New Yankee Stadium

Here is a link to Sweeni Murti’s WFAN Yankees’ Blog about the new Stadium, you may have heard about.

http://www.wfan.com/Sweeny-Blog:-New-Yankee-Stadium-Under-Construction/1617160

I’ve been looking for some good pics of the tour that was given to the local press of the ongoing construction of the new Stadium.  So far most of the shots are what you would expect from a giant project that is about 60% completed; lots of steel, heavy machinary, guys in funny yellow hats.  The first couple of shots are artist renderings of the completed project then it jumps into the construction shots. 

I’m digging the more wide open spaces.  No longer will my $8 warm flat beer be left behind on some poor schmo’s torn zubas as I snake my way through the masses.  If thats not progress, then my friends I ask you, what is?  The restaurant in center field and martini bar are definately there to cater to the corporate crowd.  As does the reduction in general seating to make room for more luxury boxes.  Tickets are already scarce for this year and I assume the first season will rival gas prices in value per dollar spent. 

What helps make a sporting event more enjoyable?  Ease of access.  Ask and yee shall receive from answers.com

The new station, which the MTA estimates will cost $45 million, will provide service to all three Metro North lines (Hudson, Harlem and New Haven) via existing track connections that are not normally used for revenue passenger services. Approximately ten trains before and after the games will serve the station and will allow riders to leave from and travel to stations on all three Metro North lines.[9] A shuttle train will also transport fans between the stadium and Grand Central Terminal, potentially helping to reduce traffic on the subway lines used to connect to New Jersey Transit and Long Island Railroad trains at Penn Station.

This, fellow Pinstripe fans, is a great thing.  I work in lower CT and live in Westchester.  To make it to a 7pm start, and leaving time for the necessary imbibing, if I’m driving in I need to leave work shortly after 4pm – if not before.  If its the normal slow going Yankee game, I’m not leaving the stadium till 10:15 and then I get to play the full size pinball game that is attempting to exit the parking lots and get onto the highway and back to Westchester.  Hopefully without my POS overheating while I hear some horrendous Reggetone being blasted out of a ‘98 Civic with body rott, a glad bag for a rear window, and $3,000 rims.  If I’m lucky I’ll be in bed around midnight.  Thats more commuting time then actual sports watching at a 5:3 clip! 

 For the ‘09 season, if I’m lucky enough to scalp…buy, I mean buy tickets… I’ll take the New Haven Line (which allows alcohol in bag form) to 125th then switch over to the new Stadium direct line.  Or course I’m still gonna leave work at 4pm, only now instead of getting there 10 min before first pitch I’ll be able to socialize with the unwashed masses at Stan’s by around 5:30, in my seat – ideally next to the dougout, realistically way in the nose bleeds with the true fans – sufficiently sauced by the 4th inning, and escorted out of the stadium by a strong armed dude in a yellow windbreaker before Joba comes in to lock it down in the 8th. 

 ~jboogz