With the incredible money spent on the new Yankee stadium, we are to assume it has improved the overall gameday experience, right? Not so fast…
Every real die-hard Yankee fan who has visited the new stadium will just as quickly tell you of their dislike towards it. It’s not the architects’ fault – it is a nice, cozy place with cushioned seats and a lot more amenities than the old Yankee Stadium. However, it is missing something. And that “something” is irreplaceable:
Heart.
It’s like seeing a nice looking car that has a sexy exterior but when you drive it it hasn’t the power, handling and feel of your old car that is waiting for you with hamburger wrappers in the back seat and an old coffee stain on the passenger side chair. It’s not the same, and no matter how hard you try, your mind is made up. The real fans were not considered carefully enough when this stadium was built.
Let me give you a little insight into my own first impressions, in case you are interested.
I first visited the new Yankee Stadium in April 2009 during opening week. It didn’t make sense to me from the start that the stadium was moved from one block to another. The only good thing that came out of this move was a state of the art track and park for the community, which admittedly does a lot of good for a lot of people. As I approached the stadium, it resembled the old Yankee Stadium a bit, so I was encouraged.
Then I went inside. I was shocked that it looked like a strip mall. There were many stores, bars, museums and restaurants, and I sure as hell didn’t feel like I was at Yankee Stadium any longer. Trying to stay positive, I found my seat in the 300s, which is one level from the top. The seats had cushion and there was legroom – impressive. Anyone who visited the old stadium will remember the upper deck and how you were so high with no leg room to speak of. My friend would say that he felt like a bat hanging from the sky.
The field was closer, which was good obviously, but while the game was going on something was missing. Many fans in my row would get up and down to buy “stuff” (beer, pretzels, hot dogs, memorabilia) and walk around like they were in a shopping mall, the game only being a sideshow. It became annoying! I then looked at the box seats and luxury boxes and noticed they were not occupied. I later found out that these were supposed to go to corporations, but due to the high prices and bad economy they were not selling as expected. I had not seen empty seats like this for 15 years. I was not having a good time and my mood was turning sour.
I started thinking of old Yankee greats – Babe Ruth or Mickey Mantle – and what they would think if they were alive today. I got up and walked around because everyone else was – maybe I was missing something? Again I felt like I was in a mall. Is this the same place that was rocking when the Yankees beat Seattle in game two in 1995 or where Reggie Jackson hit three home runs in 1977?
Back then it was called “the cathedral” and simply “the stadium”. Now it’s called the “New Yankee Stadium”. I have been there many times again and even playoff games and I still do not feel the energy. New doesn’t equal better.
I miss the old Yankee stadium. I fear that it will be tough for the energy to come back. It’s not impossible of course, and winning seems to rid fans of sour tastes faster than anything else. I would suggest to ownership to lower some field seat prices and do more promotions to bring the real fans back. FILL THE PLACE. I want to hear the roar of the crowd again and I want for our opponent to fear playing at Yankee Stadium like they once did.
The team has some new additions, but signing Masahiro Tanaka would be a real statement of intent. It is imperative to fielding the kind of club that contends for championships and can bring energy to the fans.
I will always go to Yankee games, but I want to enjoy myself again! I might be off on this but I can assure you every real Yankee fan who has been to games at the old and now new Yankee Stadium will agree: We want the heart of “the stadium” back.
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