Behind the scenes with Big Stein
-
- February
- 7
Today’s tour started at the current Stadium, in the suite used by George Steinbrenner. I had never been in there before and took a good look around. It was endlessly fascinating.
The decor is straight out of the 1970s. There’s a small bar and a few lumpy brown couches. One chair is in the shape of a baseball glove. I tried sitting in it, it felt like you were being grabbed by King Kong.
The biggest couch had two decorative pillows. One said “No Good Deed Goes Unpunished.” The other said “I’m Not Bossy, I just Have the Best Ideas.”
I’m not kidding.
One wall had an autographed photo of Kirk Douglas. Across the room, behind the bar, was a cast photo of the Mary Tyler Moore show signed by Mary herself. Above it was a hockey stick signed by Wayne Gretzky.
The coffee table was dominated by a model ship, a Spanish galleon. One of the pennants in the rigging said “GMS.” Nearby was a photo of Joe DiMaggio with Seattle Slew. “Two Great Champions” it said on a brass plate. Joe D and a horse?
There was even a photo collage of a young Hal Steinbrenner getting a ride on an Air Force jet of some sort.
The tour started and I had to leave. But for a few minutes, I got to hang in George’s rec room. Maybe if I ask nicely they’ll give me the model ship when the Stadium closes.
————
Phil Franchise e-mailed a few weeks ago telling me he was starting a blog. I encouraged him but figured his good intentions wouldn’t last. Everybody thinks they want to blog until they realize they have to actually write something.
But the The Phil Hughes Weblog is going strong. Phil has posted on music, running into an alligator on the golf course (watch that right arm, young man) and going to Daytona this weekend to see a Nascar race with Shelley Duncan and Ian Kennedy.
(Shelley at a Nascar race? No chance that ends well)
I’m all for athletes blogging. Whatever gets information to fans is a good thing. I think there’s room for all of us on the interweb. Phil linked to me, I linked to him. It’s all good.
One can only pray that the Big G starts a blog. Now that would be entertainment.
————
The new Stadium is pretty cool. It’s huge and there are a lot of suites. But if you get in, you’re going to have a better experience than at the old Stadium. The field itself will be the same but you’ll have more room, better food and getting a hot dog won’t take an inning.
What’s weird is this sports bar they plunked down in center field in the middle of the bleachers. It basically obstructs the view of anybody sitting next to it. If you’re on the left field side of the bar, you won’t be able to see right field or anybody sitting on that side. And vice-versa.
Lonn Trost said when they realized that, they decided to install televisions. So you could follow the flight of the ball for a bit then watch what happens on the screen. That helps, but it still seems like a huge design flaw.
There is a food court above the bar and several hundred regular seats. No word on whether that food court will serve beer.
This entry was posted
on Thursday, February 7th, 2008 at 9:19 pm by Peter Abraham.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Print This Post
| 
Email This Post
Peter Abraham
How can an estimated 1.3 billion dollar project have a design flaw?
“One can only pray that the Big G starts a blog.”
I think God has better things to do than blog……..
Pete – This is a great post. It is fascinating about George’s private suite, but he is, what, 77 years old? I guess it tells you his tastes haven’t changed much over the years.
I find that tidbit about the new Stadium and that centerfield sports bar incredible. How could the architects not have realized that? And the cost for the new Stadium has now ballooned to 1.3 billion (per WNBC 6 PM newscast)? I guess from what Trost said, it is impractical to redesign things, but it is amazing.
Someone should have lost their job over that. That is a huge mistake!
I agree if big G had a blog, it would be insane!
Vader,
they must have used the guys who did Boston’s Big Dig.. what a disaster that was/is.
Well then don’t sit below the upper deck.
the average joe will go to less games at the new inproved ballpark
“so buy a season ticket,” says management.
do they really need a sports bar in the stadium?
isnt the whole stadium technically a sports bar? you watch a game with your friends… you drink.
it looks like someone will hit one out of the new park with the lower upper deck
I think Pete should buy a bunch of “Lohud Blog” season tickets and let his posters buy them for face value… and have an occasional contest where you can win tickets or win the right to buy the premium games.
all in favor?
i hope it doesnt turn into a football deal with a waiting list for seasons tickets.
I
these moves might provide more amenities but seldom favor the average fan
ugh my post was too short.
aye! (at least I think that is how you spell it.
Aye, that is how it’s spelled
And…aye, why not. I’ll be amused by Pete buying a ton of tickets.
joltin joe –
seriously… a martini bar??
i am a little disappointed in the new stadium. they are turning this into an amusement park. i am all for the yanks trying to make money but it just isnt going to be the same. places like yankee stadium, soldier field, and even gulp fenway park just have that character…
it sounds like the only character that will be defined by the new stadium is a rich guy in a suit drinking a martini and asking who this new jabba guy is.
yeah sounds like a playoff/series crowd to me
Does Phil Hughes say anything about the nickname?
“Franchise” might be a little bit intimidating.
they just want every game to sellout for the next 20 years without the inconvenience of having to put tix on sale ever again.
If you look at the artist view of stadium its clear it blocks the view…they should of know better
http://www.ballparks.com/baseball/american/nyybpk03.jpg
Vader said: “How can an estimated 1.3 billion dollar project have a design flaw?”
My favorite post of the day. It’s got me both nodding in agreement and LMAO because it’s such a brutally truthful statement/question.
On the serious side, how in the world do you sink that kind of money into any kind of architectural project of this magnitude and not have the foresight to see something like this being totally snafu?
Then it’s totally hilarious to me that this question even has to be asked. I mean, how DO you end up with a flaw like this? Who was it that missed the meeting to play a round of golf or whatever and didn’t realize this was going to be an issue?
However, I’m sure whoever sits in those seats won’t find much humor in it – and I wouldn’t blame them at all.
But the rich need to be comfortable, right dave. maybe the box seats could rock or recline. maybe lazy boys for the privileged who attend.
Just got home and caught up on all the action. Thanks for the photos/info, Pete. Sounds like a monstrosity, but a magnificent one. Just like the Yankees, larger than life.
I’m sure it’ll be disappointing for those who enjoyed the old stadium, but I’m sure you’ll be the forget all that when telling your grandkids, “I was there when the New Stadium went up. I’ll never forget…”
they ought to correct the “flaw” now. why is it too late?
Pete
Are they gonna carry over the ticket plans? Not sure you would know that but thought i would ask…I heard no PSL’s
why not put the flippin restaurant above the seats in dead center? just raise it up.
the yuppies are taking over. the die-hard fan will eventuaaly become extinct.
joltin joe,
maybe they will have a “Deadbeat Day” where fans who bring in a tax return under 100k get bleacher seats for a Rays game.
we can only hope
I don’t think I’ve ever had a favorite post of the day, thanks Wolf.
Also, if some one hits a bomb into the upperdeck down the line in right will people in the left field seats be able to see it?
waaaaah. cry about it. Its the way of the world…they call it progress and no matter how much we lament, it aint gonna change a thing. Its still Yankee baseball, and it’ll be the only Yankee baseball in the world; and when its here and its reality, you’ll learn to love it.
dave, we should be so lucky.
as long as it’s pretty and retro on the outside.
who cares if you can’t see a shot into the corner.
bx bomber, yeah that’s right we love baseball, not some corporate bs that caters to the yuppie
Sample conversation from a board meeting regarding the stadium construction:
CEO #1: “Hey – I got a great idea! Let’s suspend a big jumbotron over the playing field! NOBODY else has that!”
CEO #2: “Yeah, like at basketball games! That would ‘put fannies in the seats’, as Big G would say.”
Other CEO’s: (excitedly agreeing)
Lone smart guy in the room: “Ummm… you can’t do that, guys…it would restrict the path of the ball.”
CEO #1: “Oh, now you’re just being nitpicky. They would just have to not throw the touchdown passes in that direction.
Lone smart guy: “Umm.. wrong sport, Bob.”
CEO #2: “Yeah, the smart guy is right…. *cough* ….Let’s break for lunch and then we’ll find a way to make this suspended jumbo-doohickey thing work.”
Lone smart guy: “Huh??”
CEO #2: “Oh, and I almost forgot. Smart guy – you’re fired.”
if you can get a ticket w/o taking a 2nd mortgage
corporations are bad…average guy is good. we all know it. whining about it accomplishes nothing.
Wolf,
You are correct sir but isn’t that progress, so let’s not cry over it. Just accept it like the sheep we shall become.
whining about it sometimes works , someone might hear the whine and do something about it, believe it or not.
yeah, Brian Cashman’s gonna step in front of the wrecking ball b/c we exchanged laments on Peter Abraham’s weblog on a February night.
Ah, jj – nobody’s crying on my side of the room. Just laughin’.
Oh, and … baaa baaa.
“The new Yankee Stadium is state of the art with many special features.” Just heard that on the news.
With blocking views of left field from the right field seats and vice-versa.
Bronx Bomber,
discussing the Yankees on a blog doesnt change or accomplish anything either. i dont think Cashman is browsing this blog for ideas. does that mean we should stop posting?
why cant we express our opinions? i think its a legitimate concern that fans can’t get tickets or can’t afford them. i am not arguing that it’s a bad idea… because the idea is to make money. however, i will sadly be forced to go to less games. i will deal with it, but we all have the right to be unhappy about it. jeeze.
every seat in every ball park should have a perfect view of the field and should only cost a nickel. What utopia are you living in?
A few things regarding the so-called bombshell that was released by McNemee’s lawyers today.
1) Why did McNemee’s lawyers give this so-called evidence to the media, is it because they know that there is not a Judge in America that would allow this into their courtroom and are trying to win this case in the court of public opinion?
2) Who in their right mind saves that stuff for 6-7 years and no less in a fed-ex box in his basement and then have your lawyer admit to the fact that that is where it was stored?
3) If McNemee was telling the Feds everything he knew to get immunity and then told Mitchell the same thing, wouldn’t not giving them this so-called evidence been kind of like lying to them?
4) Is it odd that your lawyer would state that keeping syringes in old beer cans was the way to dispose of them so no one would get their finger pricked in the trash?
I don’t know if any of you have done steroids, but for a short time I did. I can tell you one thing, I have never seen that much blood come from any needle that was used to inject steroids.
I do not know if Clemens did PEDs, and I may think he did, but I also think that a large number, upwards of 60% of baseball players, did at one time use some sort of PED and I think a lot of people knew or had suspicions.
For Clemens to be the one to take it on the chin for the whole sport, while Selig and Fehr walk is BS, never mind the fact that I would hope that congress has more pressing things to worry about, like health care programs and oil prices.
Sorry for the rant.
Bronx Bomber,
stop being a hypocrite. when you’ve fixed that we can move on to the rest of your flaws.
agreed..blogging accomplishes nothing. Cash won’t be stepping in front of the wrecking ball in order to save the House that Ruth built based on anything exchanged here.
at least I don’t live in Boston.
Vader,
I believe that withholding evidence can be considered lying in some cases. Certainly if McNamee was told “tell us the truth, and tell us everything you know, and we’ll give you immunity” and he didnt disclose this “evidence”, I would consider that lying.
Bronx,
good comeback man. ouch!
Just heard David Cone say he thinks Strickland could be really big for the Yankees this year. Has anyone else been talking about him being a factor?
Bronx Bomber, it occurred to me that you may not understand what the word hypocrite means.
Here’s an example:
Bronx Bomber posts his opinions in a Yankees blog about who he thinks the Yanks should trade for, the free agents they should sign, who should make the bullpen, etc. Then he essentially says to other posters “guys stop giving your opinions, its not going to accomplish anything”
and there you go. unless you’d prefer ignoramus.
I agree.
Just to be up front, I do not really care about the past and who may have done steroids, it’s over and nothing good can come from this. I just find it odd that Clemens is the one who will take the biggest hit because his personnel trainer got caught for possible distribution and sung like canary.
some people choose to see the glass half-empty…ALL THE TIME. There’s a thousand things to love about this new park (that, yes, is being forced upon the fan base) and a few things that aren’t ideal. To focus on the negative, comment after comment, and whine about the negatives endlessly…not a productive process.
Wow all that for just a few minutes in GS rec room.
Make sure if you’re ever mugged that you have someone with a memory like PA with you to provide a good description of the assailents to the authorities.
Bomber,
for the most part, we are joking around. I’m not going to apologize if you are too much of a stiff to pick up on that. this thread is about the new stadium. if some people don’t like the idea of a new stadium, that’s their right. instead of unsuccessfully attempting to ridicule them, why don’t you give your opinion on what will make the new stadium great? instead of coming off like a jackass, give your positive views and maybe you’ll sway some opinions. i wouldn’t bet on that, but its still the right approach.
What’s weird is this sports bar they plunked down in center field in the middle of the bleachers. It basically obstructs the view of anybody sitting next to it. If you’re on the left field side of the bar, you won’t be able to see right field or anybody sitting on that side. And vice-versa.
It’s practical to have a restaurant in centerfield to at least get some use and not have dead space for the batter’s eye. But the obstructed view seems like something that could have been prevented. Maybe it will give the new stadium some charm.
OldYanksFan – are you honestly concerned with the yankees owners’ personal finances? do you get worried when they buy a new house or a sports car too?
———————————————————–
To Kill-Schill and Boston Dave -
My feelings have absoluely nothing to do with Yankee finances or profits. It has to do with sports and fair competition.
If I play someone my equal in racquetball and beat them, I feel good. If I play someone better then me and beat them, I feel VERY good. If however, I play my friend’s 7 year old daughter and beat her 21-0, I get no satisfaction at all.
The Yankees may always be the most profitable franchise in MLB. They are, after all, the Yankees of New York. However, our financial advantage does give us a competative advantage. Revenue sharing and draft picks do try to balance things out a bit.
Even with the biggest payroll, I am still proud when they win. But there is a limit. I guess they are truly rich enough, especially with YES and the projected income from the new stadium, to trade for Santana. They could also afford get C.C. as a FA, and also get Tex as an FA, and also buy a number of other elite players. Hell, I guess they could have a payroll of $300m and still be financially sound.
But I don’t want them too. It does not appeal to my sense of fair sport or competition. Do I want them to ’sell’ everyone and have a league average-ish payroll of $80m? No, I don’t. One thing about our payroll and money is we get to keep players throughout their careers, even if we overpay and don’t get a great bang for the buck. I’m fine to ‘waste’ money on ARod’s last 3 years, and to insure that Jeter, Mo and Po finish their careers, as Bernie did, as a Yankee. This, to me, is the real benefit of Yankee money and being a Yankee fan.
Who knows, maybe Cano, Phil and a bunch of others will be on that list one day. So to keep our ‘family’ together, I’m OK inflating the payroll to that end.
But like Cashman seems to indicate with his recent behavior, I would prefer for the Yankees to win using drafting and development skills, rather then buying other teams successful players when they becomes FAs. Does this mean I never want to buy a FA again? No. But I want some balance.
Our team now is certainly beginning to reach that balance. We have a number of young players, and hopefully, more coming. Our payroll won’t shrink much, but we should narrow the gap between us and other teams over the next few years.
And to me, this is a worthy goal. If there are those out there that are fine with a $250m-$300m payroll in order to win, so be it. It’s not my idea of sport. It is not the way I aspire to build a winning team.
Keeping Phil and the kids, as well as saving $30+m/yr appeals to me on all sides. I still want to win, and feel we still have as good a shot as anyone. However, when we win a WS by beating Boston for the A.L., when their payroll is larger then ours, I can’t help but think the champagne will taste a little sweeter that year.
the sports bar obstructing the bleachers is incredible. Did the designers know anything about baseball.
So now, once you’ve obtained from a shrunken pool of tix, there’s now a huge obstruction in the middle of the cheap seats.
i can’t even process that. Why the $#%$ does anyone need a $#%$ing sports bar in Yankee Stadium. i mean it’s exactly not a bad place to have a drink and watch a ballgame. O yeah, except now it will be in the bleachers, because there’s a sports bar $#%$ing in my way.
as a Yankee fan, i feel embarrassed by the sports bar. it has to be fixed. This is Yankee Stadium.
OldYanksFan,
Im not reading that.. not sure anybody is. post it in the appropriate thread if you want anyone to read your mindless drivel. its a little pathetic to take a clip from this afternoon and paste it into a thread hours later. and your analogies are almost as poor as your math skills. your (as usual, poor) assumptions are WAY off. but that’s not a surprise.
Gee Dave… around 4 personal insults yet no opinion. Just another of your quality posts. You certainly add a lot of insights to this blog.
re: The Flaw, you guys have obviously never designed anything for a client. Don’t blame the designers/architects. When you see something inelegant like this, it’s the result of a desire on the part of a client and the architect needing to design a solution around that impractical desire.
“We need a bar in center field! That’ll make a helluva lot more money than bleacher seats or that damned empty black space!”
“Okay but the your fans on both sides won’t be able to see the play in opposite fields.”
“Just make it work! I’m paying the bills here!”
youngtimer, here’s an anecdote that paints a less idealized picture of architects.
my father was involved in painting Shea Stadium in the 1980s – he was supervising his company’s work on the project. the reason Shea was painted with that purplish-blue color, instead of Mets blue, is because the architect didn’t give directions on the color, and apparently expressed indifference to the exact hue. My dad’s company had some extra paint around and using it cost them nothing, and the architect approved.
my dad has done a lot of work with architects – his shops would implement their blueprints. He has been involved in a lot of buildings – often large-scale projects, WTC, working w/I.M. Pie. The point being his credentials are solid. He’s often said the architects come up with completely impractical designs, etc.
Whether the multistory sports bar in the middle of the bleachers is the fault of the architects or of the Yankees – we don’t know. My point is only that since my dad knows what he’s talking about in this field, it’s not correct to assume the architects aren’t to blame here. they’re just human beings
Are you REALLY all for athletes blogging? You never miss a chance to take a shot at Schilling. I assumed that calling him 38pitches.com all those times wasn’t complimentary.