made it possible due to lack of space. That’s understandable — last year, a record-breaking 32,000 people filled the stadium.

This year’s speaker was award-winning musician Pharrell Williams. His speech praised them for the social causes — emphasizing gender equality — that young people have prominently fought for, and urged them to continue being outspoken for their beliefs.

“Don’t be invisible. The days of being an anonymous activist or participant are over. How can we inspire if we are only behind the scenes? How will an anonymous donation ever inspire another? That was the way of previous generations. No disrespect, but don’t be like them,” he said.

Perhaps no better place to receive this message than in the lofty confines of Yankee Stadium.

Here are some pictures of the crowds from this year’s ceremony:

Riding the 5 train to #Yankee Stadium for your college graduation. No big deal. #NYU2017 http://pic.twitter.com/Wz1mBPQTD3

— New York University (@nyuniversity) May 17, 2017

Grad @shelbyslauer on subway to #yankeestadium in a sea of #NYU purple http://pic.twitter.com/Y2CTs1mkyY

— Tracey Slauer (@traceyslauer) May 17, 2017

About to go inside Yankee Stadium as @NYUniversity commencement crowd builds outside at 9:30 AM. #NYU2017 http://pic.twitter.com/T0hd5PnnMd

— Brent Baker (@BrentHBaker) May 17, 2017