Pinch hitting: Jason Rodriguez
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- February
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Next up in the Pinch Hitters series is Jason Rodriguez, who is glad this winter’s conversation has focused on new players and not a new stadium.
Jason was born in the Bronx, graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology and currently lives in Rockland County. His first trip to the old Yankee Stadium as in 1996, when he got Derek Jeter’s autograph.
“Not knowing any better, I also had the ball signed by the likes of Dale Polley, who was only ever in the big leagues for 3 months,” Jason wrote. “By the time I hit 14, I realized how big of a mistake that was. To this day, I still get ‘Who is Dale Polley?’ when I show anyone my baseball.”
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The prospect of moving to a new stadium is an exciting event for fans of most teams. However, when you leave the historic Yankee Stadium, the excitement can be somewhat tempered, if not missing altogether for some fans.
As Opening Day approached last year, the concerns started to pile up: ticket prices, some bleacher seats with limited sightlines, separation of the rich fan from the average fan, renewing partial season ticket plans, etc. Not to mention questions over whether or not the new ballpark would have remotely the same atmosphere as the old one.
To be honest, none of the changes implemented by the Yankees impacted me to a large degree. Yet as the year progressed, I found myself caring less.
Sure, the upgrade in food, enormous Jumbotron, and Metro-North direct service contributed to my love of the new Stadium. But one thing trumps all others: Winning. With a MLB best 57-24 home record (the Yankee’s best since the same record in 2004), countless fans were being sent home happy on a regular basis.
Now, what if 2009 was a repeat of 2008? Would the Yankee organization still be taking heat for some of their decisions regarding the new stadium? The Yankees took a number of proactive measures to increase fan satisfaction. Opening up lower-level access during batting practice as well as having players greet fans on select home dates showed some effort on the organization’s part. A year later, almost all is well in Yankee Universe. The new Yankee Stadium is now synonymous with walk-off heroics, pies in the face, and most importantly: a 27th world championship. Conversation is now much more focused on the lineup changes and defending our title rather than the new stadium.
This is a welcome change to both fans and the Yankees organization. In light of the changes being made at the ballpark in Queens, would we be feeling differently about the new stadium if the 2009 season was a disappointment rather than a tremendous success?
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on Friday, February 5th, 2010 at 9:37 am by Chad Jennings.
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Sam Borden
Josh Thomson
Great job Jason
I live in Florida & I haven’t been to the new stadium yet. I hope to get up there this summer & catch a couple of games. Hopefully it’s on a date the players are doing the “meet & greet” with the fans. From a what I’ve seen & heard the new stadium sounds awesome.
Here here! Living as I do in Virginia I haven’t yet made it up to New Yankee Stadium (or just Yankee Stadium now I guess). I hear the place is a marvel to behold.
Besides the ticket and food prices the only real complaint I remember is the other game score board? Any idea if it was addressed this off-season?
As for the atmosphere it seemed pretty good while watching the World Series on TV, but not quite the same as the old one.
How long will New Yankee Stadium be “New” Yankee Stadium? Until the old on is tore down completely? Until it is long gone?
It would have been hard for 2009 to have played out any better from the Yankees point of view.
All the walk off wins, a fun team, and most importantly a WS in the first year. The Yankees knew how important that first year would be in transitioning from the old stadium to the new which is probably why they spent 400 + million last winter to give 2009 a good chance to succeed.
Luckily it worked quite well.
I’m wondering if the balls will be flying out again early in the season like last year.
I hope they fly out. Blake digs the longball, especially when the Yankees have more left handed guys that can hit them than the other team does.
Good post, Jason, and good point.
I would say the separation is between the very affluent fan and the merely affluent fan, but that’s nitpicking and facetious.
Just fyi, when we were in San Diego and visiting Petco Park, I noticed that there is a “moat” in that park as well, though it is not as pronounced as the one at NYS.
Anyway, the problem is not the moat, per se, but the fact that the seats closest to the field remained the least filled, and its inhabitants more than likely not the most rabid of fans (I am generalizing, of course) and because they have the most television exposure, it is really not a good or accurate reflection of the majority of fans at the stadium.
As for being called the “new” Yankee Stadium, I have a feeling that will last quite a while.
Isn’t it hypothesized that once the old stadium is down that the “jet stream” to RF will be reduced?
I dig the new stadium. I dug the old one too though. Me, I could care less either way. They both had their own charm.
Personally, I HATE the NYS. I went to the first game of the WS, and I can tell you first hand that the place lacks the atmosphere of the old girl. The upper deck is pushed so far back, that you don’t even notice the frieze. It doesn’t ever get nearly as loud as the Old Yankee Stadium, and I think the Yankees made a HUGE mistake by building a new Stadium. Yes, yes the championship was frickin’ awesome. But it just didn’t feel the same. For the first time in 25 years, I didn’t care at all if it was a home game or away game; it felt the same to me. 2009 was both an awesome year (championship) and very depressing year.
The architecture of the stadium feels cheap and that will never change. Very, very sad.
I think it is an anecdotal myth that the new stadium doesn’t get as loud as the old stadium. The architecture is different between new and old, so you are not going to hear things the same way. That said I was at plenty of games in 2009, 12 regular season and 2 playoff games (the clincher for the ALCS, no less) and the stadium was plenty loud. During the regular season the crowd is more subdued but it always gets loud in the building when something big happens.
The new stadium has suffered from members of the media saying the crowd is watered down because they haven’t experienced their storybook “oh the building was literally shaking!” moment, like they did across the street in the old building. Of course, it may be structurally & practically impossible for the building to shake, but nobody would discuss that.
I find it like a fine wine, it gets better with age….
Perhaps modern architecture doesn’t “shake” as much no matter how loud it gets.
Joba Chamberlain
February 5th, 2010 at 10:05 am
Personally, I HATE the NYS. I went to the first game of the WS, and I can tell you first hand that the place lacks the atmosphere of the old girl. The upper deck is pushed so far back, that you don’t even notice the frieze. It doesn’t ever get nearly as loud as the Old Yankee Stadium, and I think the Yankees made a HUGE mistake by building a new Stadium. Yes, yes the championship was frickin’ awesome. But it just didn’t feel the same. For the first time in 25 years, I didn’t care at all if it was a home game or away game; it felt the same to me. 2009 was both an awesome year (championship) and very depressing year.
The architecture of the stadium feels cheap and that will never change. Very, very sad.
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Guess what? The sound at the old new Stadium (’76-’09) wasn’t as loud as the full houses of the ‘23-’74 version. Any other complaints?
***(’76-’08)***
Joba Chamberlain -
And if the frieze was noticeable, you’d be complaining about the sight lines, I’m guessing.
We’ll be there in August. Can anyone recommend a watering hole in the Times Square area where I won’t have to take out a second mortgage to enjoy a few cold ones??
Maybe I should have asked if such a place exists.
I can’t stand all the sappy romantic BS that gets spewed about the old stadium. Lets be honest folks, it was old, it was cramped, the food was awful. I will never deny the history of the old stadium, and it was a fine place to watch a game but the new place is much better.
Maybe it’s because I’m a young guy but out with the old and in with the new, I say.
GreenBeret7 –
Yes, I have a few more complaints. The smaller capacity also upsets me. I would have liked to see the NYS with 60,000.
Doreen – Ain’t it Just “Grand”? –
No way!! In fact, I personally hate the term “sightlines.” It seems like a cope out by the owners to make more lower bowl seating, and thus more revenue. To take it a step further, I would welcome with open arms had the architects of the NYS used support columns to bring the upper grandstand patrons closer to the action. And before anyone says, “but you can’t see nothing when you sit behind one of ‘dem damn posts,” I would like to say that going to a baseball game is not like going to the movies, where seeing every bit of action is imperative. I would gladly trade seeing 95% of the action, and swaying back and forth to see the other 5% if it brought me 40-50 feet closer to the action. Plus, having an overhang creates more noise, and thus more intimidation to the opposing team.
GreenBeret7 –
Another complaint is the new 360 degree sound system. I’ve sat in areas where the speaker was blasting the music/PA announcer and it was unbearably loud. Then I sat in areas where I could barely hear anything. The old Stadium with the giant tower in centerfield not only created an equal distribution, but also created that famous echo heard in the Lou Gehrid speech: “Today (today, today), I consider myself (myself, myself) the luckiest man (luckiest man, luckiest man) on the face of the earth (face of the earth, face of the earth). If that speech happened in the NYS, I guarantee it would not be as famous. But I could just be a sappy romantic.
There is no comparisons between the three ball parks, other than they were perfect for their times. I was always under the impression that it was the teams that made the ball park special and not the ball park that made the team special. If it were because of the ball parks, the Cubs wouldn’t be waiting 102 years for a WS winning team.
The noise level doesn’t concern me much. With its ‘open air” design that’ll happen. I think it’s still as loud, but the noise isn’t confined like the old place was. It’s redirected upwards now.
My BIG problem with the new place is how the grandstand is pushed so far back from the field. I don’t think it would have been hard to cantilever that upper deck forward, the way it was in the old place. They could even have added a few more rows up there too, maybe like 8-10. It would have meant tilting the deck a little more, but as it would still have been farther from the field then the old place, it would have been a softer angle than the old upper deck. It would have made such a HUGE difference in the ‘feel’ of the new stadium. Besides that, the place has grown on me a bit, even though I think the straight lines of the RCF and LFC walls are ridiculous. Still, except for a few cosmetic things, Yankee Stadium isn’t too different than anyplace else anymore, and that’s what saddens me the most.
Joba, I don’t think the capacity is a big deal. They are getting it up to 50,000 now, that’s plenty big enough.
I agree about the sightlines. What they did to the bleachers is terrible. (TVs on a wall? You gotta be kiddin’!)I think they at least lowered the prices for those areas, but still, somebody (Trost) dropped the ball opn that. The part that does bother me there is how Trost was crowing for 2 years that all sightlines in the new place were 100% clear. He obviously wasn’t paying enough attention to seats that weren’t luxury boxes.
The link below gives a lot of information on the new park that wasn’t printed in other spots. It’s a good info read.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yankee_Stadium
That “famous echo” was faulty sound equipment, not atmosphere.
John in Ohio
February 5th, 2010 at 10:34 am
We’ll be there in August. Can anyone recommend a watering hole in the Times Square area where I won’t have to take out a second mortgage to enjoy a few cold ones??
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Sorry John, I can’t help. At this point living in NY my whole life- I try to avoid Times Square like the plague
I was bummed out as well when I first visited the new stadium as well.
“They traded history and tradition for garlic fries and sky boxes” was my initial reaction.
And the reality is is that despite all the improved amenities, bathrooms, concessions, concourses etc., the new stadium isn’t all that much different from any other new stadium like Nationals Park or even the 15 year old Coors Field; from the inside.
From the outside though, the stadium is unmatched. A truly gorgeous building and I’m sure all that Indiana limestone represented a significant portion of the price of construction.
But the bottom line is that after you’ve entered the gates and explored and bought your hot dogs and sodas and finally make it to your seat, the experience is about the game itself; the product on the field.
And last season was an absolute blast baseball-wise.
You could have given me a footstool and a can of warm Mountain Dew and played the games on a sandlot and I still would have enjoyed the Yankees last season.
GB7, Good point about how the team makes the stadium.
If you look at the old Yankee stadium as just a stadium – don’t even think of what happened there over the years – it’s a pretty generic, mediocre place.
The reason why everyone was sad to see it closed was because of the memories made in the place.
The new stadium is a lot nicer and we’ve already got a year of fantastic memories. I think it’s well on it’s way to being a historically great place to watch a ballgame.
Good Morning to you GB and how are you treating life these days.
I cannot wait to get to the stadium when I visit New York in June.
“I was always under the impression that it was the teams that made the ball park special and not the ball park that made the team special.”
GB, Absolutely. One of the best of the ‘newer’ stadiums is the one in Pittsburgh. Sure, it’s a very nice to watch a ballgame, but why would you pay to see the Pirates? (until Tony Shanchez gets called up at least
)
Same thing with Baltimore everytime the O’s are on national T.V. the announcers seem to spend more time talking about the stadium and how nice it is as opposed to the Orioles themselves.
The vast majority of my Yankee experience is watching the games on TV. We live too far away to go more than once a year. I loved the old stadium for the history and the thrill of seeing in person all you experience on TV- the roll call, the 7th inning stretch, etc. The new stadium is beautiful. I love the great hall w/ all the banners, the open, airy feeling, the food choices. I was glad to see the traditions carried over as well.
Winning it all this year goes a long way towards making this stadium feel at home.
Tom in NJ
February 5th, 2010 at 11:03 am
One of the best of the ‘newer’ stadiums is the one in Pittsburgh. Sure, it’s a very nice to watch a ballgame, but why would you pay to see the Pirates?
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My aunt and uncle used to live in Pittsburgh, and they took me to a game one summer when I was visiting. They used to go all the time just because they liked the park so much-they could care less about the team. lol But it is a very nice ballpark.
My favorite Stadium story ever (courtesy of my dad)
Some point in the mid-70s while my parents were still dating (and my mom pretended to care about baseball), they went to a Yankee game on a punishing hot summer day.
My dad came armed with a 6-pack of Pepsi and upon entry to the Stadium, was told he could not enter with the soda.
My dad, who is still not one to ever waste a drop of soda, stood at the gate for 15 minutes and drank all 6 cans. My mother married him anyway
Joba Chamberlain -
You’ve obviously thought this out a lot.
Anyway, you can’t please everyone, right?
My complaint about the new stadium is there’s too much unpainted concrete – it makes it look unfinished and somewhat cold.
But overall, I enjoyed my experience there. We were in right field the level below the upper level. We couldn’t see any balls hit to the right field fence (or over it!). And there were several balls hit there the night we went.
I give the Yankees credit, though, because they tried to keep as much of the flavor of the old Stadium while still making concessions to modernization. It’s a hard balance to strike. But, I think they came pretty close.
And because they did manage to recreate the old Stadium in many way, there’s not a lot of “wow” factor there, aside from the Great Hall (wow!) and the jumbotron (wow!).
Citifield, on the other hand, because it’s predecessor was Shea is nothing but “wow” factors!!! And still, not a perfect park.
“Joba Chamberlain
February 5th, 2010 at 10:05 am
Personally, I HATE the NYS. I went to the first game of the WS, and I can tell you first hand that the place lacks the atmosphere of the old girl. The upper deck is pushed so far back, that you don’t even notice the frieze. It doesn’t ever get nearly as loud as the Old Yankee Stadium, and I think the Yankees made a HUGE mistake by building a new Stadium. Yes, yes the championship was frickin’ awesome. But it just didn’t feel the same. For the first time in 25 years, I didn’t care at all if it was a home game or away game; it felt the same to me. 2009 was both an awesome year (championship) and very depressing year.
The architecture of the stadium feels cheap and that will never change. Very, very sad.”
I too was at that game. The primary reason the stadium was quiet was Cliff Lee (possibly the weather also).
As far as capacity of the parks, from 1923 to 1974 it changed 10 times from a low of 58,000 to a high of 71,699. The remodeled version changed 4 times from a low of 54,028 to a high of 57,545.
This version has a capacity of 52,325. About 3,000 less than the closing capacity of the old one. That’s what you’re whining about?
58,000 (1923) • 82,000 (1927) •
62,000 (1929) • 71,699 (1937) •
70,000 (1942) • 67,000 (1948) •
67,205 (1958) • 67,337 (1961) •
67,000 (1965) • 65,010 (1971) •
54,028 (1976) • 57,145 (1977) •
57,545 (1980) • 56,936 (2008)
We had season tickets from 1988 until 1996.
The new Stadium is much louder now than the old one was then.
Erica -
That’s a great story!
About ***5,000*** less
If they decide to put gravvy on my French Fries, I ain’t going back to YS.
I sat in the last row of the upper deck for a game last summer and it was pretty awesome. I liked those seats a lot.
John – Just go to Stan’s on the street across from the Stadium where they sell all the tee shirts etc. Its a fun rowdy atmosphere
They sell garlic fries and they sell cheese fries but they won’t put cheese on the garlic fries.
I know this because I tried and they said no dice.
They also won’t let you use the same souvenir cup for your second beer which doesn’t make much sense to me.
John in Ohio
February 5th, 2010 at 10:34 am
We’ll be there in August. Can anyone recommend a watering hole in the Times Square area where I won’t have to take out a second mortgage to enjoy a few cold ones??
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John if you’re still out there, I highly recommend the Heartland Brewery. It’s a real friendly place, nice looking and the prices are reasonable for NYC. They let you sample all their microbrews & they’ve got a real nice selection. There are a few locations but I’ve been to the one just off Times Square (several times!)- it’s on 43rd between 6th & Broadway. The have a website too.
Bronx Born
February 5th, 2010 at 11:02 am
Good Morning to you GB and how are you treating life these days.
I cannot wait to get to the stadium when I visit New York in June.
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Morning, Bronx. How are things down your way? I’m doing well. I have an appointment next week. At that time, I’ll now if I’m allowed out in public. It will be great to get my cantankerocity back. I can’t wait until the parks open. I’ve been watching the Caribbean Series on TV. It’s ok, but, not the same, especially with the canned and artificial noise.
Doreen – Ain’t it Just “Grand”? –
You’ve obviously thought this out a lot.
My complaint about the new stadium is there’s too much unpainted concrete – it makes it look unfinished and somewhat cold.
_______________________________________
Haha, yes I am a member of an online forum (I am also an architect myself) where we have been discussing the pros and cons of the NYS since its’ groundbreaking in 2006. I could honestly talk and discuss the NYS for hours lol. I find it really fun.
Anyway, I completely agree 100% about the exposed concrete. My friend likened it to a construction site. I don’t see why they can’t paint it that nice dark blue color; maybe we’ll get our wish in the next few years, which will undoubtedly bring some renovations. The exposed concrete isn’t more obvious than on the sides of the centerfield restaurant. I can’t believe they would spend $1.8 billion, and then leave (unfinished!!) exposed concrete everywhere. Also, I loved how the flag pole was in your face in the original version (on the field!!) and in the renovated version (in front of the leftfield bleachers), but it is completely invisible in the NYS. I may be nit-picking here though lol.
It could help if a voice were to found that was a spitting image and same quality as Bob Sheppard to re-ignite the tradition of public address done at the new Stadium.
I think that there might be a different crowd noise and atmosphere in 2010. The new park is like walking into a new house, where you step lightly until it’s broken in a little. After the break-in period is over, it’s HOME. also, it has so much to see, that the “AWE” feeling just overwhelmed people.
GB7
I agree. I think early in the season the new stadium was the draw more than the team.
I keep hearing ads on the radio for H&R Block calling themselves “The Official Tax Preparer of the New York Yankees”.
This cracks me up everytime.
I am pretty sure Derek Jeter doesn’t get his taxes done at the local H&R block in an hour
Matt I know what you’re going for but I have to disagree. Bob Sheppard is one of a kind, any imitator will be universally hated.
In 2007 and 2008 when Sheppard still hadn’t officially retired the Yanks had some guy announcing and it was so obvious that he was trying his best to sound like Sheppard. It was so damn annoying listening to this pretender and everyone I went to games with agreed.
GB
The 52,000 number includes standing room which they didn’t sell all year so the body count is even higher than you are calculating.
Weather is really beautiful down here GB. You will enjoy your day, that is if you don’t run into Boris the Nurse.
upstate kate
February 5th, 2010 at 11:31 am
GB7
I agree. I think early in the season the new stadium was the draw more than the team.
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That worked out pretty well, too, because in the very beginning of the season, it didn’t look like the action ON the field was the thing to see.
By the time people had gotten used to the new sights, the team on the field was ready to be the main attraction.
The refurbished park was changed a number of times, from design to the colors of the paint. It even had a deck added. The field was lowered. Fences changed. The first version was blue, then, green, then blue, then green and finally blue. This park will change and keep on changing until they get it the way they want it.
Bronx Born
February 5th, 2010 at 11:36 am
Weather is really beautiful down here GB. You will enjoy your day, that is if you don’t run into Boris the Nurse.
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Now that’s just mean. You’ve ruined my good mood.
Brrrr.
pat
February 5th, 2010 at 11:35 am
GB
The 52,000 number includes standing room which they didn’t sell all year so the body count is even higher than you are calculating.
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I just pulled the numbers up that they used. As far as the grey concrete goes, I’m sure that will change, along with other things. It’s like building any new house and finding out that you want to remodel after a couple of years because some ideas didn’t work in reality as well as it worked on paper.
I visited the NYS on the second week of April for the first time last year. It seemed like the crowd was checking out the stadium more than the game. This could have something to do with the fact that the Yanks lost 22-4 to Cleveland behind Wang (not the best game to christen the NYS).
By the time August 8th rolled around however,and the Yanks beat the Sox 5-0, the place was rockin! Amazing what a few months and better baseball will do for a place.
The talent level of the folks who read and contribute to the blog as guests is quite impressive – nice post!
I’ve been to all them, (including Ebbets field and the Polo grounds- anyone out there remember?) but have not yet visited the latest version of YS. perhaps i will make it back to NY this summer – but I already have seats for a game against the O’s in Baltimore which I honestly think is the best stadium in the AL (price/food value and access).
I don’t care for the outfield walls though.
I always object to signage within the field of play at the MLB level but also with the scoreboards and the plexiglass?
There’s too much going on.
Tony C
February 5th, 2010 at 11:47 am
I visited the NYS on the second week of April for the first time last year. It seemed like the crowd was checking out the stadium more than the game. This could have something to do with the fact that the Yanks lost 22-4 to Cleveland behind Wang (not the best game to christen the NYS).
*****************
I was driving down to AC for my annual post-April 15th trip that day. I purposely left my house at the start of the second inning so I could see the ceremonies and catch most of the game on the radio before I lost reception.
I lost reception right as the bullpen began to implode. I was grateful to not have to listen anymore
Patrick –
Matt I know what you’re going for but I have to disagree. Bob Sheppard is one of a kind, any imitator will be universally hated.
In 2007 and 2008 when Sheppard still hadn’t officially retired the Yanks had some guy announcing and it was so obvious that he was trying his best to sound like Sheppard. It was so damn annoying listening to this pretender and everyone I went to games with agreed.
_________________________________________
His name is Jim Hall (who has announced New York Giants games since Bob Sheppard retired from that position in 2006), and he was Sheppard’s backup for more than 40 years!! Yes, 40 years! I think we should give him some respect because the Yankees sure didn’t after 2008.
Paul Olden, the new Yankees PA announcer, has very generic way of speaking, which I don’t dislike. However, I believe that the New York Yankees should have a PA announcer that is at least a New Yorker, with a distinct New York accent.
Erica
I lost reception right as the bullpen began to implode. I was grateful to not have to listen anymore
The gods of radio reception took mercy on you that day for sure. It was painful!
Steve and Joe, thanks for the tips.
We know NYC is going to expensive. My brother and I will be throwing back a few while the girls are shopping.
Jim Hall is terrible dude. He tries to copy the way Bob Sheppard talks, it’s insulting.
The Yankees didn’t give him respect after 2008 because he’s a horrible announcer.
Paul Olden is nothing special but at least he speaks in his own voice.
nix the fake bob sheppard idea. The Babe retired, so did Joe D, the Mick and Mattingly. I say go with a complete break from the past and find a woman to be the stadium announcer.
Patrick -
Jim Hall is terrible dude. He tries to copy the way Bob Sheppard talks, it’s insulting.
The Yankees didn’t give him respect after 2008 because he’s a horrible announcer.
Paul Olden is nothing special but at least he speaks in his own voice.
_____________________________
Haha, fair enough; to each his own. I went to a Giants game this past season, and I have to say it was a nice treat hearing his voice again. Brought back some cool memories for me.
New Post: The Ballpark Best of the Rest
Let’s be honest, the Old stadium was a dump. I never cared for it. The new stadium rocks. Better food, sightlines, and seats. Its too expensive for me to go but a couple of times a year but thats enough to really enjoy it.
Partial Plan season ticket holders got screwed in the reolcation process. Most of us lost our weekend plans. Myself and Joe from Long Island are just 2 liscensees of thousands that lost their weekend plans and were replaced by weekday plans that the Yankees could not otherwise sell.
Also, in my case we went from having seats in the 10th row of the upper deck directly behind home plate to the last row of Sec 431B, at the left field foul pole.You barely feel like your in the ballpark once you get past Section 427. In 431 you don’t even hear the sound of the ball hitting the bat. Much worse than the wings of the deck in the old Stadium.
Like Joe, we’ve asked to be relocated. We’ve been offered field level seats that aren’t selling, but we’ve been told there’s small chance of be accomodated otherwise.
New Stadium vs Old stadium..I’d say pluses and minuses. The charm is not there for sure but easier to get food, go to the restrooms, geta round the park and many sight lines ahve improved. PA announcer should be distinctive, I agree other commentsmade. i think some additional paintying greenery is needed..too much concrete. They have not treated partial seson ticket holders that well; seat selections not great for the years of senority we have and getting upgrades and post season tickets a real pain.
But it all helps when they win..Stadium is loud enough.
GB — well it is raining so much for the sunshine..
John in Ohio, if you go to times square and want to eat go to Carmines on 44th street off of broadway. They also have reaonable drinks for NY. HUGE portions. If you are by yourself I would not recommend eating there