More impressions of the Stadium
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Apr 04, 2009 
Print This Post
| 
Email This Post
A few other impressions:
There’s a lot more room between the dugouts and the baselines. There will be more foul balls caught by the infielders. … The highly-touted manual scoreboards set inside the wall in right field and left field are almost useless. The numbers are too small to see from the stands. The out-of-town scoreboard is in right field now. Only four games at a time, however.
Mark Feinsand of the News made a good point during the game that you can’t see the retired numbers in Monument Park like you used to be able to. There should be somewhere where everybody can see them. Retired numbers should be celebrated, not hidden away.
The Yankees, unfortunately, didn’t change the in-game entertainment very much. The same old lame YMCA, etc. I also don’t understand why the Yankees have to be the only team in sports that plays God Bless America in the middle of the game. Is there a prize for most patriotic team? The Star-Spangled Banner would seem to suffice. … The new announcer, Paul Olden, was fine.
I suspect, just at first glance, that it won’t be a very intimidating park for opposing players. The fans are not on top of the field like they used to be. And the wealthy people close to the field will be more interested in the wine list than screaming at Kevin Youkilis.
But the comforts and the benefits will far outweigh any problems, that’s for sure. According to some friends who were at the game, it was pretty easy to get around and to get in and out of the place.
Meanwhile, I find it comical that some people are faulting the Yankees for opening such a luxurious stadium in a recession. When they broke ground on Aug. 16, 2006, the Dow was at 11,327.12 and tickets were in high demand. Were the Yankees somehow supposed to know the Dow would close on Friday at 8,017.59?
If the market was at 11,327 today, those $2,000 seats would be getting snapped up. The economy will turn and the Yankees will either adjust their prices until it does or have a lot of empty seats.
I’m sure some of you were there tonight. What did you think?
UPDATE, 10:04 a.m.: I’m not against God Bless America. I think it’s great to honor the country by playing our national anthem before every sporting event, from Little League on up. Put your hand over your heart, bow your head and honor anybody you want to. Personally, I think of soldiers serving abroad at that moment.
My question is why are two songs necessary? If patriotism is the mission, than let’s play My Country Tis of Thee in the third inning and The Battle Hymn of the Republic in the fifth inning. Toss in America The Beautiful in the sixth.
Baseball just held the WBC. The Yankees have players from Japan, Panama, Taiwan, Mexico, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic. The crowd is full of people from dozens of countries. But the Yankees seem intent on proving they love America the most, like it’s some sort of contest. So are the Giants wrong because they don’t stop the game in the third quarter and play God Bless America? Based on some of the comments, apparently so.
At some point, it’s a baseball game and not a rally for patriotism. I applaud you if you want to rally for patriotism. Apply for a permit and hold it in a public park.
As Samuel Johnson once said, “Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.”
“A little bit of your heart stays across the street,” he said. “But I guess if you have to move, this is a good place to move into.”
One fan’s impression of Yankees Stadium that seems to say it all. I suspect that the players might feel this way, too.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....id=4041053
Thoughts and pictures from tonight’s game
http://www.puristbleedspinstri.....ks-to.html
Wow. Nice shots Rebecca. Love the small, but very telling details, such as the ticket scanners!
Pete, what did you think of the lineup scoreboard to the left of the best tv ever?
Another thing I noticed was that the seats aren’t steeped as high as the ones in the old Stadium. That’s what causes the stands to be further recessed and allows for the people in front of you to block part of your view.
A lot of this stuff is nitpicking but you would have thought that they would have put a little more thought into the basic stuff.
Just noticed that all 7 runs came via the long ball.
I also don’t understand why the Yankees have to be the only team in sports that plays God Bless America in the middle of the game. Is there a prize for most patriotic team?
__
I emphatically endorse this point.
Why play God Bless America in the middle of every game? Maybe because the September, 11th attacks happened in New York City, and the Yankees competing in the World Series in 2001 provided a much needed distraction for millions of heartbroken people?
good points Pete, I agree on all of them. Yanks should have used this as a new beginning and lost the corny, played out tired YMCA routine and retired God Bless America and returned to take me out to the ball game , the 7th inning stretch classic. Retired numbers should definitly be more prominent.
Right field looked a little odd to me, I dont like the (staircase thing) or whatever that is hanging off the side.
From TV I saw too many wires,cables and netting, looked like a mishmash of sorts. Besides that, everything else looked pretty nice on a miserable rainy night, the true test will be in person.
One issue from watching on TV…
You cannot see the plate AT ALL from the stadard, behind-the-pitcher view from which we are all used to watching baseball on TV.
Not sure how easy or difficult that would be to fix, but they need to do something, otherwise it’s impossible for me to tell from my recliner how stupid the umpire is.
Pete,
Those $2,000 seats around home plate went for $400 LAST year.
Everyone expected the prices to rise, but at 500 percent, even a successful corporation is gonna decline.
Thanks for the assessment Pete.
I have an 11 game package this season so I’ll be able to experience it first hand.
Unfortunately, watching it on TV was pretty bad tonight. All the shots behind the screen were awful. YES and the Yankees really have to do something to fix that.
Instead of all of the continuous and petty whining about “God Bless, America”, try remembering why they play it. As it’s stated before the song, “To honor our Military men and women at home and overseas.”
Re: God Bless America
I also agree wholeheartedly with Pete, but I would like to offer my two cents regarding the September 11th argument in favor of the playing of the song.
Believe it or not, I actually remember September 11th without the Yankees reminding me every day. Next, what makes the Yankees morally superior to the Mets, Islanders, Rangers, Devils, Knicks, Nets, Giants and Jets (not to mention the Capitals, Wizards, Redskins and Nationals).
Another problem is that the game takes on a maudlin feel after what is intended to be a celebration of the game (I vaguely remember a song about not caring if you ever get back).
Finally, by playing the song every day it dilutes any intended meaning anyway. If it must be played, save it for Sundays and holidays and allow it to regain some resonance.
As it’s stated before the song, “To honor our Military men and women at home and overseas.”
******************************************
that’s why they do the star spangled anthem. They used to play the S-S-A during the 7th inning stretch during World War I. Then it returned on a permanent basis during World War II.
I don’t see the big deal with them playing God Bless America every game.
No one is forcing you to stand there and show respect. If it’s that much of a problem for you, why not use that time to go take a leak.
>I don’t see the big deal with them playing God Bless America every game.
>
>No one is forcing you to stand there and show respect. If it’s that much of
>a problem for you, why not use that time to go take a leak.
aha…aha…ahahahahahahahaha
http://deadspin.com/sports/geo.....259313.php
http://deadspin.com/5042588/so.....-seriously
Hank (different Hank)
April 4th, 2009 at 2:44 am
As it’s stated before the song, “To honor our Military men and women at home and overseas.”
******************************************
that’s why they do the star spangled anthem. They used to play the S-S-A during the 7th inning stretch during World War I. Then it returned on a permanent basis during World War II.
————————————————————
Find a archived copy of a Yankee home game and listen to it.
The National Anthem is for everyone and NYY tradition of GBA is dedicated to the military. George steinbrenner is responsible for the request and he’s a huge contributor to a favorite charity, “The Wounded Warrior Project”.
Does it really kill you to listen and give up 1 minute and 10 seconds of your time?
i was at the stadium the past 2 days and am in love with it…but i will always love my ex. The big negative to me is this…There was the post about non-field level ticket holders not going to the field level concourse and there was uproar, and then it changed. While I understand why there was the outrage I now understand why the Yankees made that the rule initially and hope they either change itback or beef up security. There were thousands of fans who stood and watched the game from the concourse from all areas around the field. So potentially someone can buy a 5$ obstructed view ticket and just stood behind someone who was paying 350$ for their seat. They need to keep the traffic moving because the lines also got out of control at the concession stands because the people were standing watching the game.
I say they should play god bless america, there’s alot of fans that it means alot too, even if most of the world has forgotten about September 11th, it still hit very close to home for yankees fans.
What they need to do is get a version that isn’t the old Kate Smith one, you can hear the needle hit the record player at the start of it for Christ’s sake!
They are just trying to bring over some old customs from across the street. The one people care most about is the winning. I can see using YMCA/GBA to get people accustomed to new surroundings, especially with Bob Shepard out, but they should also shake things up and start some new traditions.
What I also noticed was that Ronan Tinan’s GBA didn’t have that haunting quality that the old stadium provided. From what heard his vocals didn’t echo. It was like he was singing in Central Park.
“http://deadspin.com/5042588/so-yankee-stadium-takes-this-no-moving-during-god-bless-america+thing-rather-seriously”
lol that’s a bunch of BS.
Playing gba everyday has diluted it to the point of meaninglessness. Keep it on Sundays or something if you must, but as it stands it’s just another tired ritual at the stadium. Please tell me they didn’t play cotton eyed joe?
I don’t understand why people complain about God Bless America. If its too much to hear, switch the channel. If you are at the stadium, why don’t you just refuse to stand up for it, and see how people look at you. Some people just seem to want to complain about everything, and this time Pete is leading the charge. Is it so hard to just stand for a minute, when there are thousands of soldiers out in Iraq or Afghanistan risking their lives?
All teams with payrolls over $160M play GBA, do the YMCA and Cotton-Eyed Joe. In other words, George’s $$, George’s rules and ownership has it’s privliges!
But, it could be worse. They could have a hyper monkey jumping around, foreign sausages running on the warning track, a Neil Diamond sing along and canned music telling everyone to “clap their hands”!
I still don’t see why everyone hates God Bless America. I don’t think its a big to deal to honor the military.
If you can read this thank a teacher.
If you’re reading this in English, thank a soldier.
the dow was below 8000 i assume you meant a seven (just a correction)
What they outta do is play god bless america between each inning.
Buddy-
That’s an interesting observation. The new stadium will likely have a acoustic, considering how the tiers are spread out.
Are the Mets less patriotic because they don’t play God Bless America even though they’re a NYC team?
i think gb7 had a boyhood crush on kate smith!
I’m gonna be honest i was there last night and i didn’t appreciate being treated like i somehow snuck my way in there. i was asked to show my ticket every time i walked to my seat there were guards at every bar/store/restaurant. The food was just as overpriced as i thought it would be only now they have 3 oz 5 dollar beers so they can say LOOK beer is only 5 dollars. the seating alignment was worst the old stadium the thing was 1/2 empty mainly the rich/super rich seats. the thing is quiet as all hell, my girlfriend called 1/2 way through the game and honestly didn’t believe i was at a baseball game it was so quite. I for one am very very very very very not impressed. maybe if i had 10 grand the throw down every game i would love the place but as a fan of the game who still has tickets in his room down on the field level that only cost 10 bucks this is hardly an improvement.
My only hope is that a month into the season they realize how stupid they are being and killing the fans and let people go down stairs since the entire lower field was empty. if this gets to the playoff and its as quite as it was last night(ive never ever ever been in a stadium that quiet.) they are going to feel like asses and rightfully so.
Rishi,
You’re probably asleep, but here are the power rankings.
Don’t really have a problem with us being #3, since they did it rationally. All I care about is where we are in October.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....reseason09
“I’m gonna be honest i was there last night and i didn’t appreciate being treated like i somehow snuck my way in there. i was asked to show my ticket every time i walked to my seat there were guards at every bar/store/restaurant. The food was just as overpriced as i thought it would be only now they have 3 oz 5 dollar beers so they can say LOOK beer is only 5 dollars. the seating alignment was worst the old stadium the thing was 1/2 empty mainly the rich/super rich seats. the thing is quiet as all hell, my girlfriend called 1/2 way through the game and honestly didn’t believe i was at a baseball game it was so quite. I for one am very very very very very not impressed. maybe if i had 10 grand the throw down every game i would love the place but as a fan of the game who still has tickets in his room down on the field level that only cost 10 bucks this is hardly an improvement”
sadly, people will check your post and label you a complainer.
from viewing last night’s game on YES, i was not impressed. Foremost, i care about the fans, atmosphere, and beauty/asthetics (on the field). The new stadium looks to be 0-3 in these areas
I really couldn’t care less, how the great hall is decorated, the variety of food choices, and the array of luxuries in the clubhouse
I haven’t been inside the stadium yet but it sure looks like the seats are much further from the field in all respects. A great feature of the old park was that the tiers were closer to the field (hence the overhang) and steep, so the upper rows weren’t set so far back. Add those to the larger foul zones and it sounds like you are much further from the game.
For someone in the upper tier, how was the view?
I LOVE the old Yankee Stadium.
But…this new Stadium is a gem. What a beauty. I went yesterday with my son – on his 13th birthday. (What a way to turn 13).
I attended over 100 games at the old ballpark, so I think I can draw a fair comparison.
One complaint about the old stadium were the concessions workers – they were rude, etc… NOT SO ANY LONGER! So many ushers, security guards, concession workers were smiling, asking how we were and more. On the way out a man said, “Please come back again.” It seems like they were trained by Disney. They were an absolute pleasure.
The seats felt so much nicer. I have a season plan in the “Upper Tier” (now called Grandstand). The seats are not as steep. There is a ton more leg room.
The Yankee Museum is very interesting with signed baseballs from so many former players.
The open feel to the new stadium made it great. Because they split the Upper Deck, there were never people walking in front the spectators. It was a great change.
I love the new place.
It’s not the old rough and tough Yankee Stadium. I’ll miss the old place…but I’m sure to have many great memories in the new home.
It seems like they forgot quite a few things in the new stadium. Where are the pennant race flags? Where is the bat that tells you which direction the wind is blowing? Where is the giant Babe Ruth Louisville slugger outside?
Why wouldn’t they bring these things over?
Bronx Baseball Daily
April 4th, 2009 at 7:58 am
It seems like they forgot quite a few things in the new stadium. Where are the pennant race flags? Where is the bat that tells you which direction the wind is blowing? Where is the giant Babe Ruth Louisville slugger outside?
Why wouldn’t they bring these things over?
————————————————————
What pennant race flags? There is no pennant race, it’s still exhibition season. That bat outside the old ballpark isn’t a bat, it’s a chimney.
The Dow is closing in on 9,000? God bless America!
I usually sat in the bleachers at the old stadium and sat in section 405 last night, up top, right outfield.
Seriously, the seats were actually comfortable, I coulda napped in them. There are cupholders. Seriously improves the experience.
I cannot really compare views from the seats because I only sat in similar seats in the old stadium once, a long time ago. But the view was pretty good, not great. I could not see the very corner of the right field – thats sucked.
6 bucks a beer seemed relatively reasonable. Concession stand lines were short by me – bonus.
The stadium looked gorgeous all around – cept maybe the restaurant in the outfield – just looked weird, gimmicky, but it is also likely very fun place to be.
In all, it seems they have improved the comfort level by a wide margin. The rest will take some getting used to bc it just ain’t what it was.
GreenBeret7
Instead of all of the continuous and petty whining about “God Bless, America”, try remembering why they play it. As it’s stated before the song, “To honor our Military men and women at home and overseas.
__
There are multiple ways to honor the military without interrupting the flow of every game with GBA. That’s the way it was done since Doubleday invented the game, so I don’t think every game played prior to 9/11 was disrespecting or dishonoring the military.
If you truly understand the fabric and ethic of this country, you should know that dissent isn’t whining, it’s a First Amendment right.
So try to show others the respect and honor that you want shown to the military.
God Bless America a 3 minute song. I don’t see what the big deal is.
How is the parking near the Stadium. I am going today. Would love some insight on that. Thanks.
I attended both the workout day and last nights game…I ran around and sat in every section…I don’t think there is a bad seat in the house. If you are in the obstructed seats, so what, you are free to walk around the field level or go watch from the bleacher cafe.
the higher tiers are closer to the field however there are fewer rows so the person who said that the stadum may not be as imposing may have a point…we’ll see
it is way to early to tell how the crowd noise is going to be…first or all 30% of the crowd wasnt even sitting down…they were either in the martini bar, the hard rock, the steak house, the fan club store, or walking around the concourse and watching the game from the concession stands…Yes the stadium is wicked awesome
its a preseason game people…they want to explore the stadium.
By the way save the class warfare crap for a political blog…the Yanks have always had rich people in seats getting served drinks and food…if the stadium is quiet its not because of rich people in seats…LOL
The crowd was plenty loud when the homers were hit. I have a feeling it will be fine once a real game is played there
by the way if anyone is interested I have tickets in Main 230 row 9 next to the aisle and close to beers of the world
I was there. It will never be the same. Its all business now. Forget about a kid trying to go down to the field level before the game for an autograph.if your seats are not down there, you’re out of luck. it will take a long time for me to get used to this place.
What good is all this hoopla in the New Stadium if the real fans can’t afford to go there anymore?
For what its worth, I came from Queens and drove up the Grand Concourse. I saw a parking lot on the road a few blocks from the stadium that was tiny and not yet full. So, I knew it would be real quick leaving and worked out well for me. It was 30 bucks.
oh please enough with this nonsense about no one being able to afford to go…the granstand seats were 24 bucks and the views are better in this stadium than the old.
the $5 seats are the best deal in town…period
you can still bring in your own food if you dont like the stadium food
anyone who brings up class or money issues is talking out of their butthole and is just looking to start trouble
“When they broke ground on Aug. 16, 2006, the Dow was at 11,327.12 and tickets were in high demand. Were the Yankees somehow supposed to know the Dow would close on Friday at 8,917.59?”
OK, it’s 8017, but yes, how could they not know that was a very distinct possibility? A lot of people in the financial business knew, a lot of people interested in the markets knew (like me), it was being discussed. In 2006, the housing market was collapsing and professionals knew the government experts were either lying or clueless when they said things would be ‘contained’. The economy was clearly in trouble to those who pay close attention, and I’m 100% certain the Yankee organization pays close attention and has some of the best financial advisors in the country. So one does have to ask, what the heck were they thinking? And I believe the answer is simple: “We’re building this tribute to George regardless, and there will always be enough rich people like us to pay these prices. Anyone who doesn’t like it, finds it offensive or can’t afford it, screw ‘em. The multimillionaires will love it, including the players, and who cares about anyone else? That’s why we have YES–so we can make money off the hoi polloi without having to get physically close to them or be reminded of their nasty, brutish reality. It’s the Yankee way!”
As much as I enjoy Pete, he’s very out of touch on this one.
My concern…
Actually two kind of related: 1) The added distance the fans are now from away the field of play down the lines and 2) what the noise level and intimidation factor will now be with that added distance and the new more gradual inclines.
Size isn’t everything (i know, i know, that’s been said before and no one really buys it…lol). Here in Syracuse you have the Carrier Dome which seats 34,000 for basketball but it is no way the intimidating force that the confines of Manley Field House used to be. Same reasons.
I guess it will have to be played in awhile under real sold-out game conditions to know for sure. But I think something will be lost in all that is gained. Like Pete says, hopefully the new trumps what’s been lost.
I posted my some of my observations last night. I was in right field lower level for this game only. The seats were almost identicial to my former Sunday package. (I’m up a level for my new subsitute package). I liked the new stadium but I’m not going nuts over it. Seeing baseball in the Bronx was wonderful. Right field sections 107 and over do not have the isle in front of you so besides the home plate area, they are probably closer to the field. However, those seats are now full and partial season package area and are more expensive than last year (if you can get them). They also started with row 10 as a number. The waitress service ended went from foul pole to foul pole. I did find the “class” distinction in two area. One, if the field level has waitress service from those fole pole to fole pole, but they also had the better and bigger food areas (we checked the whole stadium out beforehand). Besides the better view, that was another reason there were tons of people congregating on the concourse between the main level and the field level. Plus, the Monegan bar area looked like a good place to view the game but it is members only and you can’t apply for a membership at the game. Also, as I noted from last night’s post, why couldn’t all areas have the automated sinks in the bathrooms. Only the field level did. The setup of the bathrooms was great. I couldn’t find anywhere in the stadium which said that the NYY won 26 world series. I realize that they didn’t win them there but it is still part of the NYY history. The retired numbers are on an interior wall which looked a bit lost. They are just hung up on unpainted concreate. The space between the dugouts and the field is MUCH larger. Finding the pitch count was not very easy from the right field sections and if you have any of the big screen blocked. There are areas in which you don’t have a tv nearby to see that information. I found the new signage on facade between the suits and the top level to be a little annoying. It was very bright and had more ads than information. bathrooms had hands free sinks but not the other levels. Getting into the Hard Rock from inside was difficult. They (a/k/a the lady at the door) kept saying that the Hard Rock was overcrowed but when you looked in from the store, there was plenty of room. Tommy Bahamas is the only non-members bar on the main level. For anyone who is looking to get a non-Bud, non-Miller but domestic beer, its the place to go. We only found one international beer stands. The parking garage across from NYY stadium changed the payment methods. You need to pre-pay to get out with a ticket. The ticket machines were not working when we left. It was right outside Gate 8 and was very convenient. All and all, once the game started, I was very happy. I was seeing baseball on green grass with a team I love. Lets go NYY.
Looking to start trouble??? Hey east side. I ‘ve been priced out of the place since the bandwaggoners found it circa 1999. If you think it’s ok to spend $200-$400 to take your family to a friggin baseball game we have different ideas about what is considered affordable. Trying to start trouble? huh???
I agree with the earlier people about the tv viewing. It’s horrible right now. At least on a good HDTV. Every single ball put in play, the view is through the screen behind home plate. It looks like the team is caught in a fishing net.
at times i felt like i was out of town…the ushers were instructed to be anal…searched like never before getting into park…hope it doesnt turn into a tourist attraction…forget putting your feet up, that’s taboo and dont let your camera be over the railing, you might drop it and hit someone in the head…it’s gonna take some breaking in…wait till someone breaks one of their fancy cupholders.
Not being able to see the retired numbers from the seats is a pretty idiotic oversight.
Whoever mentioned “the seats are not as steep” as an improvement cannot be serious.
I had feared the stadium would be quieter and less intimidating, and while these pre-season games are perhaps not the fairest indicator, the acoustics DO seem diminished. Also it appears clear that the moneyed ticket holders who at least were forced to sit and watch a baseball game in the old stadium will now have plenty of distractions to keep them out of their seats. Lame.
God Bless America — stick a fork in it already. Next up: mandatory flag pins.
YMCA: Really? REALLY?? So a bunch of people sat around a table discussing which elements to bring across the street, and somehow “Making retired numbers visible from seats” got crossed off, but “Nonsensical song and dance routine about cruising locker rooms in the 70′s” got the nod.
For everyone accusing critics of whining: you’re goddamn right. I loved my Yankee Stadium.
I thought it was like Disney World… the most magical place on Earth. I am heading back up there again now. Can’t wait for the friends I am going with today to see the place!
GO YANKS!!!
i have a sinking feeling the new shea might be the new camden yards and ours might be a phony copy of what we had. did they tear the old one down yet?
Actually, my preference is Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA.” I can just relate to that song.
As a country we should have our traditional songs, but should also play more contemporary music to reflect the times we’re in. IMO.
I wasn’t at the Stadium last night; I watched the game on TV. What struck me was that the Bleacher Creatures could barely be heard over the TV. You could always hear them clearly over the TV in the old building. Maybe it’s just a mic problem. I don’t know. Could they be heard by people in the ballpark last night, does anyone know?
right on Count.
Joltin Joe,
The Mets had a terrible stadium for many years, and their fans deserved a new one. If it’s like Camden yeard ,so be it. There’s noting else like the Yankee experience. My thoughts are once the Yankees get settled in and start winning ballgames, people will get comforatble in the new park. It doesn’t help matters that the “Ghost” of the old stadium is in the background. Once that’s down, and people realize that it’s time to move on, things will be fine. Plus, winning a championship in the new park would christen it nicely.
There are plenty of seats that you can afford in the new stadium so stop whining. If you can’t afford $5 seats than you better take up an extra shift at McDonalds.
buddy
have you been to the “new” yankee stadium yet?
Buddy —
“God Bless The USA”= GREAT IDEA.
Also, I think it would be cool if they had an Uncle Same jumpsuit day…you know, with like the tie and laps just sort of printed onto the front. Or, alternately, they could hand out those illustrated cards like Kim Il Jong does, so that when everybody in the grandstand flips them over together they make a giant picture of Challenger the GREAT AMERICAN BALD EAGLE, or of Ronan Tynan’s forehead.
(“lapels”)
Just a technical observation. They are still working out the bugs. Like I said in an earlier post, the acoustics are different in theis stadium, so they will have to play with the sound system. They also had camera problems, since we were looking at the netting behind home plate for sveral innings, until they began adjusting their focus. The team said they might have to adjust the camera angles. But one thing I would do is mic the bleachers, and get a camera out there pronto.
lol
mike the bleachers? are you kidding?
Joltin Joe,
I haven’t been yet, but I am planning to. I’m the type of person that let’s everyone go ahead, and then goes in once things calm down. I like things to be settled a little bit, so I can enjoy it.
Joltin’ Joe
April 4th, 2009 at 9:32 am
mike the bleachers? are you kidding?
Sort of, but it would make for some good reality TV.
Granted, the Yanks planned this stadium when the DOW was at record-breaking highs. Nonethless, the place is obviously oriented toward the wealthy. The non-rich have to put up with restricted-view seats, and a concrete wall separating the “haves” from the “have-nots”. That’s pretty disgusting.
Count got it right. Jennifer, I make well above the median salary for the NY area. It still doesn’t make sense to me that I shell out $400 for a ballgame.
jennifer
April 4th, 2009 at 9:26 am
“There are plenty of seats that you can afford in the new stadium so stop whining. If you can’t afford $5 seats than you better take up an extra shift at McDonalds.”
I believe those $5.00 seats are obstructed view. You would be better off watching at home. I do think they will have to address that problem down the road, since it is an embarassment to an otherwise great looking ballpark.
the yanks are looking to draw children and tourists. wha happened to the average joe fan?
jennifer
most fans don’t have their parents buying their tickets.
Was there last night. DEFINITE problem with acoustics, the PA is not as clear and loud as OYS. Hopefully they’ll fix that. Announcements and Ronan’s live singing seemed muffled somehow.
The Creature’s rollcall seemed nearly as loud in person as in OYS. Voices carry….
It’d be easy right now for me to comment on how loud the fans overall seemed last night, but I’ll wait until it’s a full house to judge. LOTS of people roaming around and not enough fannies in the seats to properly make an assessment. The first home run, it SEEMED kinda loud, but not like OYS.
The manual scoreboards, YES, they’re practically useless–WAAAAY too small!!
I like the place enough right now, but it’s going to take a long time for me to love it. While the amenities are very nice, I need to experience a full house to see what it’s really like to enjoy a game there….
Pete hit the nail on head. No one could have predicted the recession in ’06 when the Yanks broke ground.
I’ll be interested to hear fans’ opinions after attending games there. The new concourses look terrific. I’m sure it’s much roomier and more comfortable than Yankee Stadium was. I’ll defer judgement on the new place until I attend games there later this summer. All I know about the new building itself is that I caught a glimpse on tv last night of where my tickets have been relocated to and wanted to puke. We were shoved from Tier 2 behind home plate to section 4313B in the last row near the left field foul pole.
I’m sure improvements will be made as time goes on. The tv camera shots that look through the netting should be addressed. You really should be able to see the retired numbers too. All I really want to know is what happened to the bat on the top of the flag pole??
Carla April 4th, 2009 at 9:13 am
“I thought it was like Disney World… the most magical place on Earth. I am heading back up there again now. Can’t wait for the friends I am going with today to see the place!”
Was a big Mickey Mouse there too? And faeries? (never mind, don’t answer that last one).
That’s exactly many poster’s point here, Carla. If we wanted Disney World we’d would go to Orlando. Most true fans want to see baseball played in a real baseball atmosphere. (anyone thinking of that Miller High Life commercial with the delivery guy in the luxury box?) As in other aspects of life, too much comfort brings complacency.
Some of you sound like my mother, who hates change, when we first bought her a microwave or a cordless phone.
Why not settle in a little and try it out for awhile before you decide whether you really like it or not?
The game on the field hasn’t changed and in the end that’s what you’re really there to see.
I believe those $5.00 seats are obstructed view. You would be better off watching at home. I do think they will have to address that problem down the road, since it is an embarassment to an otherwise great looking ballpark.
==========================
Wrong. Select sections of the grandstands are $5 on select games. I have grandstand seats to an August Texas Rangers game down the right field grandstand line for $5 for one of the games I’m attending.
…and why are people complaining about the atmosphere right now, really? #1 Its an exhibition game, #2 it was around 50% of capacity, #3 half the people there were walking around the concourses and checking out all the new stuff. The baseball game was secondary to the stadium sights last night people. The same will be the case today.
pat,
When the place youre leaving is the most important venue in the history of American sports,there’s naturally going to be some hesitation. At Shea, on the other hand, change is easy to embrace because the place was decrepit from the start.
Corey,
I have friend with $5 tix against the Sux and they are stuffed against the restaurant wall with no view at all of left field.
Skinny Head,
My ticket last night was $20.00 Had a great seat, great views and a great time. Last time I checked $20.00 was affordable.
I’m not against God Bless America. I think it’s great to honor the country by playing our national anthem before every sporting event, from Little League on up. Put your hand over your heart, bow your head and honor anybody you want to. Personally, I think of soldiers serving abroad at that moment.
My question is why are two songs necessary? If patriotism is the mission, than let’s play This Land Is Your Land in the third inning and The Battle Hymn of the Republic in the fifth inning. Toss in America The Beautiful in the sixth.
Baseball just held the WBC. The Yankees have players from Japan, Taiwan, Mexico, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic. The crowd is full of people from dozens of countries. But the Yankees seem intent on proving they love America the most, like it’s some sort of contest. So are the Giant wrong because they don’t stop the game in the third quarter and play God Bless America? Based on some of the comments, apparently so.
At some point, it’s a baseball game and not a rally for patriotism. I applaud you if you want to rally for patriotism. Apply for a permit and hold it in a public park.
As Samuel Johnson once said, “Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.”
I agree with whoever said if you don’t like God Bless America, then leave and go use the wonderful new facilities!:)
GB7 is ex-military and I believe he speaks well for how THEY feel about the support. Our men and women in the military are still out there and this IS George Steinbrenner’s team! If he wants to use this song in EVERY inning, nobody should complain! He’s given us this great team and new stadium and people still complain?!
Try going to a game in the Metrodome where the whole game is like a three ring circus with something going on continually and, oh yea, there’s a baseball game being played!
I would like to hear someone sing it live or ANYONE besides Kate Smith, but can’t we give George this without whining like a bunch of spoiled brats? Get over yourselves!
Lardin and Jennifer: I know that there are $20.00 tickets and $5.00 tickets out there. How does one go about getting their hands on these tickets? The vast majority of seats in Yankee Stadium are $40.00 and up. Please don’t make this sound like I’m complaining about nothing. The “affordable” seats are obstructed views or impossible to get.
Why are you people angry about? Me personally I couldn’t care less how nice or how ugly the Stadium looks, all i know is that the New York Yankees, the team i love, the team i worship is playing baseball. All I see is the field the uniform ant the players. They provide me with an escape from the hardships of life whether its on television or in the stadium all i care about is baseball and the New York Yankees.
GO YANKEES!!
Who are we to decide how patriotic the owner of a team should be? Some people think the Star Spangled Banner shouldn’t be played before at the start of sporting events. They make the same argument Pete makes that they’re attending a sporting event, not a rally for patriotism. Are they correct?
So I was at the game last night and was really really disappointed. It’s an attraction not a game and I really feel as not one single ounce of thought was put into folks who cannot afford $200+ seats a game. The 300 and 400 levels are higher than ever and farther from the field. This stadium is not cozy and kind of reminds me of Giant Stadium. Remember walking around the inner field section, now only the rich can and they are seperated from the poor with a concrete wall. They wish not to be disturbed by real cheering fans. I miss the old place. I would have been happy if they replicated the entire seating chart of the old stadium and put all the money making attractions in the great hall. Give me a break, its a wide hallway with pictures. Not a big deal. After an hour walking around, being so excited to get there, my conclusion to my family members was, wow, I really don’t like this place. Sad, my kids will never have a chance to feel a part of the game like we all did in the Old Stadium. And the TV, wow so Encore last night. What a crock, how does the Greatest Team in Baseball who by the way owns the greatest Network in Baseball, screw this up. The bleacher seats against the wall was laughable. Everywhere you look, you are lead to beleiev that the people who designed this were rich and not baseball fans. Like A-rod we are stuck with the concrete mess for many many years to come.
“Wrong. Select sections of the grandstands are $5 on select games. I have grandstand seats to an August Texas Rangers game down the right field grandstand line for $5 for one of the games I’m attending.”
Corey,
I was not aware of the select pricing. I had heard they might be updating some prices. With that being said, I still think the obstructed view bleachers will have to be addressed in the future.
Please tell me that Cotton-Eyed-Joe was left to be swept up in the rubble of Old Yankee Stadium! Please?! Please?!
By mentioning the quote, “Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel,” Pete apparently intends to imply that those who use patriotism are scoundrels. This is a logical fallacy called “Affirming the Consequent” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A.....consequent
Has anybody ever stopped to think that part of the problem in our world economic infrastructure is that sports figures make 10s of millions of dollars to play sports? How is this possibly a correct comessurate pay scale?? Right up there with the stupid money the Wall Street guys are getting. These are sporting events, people. How did it become such a socio-economic disaster???
Skinnyhead,
I went online and bought through Yankees.com. They were not hard to get.
As for the players salaries, if the MLB revenue is gonna be billions of dollars, I have no problem with the players getting the money they do. I would rather the players get it than the owners.
Pete – thanks for the updated review/commentary and an A+ for quoting Samuel Johnson lol. I’ll leave the God Bless America debate to everyone else . . . but Cotton Eye Joe and YMCA are done, done, done like an overcooked dinner.
With regard to your observations about 20/20 hindsight and the carping from some quarters, agreed 100%. In the end, if it’s too much for anyone, it will be reflected in attendance and the popularity of the team. And how cool was it to see real live baseball? Can’t wait for the regular season to begin at long last. Thanks again Pete for your beyond excellent offseason and spring training coverage – this is the first and last place I go for all my Yankees news and updates.
Skinnyhead
April 4th, 2009 at 10:56 am
Has anybody ever stopped to think that part of the problem in our world economic infrastructure is that sports figures make 10s of millions of dollars to play sports? How is this possibly a correct comessurate pay scale?? Right up there with the stupid money the Wall Street guys are getting. These are sporting events, people. How did it become such a socio-economic disaster???
————————————————————
Do you go on movie star boards and complain about how much they get paid? Do you go on theatre web sites and complain about the price of popcorn, candy and soft drinks? Somehow, I doubt it.
My seats, a small season ticket plan, (11 games) are $25.00 per ticket for 11 games. For four people, that’s $100.00.
I’m not “wealthy” and was not pleased that my plan, which was $12.00 a seat for 8 games went up to $25.00 a seat for 11 games. So, I sold the excess games to friends/colleagues, etc.
$25.00 per seat is not a crazy amount. Movie tickets cost upwards of $15.00. Want to go to a Broadway play? One show would cost more than half of my eleven game season plan.
Prices go up, that’s a fact – and this year it will be difficult to get seats because the Stadium is brand new.
I agree with the statement above – the new stadium is like Disney World, in a sense. As I stated, the ushers and other workers are much friendlier. There seemed to be a happy spirit around the place.
I love the old stadium. I’ll miss it, but the nicer tone makes attending that much more pleasurable – especially when I bring my three sons.
Also, my seats are in the last row of the upper deck. I was previously behind homeplate and now am behind third base. My seats are AWESOME. I can see the whole field, they are not as steep, they have more leg room, and the sight lines are great. I can see every angle, even the left field corner. My seats also don’t smell like a bathroom as my old seats did.
No, the new stadium is not the old stadium. Things change.
My home is different than it was when I moved in in 1994. My parents’ home is different than when I grew up. Are all “improvements” better? No. Do I miss things from years past in these homes? Sure.
Is the new Yankee Stadium perfect? No. Was the old stadium perfect? Far from it. Far from it.
I loved the old stadium, not because of the hard seats, not because of the crowded halls, not because of the long lines, not because of the smells, not because of the lack of leg room…but because of the teams that played there and the memories I had with my friends, family, and father in the building.
This building will have it’s own memories. That is what will make it special. And once those memories become part of the fabric of the Yankees memories for the fans, people will have the same feelings about the new building as the did for the old.
…just like fans embraced the “new stadium” in 1976 after it was radically changed from the stadium Ruth, Gehrig DiMaggio, and Mantle played in. Remember,the old stadium that everyone misses was really a new stadium in 1976. The stadium of the 1920′s-1960′s no longer existed after 1974.
ENJOY this new stadium. It was built for all fans. Yes, even us guys in the Upper Deck. Go up there – notice that there are no aisles for people to walk in front of the spectators all game long. Notice the seats, the views, you’ll be impressed. I love my $25.00 seats.
I love the new stadium.
Skinnyhead: Everyone loves the free market until they see someone else’s paycheck. It’s the same deal as with actors and rock stars – if it’s that objectionable, we don’t have to contribute to it financially with our patronage. Lardin is right – the players, like actors and musicians, are getting their fair share of the enormous profits that come from their talents and labor, without which their would be no sports, no movies, no tv, and no music. If everyone had their level of talent, we could all be MLB players or tv and movie stars, but what in life works that way?
Pete,
I only watched the game on TV last night but I have to admit, I was surprised at how different it looks, to me, from the old Yankee Stadium. I guess I was just expecting much of the field to look the same since so many people made comments about how it WAS the same. The outfield looked different to me. The backdrop behind the hitters looked different to me, and even though there were a lot of people there last night, it seemed like a very quiet crowd. Even the blue seats seem a little drab to me. Maybe I am one of those fans pining for the old Stadium, but it seemed weird to me. I guess I have to go there, and I KNOW some of my friends, who went last night, loved the Stadium, but last night seemed strange to watch the Yankees play on what seemed to me to be a completely foreign ball park.
One other thing………..I completely agree with you about God Bless America, I don’t think it is necessary at this point, but I also don’t think the Yankees continuing to play the song is some great controversy or issue that needs to be addressed. Why does the fact that the Yankees play the song translate into some sort of “patriotism” competition? I seriously doubt the Yankees look around the league and say “boy, aren’t we the most patriotic team in America?” After Sept. 11 they started playing the song and they like honoring America during that seventh-inning stretch. And what does that song replace? It replaces Take Me Out To The Ball Game. That’s fun, but not exactly such an important song that we need to now get rid of God Bless America.
Like I said, I agree with you that you could certainly decide to retire the song, but if they keep going with it, no big deal. Spending literaly 2 more minutes in the seventh singing a patriotic song isn’t exactly a burden or reason to get upset. And the Samuel Johnson quote I think is a little out of line. A quote intended to indict false patriotism, or using patriotism for impure means, I don’t think quite fits when talking about the Yankees playing a song during the seventh inning stretch.
The stadium sounded awful quiet watching on tv last night. Lousy night and it was an exhibition game so maybe things will liven up on 4/16. The empty seats near the field, ridiculously overpriced, looked embarassing. A $1.5 Billion cost and there are obstructed view seats – unbelievable, regardless of what they charge for the seat.
I agree with Pete – retire God Bless America, unless its the 4th of July, or the anniversary of 9/11. And I don’t need to hear Ronan Tynan anymore either. The Star Spangled Banner suffices, and there was no one better than Robert Merrill when he sang it, may he rest in peace.
irving berlin wrote ‘god bless america’ – did you know he didn’t even believe in god? the song was also originally composed as an anti-war anthem… people are funny.
also, pete.. how bout this one? ‘patriotism is the virtue of the vicious.’ oscar wilde.
So, if you don’t like the song…like I said before, there are options. Make a trip to the john, put cotton in your ears, move to North Korea or, just sit on your fat azs while it’s playing. Just don’t be surprised if you don’t catch crap from the people around you.
David Wells on Francressa on YES, now.
Ah yes, “Green Beret” with all his internet muscles and petty insults.
Move to North Korea, always a witty rejoinder.
Meanwhile, if the dictator of North Korea demanded that his people listen to two patriotic songs at every sports event and commanded the security staff to use chains to force people to stay in one place (which is what they do at the Stadium), people like him would be all up in arms.
But because George Steinbrenner does it, it’s great.
Hilarious.
oscar wilde was a pretty smart guy.
I don’t think that the singing of “God Bless America” represents jingoism on the part of the Yankees. Geographically, New York is located within the United States therefore, despite the various origins of the players and spectators, it seems appropriate to honor the particular country in which the game is taking place. Also, what else could they do during the seventh inning stretch. Sing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game”? Show previews for next week’s American Idol on the ginormous high-def screen? The PA announcer might say, “Ladies and Gentleman let us now honor America by screening a sneak peek of X-Men Origins: Wolverine.”
I’m really disappointed with Monument Park. It should be the crown jewel of the new stadium and instead it seems as if it were an afterthought. You can’t see it from the field. It’s tucked away in a cramped space underneath a sports bar. For a stadium that pays so much homage to history, it’s a little mindboggling how they blew it so badly with the most important aspect of the team’s history.
I think the team really blew it with the new Monument Park.
It looks like a complete afterthought. You can’t see it from the field. It looks cramped and gets no sunlight because it is tucked away under a sports bar. Monument park should be the crown jewel of the new stadium. For a team and a new home that works so hard to pay homage to history, it is a little mind boggling how they blew this one so badly.
With all due respect, the Yankees are far from the only team that insists on playing God Bless America during the 7th inning stretch. Have you ever been to another ballpark? It’s played in nearly every stadium during that time.
Cotton Eye Joe ?!?!?
Anybody ?!?!?
Bueller ?!?!?
Did they play this horrible, horrible song AGAIN in 2009 ????
Pete-
As a music and Springsteen fan you should know that “This Land is Your Land” is not a patriotic song; it is the opposite. In fact, Woody Guthrie wrote it directly in (negative)response to Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America”. It is a socialist/Marxist bromide that actually calls for the aboltion of private property. In polite American company, the following verse is usually dropped but the increasingly pinko Bruce sung it loud and proud at Obama’s inauguration party:
“As I was walkin’ – I saw a sign there
And that sign said – no tress-passin
But on the other side …. it didn’t say nothin!
Now that side was made for you and me”
What’s yours is mine brother and cool comrade.
I happen to like God Bless America. I just don’t like standing for it when I’m at the game because I’m usually chowing down some hot dogs.
To join in the nitpicking, I also had the following thoughts:
1. The sirens and music after home runs is over the top. It’s too loud and kind of cheesy.
2. We’re still doing the J&R whistle after strikeouts?
3. Where’s the digital clock?
4. Maybe they’ll do this during the regular season, but they need to have a screen dedicated to showing the count and the batter’s stats. They just had the count at the bottom of the screen with the full lineups (which were too small to read without squinting). Then later in the game, they seemed to superimpose a camera shot of the manual scoreboards on the bottom of the big screen. It looked weird. I’m guessing they’ll get the glitches out going forward.
5. What is the point of dedicating handicapped seating above every field level section. Obviously, they need to provide handicapped seating. But all around the stadium, they had those baracaded off areas with a few folding chairs set up, but mostly empty. Put some seats there. Or let people stand there.
6. The fancy trash cans are going to be a mess. They have cans designated for “compost”, and I saw people throwing cups and bottles in there. And I saw people throwing trash in the recycling cans. I don’t envy the guys who have to go through it. But do the Yankees really think people are going to throw their uneaten food into the compost bin, then separate their bottles, and throw the rest into the trash?
7. Can we have some baseball information on that massive wraparound screen, instead of just one long advertisement?
Steve,
They didn’t have Cotten Eye Joey last night. I’m hoping it’s gone for good.
Forgot to second the call to get rid of God Bless America. It’s over the top. And I’m tired of drunk a**holes yelling at people to take off their hats during GBA like it’s the national anthem.
thanks Jesse, and cosign everything else you said
Pete, You certainly have every right to your opinion about whether God Bless America should be played at every game. I’d suggest though, that you practice your sarcasm someplace else, you’re not very good at it just yet and the result is that it comes across as something less appropriate. You should also figure out when to close an entry, and my suggestion for this entry would have been just before your Samuel Johnson quote. Maybe you’d like to read some of the countless quotes about today’s media writers in response.
I’m glad that my grandparents left the Soviet Union decades ago (entering through Ellis Island) so they could be witness to a country where if one dares question the singing of a song “pledging allegiance” or declaring a nation is blessed by God, they can be arrested by stadium police and escorted out in handcuffs like that kid who needed to take a leak last season in the 7th inning.
I’m also glad my grandparents left the Soviet Union so 1/2 my income can be confiscated by local, state and federal authorities, I need to get a permit to plant a tree in my yard, I’m declared a terrorist because of who I vote for in the presidential election, and my every move is monitored by traffic cameras, internet snoops and wiretaps. Further, I’m also glad I live in a country that has secret prisons around the world and prison ships where people are picked up without proper warrants and tortured till their dead.
I love(d) my country because of the freedoms it had, not because it is my country and not because of some song. Further, I refuse to bow down at the feet of someone who enlisted because they couldn’t get a job in the small town they lived in and figured the military would be a good way to get a free education, $50 grand for a new house and another $50 grand in signing bonuses. They do a job, which is less dangerous than fishing in the Bering Sea- I don’t see a need to worship fishermen either. If a war or policy is immoral, then the people who volunter to fight that war are immoral too.
Whether or not the Yankees play God Bless America is such a trivial matter to me. It something I don’t even think about because really..who cares? I look at it as “it is what it is”. If that is the Yankees thing then it’s their thing. Just go with it. I don’t believe it’s hurting anyone.
Also, when I hear I must support a trillion dollar empire with comments like, “They’re fighting for your freedom”, I want to puke. I didn’t ask anyone to fight for me and who are they protecting me from? Canada?
“What about the 9/11 attacks?”, they say. Seems to me that if one lazy gov’t bureaucrat had done their jobs- like take the box cutter away when it beeped in the metal detector, not instructed flight crews and passengers to be passive during a hijacking, investigated expired visas, or asked why someone was not too interested in landing a plane at flight school we wouldn’t have a 9-11. I don’t need a million troops in 110 foreign countries under my name bankrupting America (the true downfall of this country will be when the currency is devalued in 6 months to a year) to protect me when all they are doing is creating more terrorists by dropping bombs on kids.
To worship the Christianist War State I must stand and profess that a fictional deity blesses me while I buy a latte at Starbucks and send undereducated 18 year olds overseas to kill on my behalf.
Ramondo- it hurts people when they are detained by security if they don’t properly worship the state or their freedom of movement is prohibited by chains and armed guards.
rustyjohn vs. gb7 in a steel cage death match during the 7th inning!
i see my beloved capt is doing ok ,eepit up DEREK
Peter the Beautful.
I agree with what others have said in that the reason for playing GBA is not to be overly patriotic but to honor the military and most of all a time to reflect and remember 9/11… I wouldn’t be surprised if playing that in the 7th inning doesn’t change for a long time, so i’d say get used to it.
as far as the grounds crew doing YMCA, i have such fond memories of that from when i was a kid going to yanks games that it would be sad not to have it anymore. but it would be fun to start some new in between innings fun traditions. any ideas anyone?
I think the only thing more pathetic than Peter’s blog post complaining about an implied patriotic song called “God Bless America” being played during the Seventh-Inning Stretch is almost as embarrassing as the people who crawled out from beneath their rocks to agree with him. Unbelievable. You half-people, and you all now know who you are, should perhaps take notice that nobody from the rich (a.k.a smart / accomplished) section of the new Yankee Stadium came on here to mock this two-minute symbolic act to honor America and its brave troops. Nope, only some fat beat writer from some irrelevant newspaper and a bunch of malcontents from the poor (a.k.a. stupid / unaccomplished) section of the new Yankee Stadium.
Stick to baseball. Whether playing God Bless America is necessary or not, it’s not some form of uberpatriotism analogous to festooning your car with “America – Love It or Leave It” bumper stickers, it’s a tradition they started for the right reasons that they apparently kept for the sake of just that, tradition. Quoting a British intellect whom you clearly know as just an epigram does not advertise the breadth of your knowledge. What’s next, Sun-Tzu? The predictable paean to “the troops” has become about as self-defeating as starting a sentence with “I’m not a racist but…” They’re shooting for Americana, and the only people for whom such a small token of it is offensive are the smug and people too proud of their own countries of origin to stomach someone for finds something good in this one. You may not like it, you make think its overkill, but clearly the team thinks the fans do, that’s why it crossed the street.
The Yankees playing of GBA has now seems to be a bit of Grandstanding on their part. 9/11 is over. Let’s move on, please.
pete, i already said i’m not bothered by YMCA in the previous thread. whenever i take someone to the stadium for their first time, they seem to get a kick out of it.
the manual scoreboard i liked a lot. one thing they need more of is places to just read the count, and how many outs. i found myself looking around for that a lot.
4 games is plenty for the out of town scoreboard. i liked that. i’d rather see 4 games in big letters/fonts, than all of them crammed into 1 spot. most people there only care about the yankees anyway. at least i hope so.