Some details on the new Stadium
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Feb 07, 2008 
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The Yankees put on quite a show for the media today. Chief Operating Officer Lonn Trost invited everybody into George Steinbrenner’s suite at the Stadium where there’s a model of the new park.
After pointing out some features, they showed us a 20-minute film (narrated by John Sterling) they’re using to sell luxury suites. We then went over to the Stadium after getting the mandatory hard hats.
It’s hard to get a feel for a baseball park when the field is covered by giant cranes, trucks and cement blocks. But the place is huge. Trost said the new Stadium is 63 percent larger than the old site, an additional 500,000 square feet.
The scoreboard screen, as an example, will be six times larger than what they have now. The high-definition screen will be 58 x 103. There will also be hand-operated scoreboards in the fence in right center and left center.
Here are answers to some of your questions:
The old Stadium: It will be torn down in the spring of 2009 and converted into a public park. Plans calls for 12,000 trees to be planted in the shape of the stadium. There will be a baseball field, a softball field and a Little League field. But outside of the warning track, no footprint of the field will remain. The city of New York owns the old stadium and will be responsible for taking it down and selling off seats and other things.
Metro North: The station is half completed. It will service the Harlem, New Haven and Hudson lines.
Parking: There are 7,000 spaces now. There will be 11,000 eventually.
Bleachers: There will be roughly the same amount of seats. The fans in the bleachers will have their own food court. There will be a sports bar (open to the general public) in straightaway center field.
Fans seated next to the restaurant on the left field side won’t be able to see right field (and vice versa) but the side walls of the restaurant will have television screens.
The look: The white frieze will be positioned across the entire grandstand. All the seats will be blue and the field dimensions will be exactly the same as they are now. The split upper deck reminded me of Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Each section has an open concourse, meaning you’ll be able to see the field when you leave your seat.
Capacity: The current Stadium holds 56,000. The new Stadium will hold 53,000 including standing room. Trost said they were constrained by space. But there will be a significant increase in the number of fans who sit in luxury boxes. For the average fan, it will be a tougher ticket.
The seats: They will be wider, deeper and have more leg room. The bleachers will still be benches.
Monument Park: Will be in center field and more accessible. All of the monuments and plaques will be moved over.
Yankees Museum: Will be down the right field concourse. Thurman Munson’s locker and other artifacts will be there.
All-year round: The Stadium will have a banquet, business and conference center that will be used all year. Several of the restaurants will be open all year as well. Suites will be available for rent for parties, weddings, etc.
The clubhouse: It will stretch from behind the plate nearly to the right-field foul pole. Two batting cages, a soft-toss cage, an enormous clubhouse. Office space for everybody including the strength coach, traveling secretary, etc. A room for the coaches, a room for staff members, a huge trainers room complete with a rehab pool, a press-conference room, etc.
The Great Hall: When you come in off the street, it will be through the Great Hall, a 31,000-square foot area that will serve as a concourse before entering the actual Stadium. There will be a transparent ceiling but open-air windows.
Can you get to Monument park from the bleachers?
It looks great, especially to those of us who are not local. Thanks for the info.
It’s certainly a bittersweet event, changing from old to new. But I’m finding as the time approaches, it becomes ever more sweet then bitter.
Thanks for keeping us updated Pete.
It’s tough being kept so far away from the stadium right now. I’m glad I have a trip planned back this summer to say goodbye.
It sounds amazing! And maybe a bit overwhelming!
anyword if the squirrels are gonna be moved?
Wait, Pete, can you explain the left field/right field/restaurant thing again? Did you mean that those on the left field side can’t see RIGHT FIELD or the RIGHT FIELD BLEACHERS?
Excellent news about the bleachers
Are us bleacher creatures blocked off from the rest of the stadium just like in the current one?
Im not happy about the views in the bleachers…
Pete, I’d also like a little clarification about the obstructed view in the bleachers. I think I understand what you meant. That the people seated right up against the walls of the restaurant wont be able to see the other side of the outfield. Does this apply just to those right on the walls or to a large section of the bleachers?
I find it very interesting that by far the most questions about the new park have to do with the bleacher section. I really do believe the most passionate fans are the ones out in the bleachers. Section 37 for me.
You got a shout on Philly Franchise’s blog..i think thats pretty cool
Will they serve alcohol in the restaraunt in the bleacher? i doubt it but thats where i have my season tickets..
“a huge trainers room complete with a rehab pool”
I can see Carl Pavano getting comfy there.
I cant believe theyre just going to tear down the original. Im heartbroken. I was under the impression that they were keeping at least.. some part of it.
Typical first class NYC style. No stone left unturned. A tough pill to swallow with the old Stadium going but nothing is forever. We’ll eventually come to grips with it.
Don Capone
He’ll be long gone.
I had a tour of the new digs 2 months ago. The foreman giving the tour told me that there aren’t any plans to relocate The Big Bat. That made me sad: where in the world are we going to meet each other before the game?
I wonder how much the City will sell the old seats for.I’d love to buy 2 of my 4 season tickets seats if possible.
Hey any idea on the organ/music situation? Will they move the organ over? Will the organ still be played at the new stadium? Ed Alstrom does such an amazing job, I really hope the new stadium has the same organ music, it is such a great part of the experience.
Pete, will the bleacher area have access to the rest of the stadium? Also will bleachers have alcohol?
Pete…did you mean the “Carl Pavano Memorial Rehab Pool”?
I can just see Pavano and Giambi in the “Rehab Pool’ playing “Marco Polo” during the games. Karsay can officiate
I thought a hotel was suppose built into the new stadium!