It was a wet and foggy morning in the Bronx today. But the rain is supposed to hold off this afternoon–the sun is already out–which will come as good news for the fans headed up to the new stadium. The Yankees broke camp yesterday and are scheduled to have a work out in their new home today. Our man Cliff Corcoran will be there and I’m sure he’ll give us his impressions later this evening.
No matter what our reservations about it are, I’m sure that most Yankee fans are eager to see the place. I think it will feel strange, especially since the old Stadium is still standing, now vacant, across the street. At least in Queens, Shea is torn down, which lends a different ghostly feeling to the surroundings.
What do you guys think? Is there anyone who is not at least curious to go to the new park?
If anyone would like to sell me a pair of grandstand seats for a weeknight game or a weekend game, I'll happily buy them.
(so yes, I'm at least curious)
Got to be curious. I think Cliff will take pictures today.
It was hard getting amped up for the season this year with all the ticket plan drama and whatnot during the last couple of months. But I got my tickets, I'm going to opening day, and I've convinced myself to just embrace the gaudiness of it all.
I've got bleacher seats in Sec. 236 for the May 4 game vs. Sox. And I AM anxious to see the new stadium. I don't think I share the outrage that most people feel here. My guess is that if we were in a boom economy there'd be less of that outrage.
There will be less beef if the Yanks win, and win fast. The remodelled stadium went straight to a pennant in 76 and then two championships. "The Curse" of the new stadium will grow if they don't win soon.
[5]
Isn't A-Rod the curse? (ducking and running)
I'll be there tomorrow and can't wait. I never got wrapped in all the politics and am sure they will recede to the background once the place opens up (for example, the Yankees are not restricting Field Level access as was discussed here last week).
I really love the charm of the old place, but the sheer size of the new one makes me eager to see it. The amenities may be impressive, but I am looking forward to wider aisles, larger seats and the ability to walk down the ramps and out of the park without feeling like I am in rugby game.
it will be strange to see railings and walls without 1000 coats of paint.
I managed $100 tix for a couple of games this season, in June and in August. So curious? Yes.
Clean bathrooms will be strange too as will not being hearded through three small gates.
I'll be there April 20th. I think I might go try to scalp tickets before that.
Clean bathrooms? In a New York sporting arena? I still can't believe it. Tomorrow and Saturday may be the only days they remain clean.
LoHud has some pics from today. I have to agree that in many shots, the new place does look like the old one. I think the Yankees did an excellent job incorporating the 1923 and 1976 looks with modern amenities and technology. Did I say I can't wait?
I am definitely curious. But I'm only going to be able to see the Yankees play in Detroit -- awe crud, no Sunday afternoon game this season. I'm not going to a night game in Detroit, especially wearing a Yankees cap. I'll just wait until Cleveland goes there, and boo Pavano. (assuming of course that he's healthy)
see now this is the kind of thing that tempers my excitement...
http://photos.nj.com/star-ledger/2009/04/yankees_perlman_4.html
[15] Why, you weren't a fan of The Who back in the day? ;)
I view the new Stadium, any new stadium built in this era, as encompassing two synergistic components: baseball and business.
So if the Yankees need to exploit every single business opportunity that comes along in order to put a great product on the field, I'm fine with that.
[15] Please choose one of the following:
Best swing I've seen him take in years...
I hope he didn't pull something.
That's not even a real guitar. Times must be really tough indeed!
Hard Rock, huh? I'll take a Pulled Pork Sandwich and an Urquell, please...
Isn't it about time for Bernie Williams Day?
How about he plays "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" for the first 7TH Inning Stretch on Opening Day?
Since Gary Sheffield isn't busy, I wonder if he'll show up, too. After all, he's still got the swing for that...
;)
I'm going to the May 4 game as well, Biscuit
If they stick to the rule of keeping fans from watching BP near the field..then No, not interested in going to the new Stadium. Also interested to see if they've held any attidude-adjustment seminars for the jackboot "security" personnel of days past..
[19] I called the rep on my ticket invoice and he said they were not and were never planning to restrict Field level access. The premature furor was just another example of the amount of misinformation about the Stadium, which I guess is being proliferated by people predisposed to dislike it.
[20] Does that not contradict the press release stating "Fans are welcome to watch BP from their assigned seats"? Meaning, no Field Level access? I of course hope you are right about this!
The security thugs are still annoying though, they actually went through my friends "baby-bag" (milk-bottle, diapers, etc) for about 5 mins, questioning him about whether all the items were necesssary..bunch of #$$&0les..
[20] I wouldn't put too much stock in the ticket agent and/or chide folks for "premature fury"...at least just yet. Here is a post from New Stadium Insider, quoting a person in the ticket office who gives rather the opposite story than the one you got:
Plus, as NYI notes, the A-Z guide still claims (perhaps now erroneously) that field level will be restricted. The most obvious explanation is that the Yankees had planned to limit access, but have backed down because of public pressure.
This is right in keeping with prior behavior, like Trost claiming one day that the bleacher seat prices were set at $12, no change, no discount for obstructed view--only to suddenly remember a couple of days later that the 600 seats within the "architectural shadow" had be mis-priced at $12.
[20] William, if you are still reading, this is from the New Yankee Stadium discussion thread on Baseball Fever:
If this testimony is accurate, it looks like the Yankees today, for a workout attended by 20,000 fans, restricted access to the field level seating.
[23] There does seem to be a lot of confusing information out there. At least the Yankees have been able to admit some of their mistakes and change the relevant policies. I am sure the batting practice restrictions will be lifted. "Think of the Children!"
[21] As we discussed at the time, the press release was vague enough to not warrant any conclusions being drawn.
I agree with you on the heavy handed security, but that seems to be happen whenever you put that "badge" on someone's chest, regardless of the event.
[22] How could they have been fully prepared to enforce something if they back tracked so quickly? It doesn't seem to me as if a policy was ever codified, so I think it was simply a work in progress that was never explicity codified? Regardless, the bottom line is that they do not intend to restrict access. Even if they came to that conclusion after receiving feedback, what's so wrong with that? Isn't that what a business is supposed to do?
[23] That's something completely different...why shouldn't they restrict access to the seating? It's one thing to restrict the concourse and pre-game access, but once game begins, the Yankees should check tickets. I don't see how one could complain about that.
[25] That’s something completely different…why shouldn’t they restrict access to the seating? It’s one thing to restrict the concourse and pre-game access, but once game begins, the Yankees should check tickets.
What game was that today?
If they restrict access for non-game activities (workouts), this suggests that similar, pregame activities (batting practice) will also be restricted.
[26] Did people pay for those tickets? If you are paying to see a workout, then obviously access would need to be enforced at that time. The event IS the workout, which isn't the case during the season. What happened today (and with all due respect to the message board poster, we don't know what did) is not a precursor for what will happen during the season.
[27] We don't know if it will be a precursor or not. I for one do not share your confidence that the Yankees will allow access to pregame activities during the season. First, using your own logic (and invoking the A-Z guide), one pays to enter the stadium and take part in the activities--the entire experience is the event. Thus, you are invited to watch batting practice "from your seat," not standing in another section.
Second, my own personal experience at the stadium over the past several years, during which fan movement has become increasingly controlled (whether that is a good thing or not is another story), suggests that access to the field level during batting practice.
Your main point stands--that we will simply not know until the season starts.
At the same time, my main point stands--your consistent defense of Yankee policies is as premature as others condemnation of their polices.
[28] Precedent has always suggested that batting practice is treated differently from the game. From my experience (I went to about 20 games last year and every time I went to the field level, there were no restrictions), up until the very last game, fans have always had free access to the lower section during batting practice. Now, I would expect the Legends seats to be ropped off, but otherwise, I see now reason to believe anything will change.
As for defending Yankee policies, I am not sure I can being doing that when I keep suggesting that we don't know what the policies are. Pointing out exaggerations and misinformation isn't a defense of anything.
Weather permitting, I'll be at the game tomorrow early enough to see for myself whether their is Field Level access. I'll report back.