Yankee Stadium.......why?

onewhippedpuppy · 09-21-2008, 12:22 PM

It's a rhetorical question, because money is the answer. Luxury boxes, a martini bar, and a Hard-Rock Cafe. No doubt a fancy scoreboard and huge Jumbo-Tron too. I'm not a Yankee fan. I'm really only a casual baseball fan. But I think it is a damn shame that Yankee Stadium is being demolished for a 21st centrury monument to glitz, glamor, and money. Yankee Stadium isn't a ballpark, it's a landmark. An icon. A cathedral. The history of the ballpark, both sports and other, is unmatched. And I can't imagine that a Yankee game will be quite the same without it. Today baseball loses a significant piece of it's history, and a bit of it the magic that comes along with it. RIP.

Zeke · 09-21-2008, 01:15 PM

Was it the old Chicago stadium before this? In any case, the old fields have charm, no doubt, but the infrastructure may be too tired. In that case, they will build a modern facility and send a few tidbits to a museum. Too bad, isn't it?

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

All I care about is who's paying for it. Yankee Stadium, at least, is one of the really old ones. What really chaps my hide are these stadiums less than half as old and then the sports teams saying they need a new one at taxpayer expense or they're gonna leave town. Actually, I don't even care that they do that. Let 'em leave. I blame the politicians for caving in and giving them what they want.

stomachmonkey · 09-21-2008, 02:23 PM

I think BB is a stupid sport and don't watch it.

I am enraged that Yankee Stadium is being tossed aside like yesterdays dirty socks.

It really is tragic.

onewhippedpuppy · 09-21-2008, 03:52 PM

Even worse, it's going to lead to the Yankees being an even more expensive event. Reportedly there are actually less regular seats in the new ballpark, but it does have plenty of luxury boxes.

Sad that the stadium's bronx neighbors can't even afford a ballgame.

sammyg2 · 09-21-2008, 03:59 PM

There's a special on TV right now about a stadium I couldn't care less about, INSTEAD of the regularly scheduled drag racing.

It is just a ball park, It never hit a home run or threw a strike out, it was the people who played there and not the park that was special.
Those who think this ball park is something magical need to get a grip.

Rearden · 09-21-2008, 04:01 PM

Much of the original Yankee Stadium was demolished in the mid-70s to make way for the reconstructed version.

http://i.usatoday.net/sports/graphics/yankee_stadium_08/flash.htm?gid=144&aid=714

Normy · 09-21-2008, 04:59 PM

I can't think of any reason to bulldoze that stadium. Unless someone here knows that there are structural issues that can be solved cheaper by knocking it down and building another stadium, then I suspect that this is a waste of money.

Who's money? Is the city of New York paying anthing into this? State of New York? If so, then this is a HUGE boondoggle, and a whole pack of Tony Soprano's are going to erecting new brick-front mansions in New Jersey as a result.

N

djmcmath · 09-21-2008, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

All I care about is who's paying for it.

Don't forget the fans. Sure, taxpayers pay up front, and the fans pay on the back end. Increased ticket prices to watch arrogant baseball players while sipping $10 drinks. Watching games from the stadium seems like complete nonsense to me -- it's expensive, and hot (or cold), and I can't get up during the boring parts to grab another beer from the fridge. With the advent of super-expensive stadiums, tickets can only get more expensive, which makes guys like me that much less likely to show up for the game.

Just my $.02.

Dan

onewhippedpuppy · 09-21-2008, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sammyg2

There's a special on TV right now about a stadium I couldn't care less about, INSTEAD of the regularly scheduled drag racing.

It is just a ball park, It never hit a home run or threw a strike out, it was the people who played there and not the park that was special.
Those who think this ball park is something magical need to get a grip.

Like the White House is just a fancy place for people to sleep, right?

Christien · Christien's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Even worse, it's going to lead to the Yankees being an even more expensive event. Reportedly there are actually less regular seats in the new ballpark, but it does have plenty of luxury boxes.

Sad that the stadium's bronx neighbors can't even afford a ballgame.

Put yourself in the place of the owners. Let's see, we can charge $5 for tickets and feel all warm and fuzzy that the locals can come and watch, and we'll make a few bucks profit, or we can charge $200 for tickets and make a pile of cash. This is a corporation, not a charity. If they can make the money, why not? Otherwise the scalpers will.

A few years ago when ticketmaster announced they were going to do auctions for some events everyone cried foul saying ticket prices would be too expensive. Guess what, it's a free market and the scalpers were buying most of the tickets and selling them at 10x the face value anyway. If 20,000 people are willing to pay more than you to see a ballgame or concert, you ain't going. If you want to blame someone, blame the fans who are willing to pay for it. (ahem-maple leafs fans...)

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

No problem with them charging whatever they can get. I'll never pay it. But I do pay taxes and that's why it's ourageous that they get these stadiums built with public money.

As for Ticketmaster, I haven't paid a dime to them directly since before the Internet. I usually just skip the first song of a concert and buy from the then desperate scalpers just trying to cut their losses.

Christien · Christien's Garage

Rick, don't forget the economic advantages to a city with a major sports/concert arena - the local restaurants, bars, taxis, etc. There's a HUGE spinoff economy that, without the team/venue/etc would be lost. I do understand your argument, as it hits close to home - look up the massive gov't clusterf##k known as Toronto's Skydome. It was built around the mid 80s and I believe we're still paying for it. But I couldn't imagine the economic fallout if the events hosted there didn't happen. It would likely be worse.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christien

Rick, don't forget the economic advantages to a city with a major sports/concert arena - the local restaurants, bars, taxis, etc. There's a HUGE spinoff economy that, without the team/venue/etc would be lost.

Yeah, they tried that "reasoning" with the new stadium in DC. They levied a new tax on businesses inside the District to finance the stadium, claiming the stadium would increase business for everyone. Sorry, but a liquor store 10 miles away from the stadium and 10 feet away from the MD state line (where liquor is cheaper anyway) is not gonna make a dime off that stadium. Those are the folks who get the shaft. And don't forget the real estate frenzy that always occurs wherever they build a new stadium. Lots of apartment buildings tossing people out because they can either convert to luxury condos or sell out to the city for big $$. Not saying there's anything wrong with good business. But lots of other industries get no handouts from the local gov't.

VincentVega · 09-21-2008, 05:48 PM

I was listening to a talk radio guy this week talking about Texas and Yankee Stadiums. I havent been to either so I'll have to take his word, but he said they are basically crap inside. Dirty, poor facilities and so on. He went on to say the history of the stadiums seems to cloud our judgment and we seem to ignore reality.

I miss going to MD games at Cole Fieldhouse, but really appreciate Comcast whenever I think about it. Much more comfortable and clean.

Not sure I buy the economic development thing. The Raven's stadium is great, but it is empty except for maybe 10 weekends a year. They tore down a classic local bar for the parking lot too.

Jim Garfield · 09-21-2008, 05:54 PM

The magic of the place was the players who spent time on the field - Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle, etc. It's too bad that heritage has so little value in the US. I used to go to Yankee Stadium to watch a game whenever I was in NY, not because I'm a Yankee fan, but just to spend an afternoon in the stadium. Would I go to the new ballpark? Why would I want to?

strupgolf · 09-21-2008, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christien

Rick, don't forget the economic advantages to a city with a major sports/concert arena - the local restaurants, bars, taxis, etc. There's a HUGE spinoff economy that, without the team/venue/etc would be lost. I do understand your argument, as it hits close to home - look up the massive gov't clusterf##k known as Toronto's Skydome. It was built around the mid 80s and I believe we're still paying for it. But I couldn't imagine the economic fallout if the events hosted there didn't happen. It would likely be worse.

Likely worse for WHO. The lower end illegal's who cant get work elsewhere who send 90% of their money home to support Mexico's economy. Dont tell about the "economic advantages" to a city for which there are very few people who are paying the taxes each and every day but who will never see the inside of any of the monuments to greed. F*** the NFL , NBA, MLB, and all the rest who take and never give back. Oh wait, I digress; the colts did give some coats to about 50 kids last year for the cold winter. Wow, what a good gesture.

Por_sha911 · Por_sha911's Garage

It would have cost more to renovate it than to tear it down and build a new and better stadium. Unfortunately, nostalgia doesn't sell tickets and falling concrete scares people. If you've ever been to a game, you know that the view in a lot of places is really bad because of support beams and the water, electrical, and sewer facilities are very outdated. I hate it but I understand.

strupgolf · 09-21-2008, 06:23 PM

Por_sha911, you might be right in this regard: the staduim might have been to old to repair or fix. I've been to Wrigley Field and they have the same problems. I would guess that the old cubbies field will be the next to go.

DavidB911 · 09-21-2008, 07:13 PM

Por_sha911 is right. The actual structure is in terrible shape and the restroom facilities are also in terrible shape. I guess you guys would prefer to go to a baseball game where you cannot use the restroom for a "historical" ballpark. Yankee stadium was rebuilt in the 70's so anything before that was a different park. I'm sure the yankees execs would prefer all the revenue they get from the Yankee stadium name that the old park brings than a new stadium even with the increase revenue potential of the new Yankee stadium. I don't know what was torn down to build the new stadium, but its usually something that needs to be tore down anyways. You do realize we still have the memories of the old park.