I feel pretty much the same way about the new place as Buck does. I've also had a lot of concerns about it, and from reactions of fans who have been there it seems like a lot of my fears came true. But I will reserve judgment until I go to a few games and see the place for myself.FORMER Yankees manager and current ESPN analyst Buck Showalter is sad to see the old stadium go. Shea? Not so much. He talked with The Post's Justin Terranova as the Mets and Yankees prepare to start new eras in their new ballparks.
Q: You will be there for the opening of the new Yankee Stadium. Do you think it was the right decision for the Yankees tomove into a new ballpark?
A: We all mistake change with a lack respect for tradition, but I loved the old place and thought of it as the cathedral of baseball. I always looked at stadiums from the clubhouse, the dugout, the coaches' room, and the old Yankee Stadium was such a functional place. Now Shea Stadium, it was time to blow that place up. I understand that there's not enough luxury suites [at the old Stadium] and the economics of it. It was probably time . . . but I have such great memories of that stadium and New York.I've come to grips with it and I trust the people that made the decision.
Q: You sound hesitant to let the old Stadium go?
A: Well, I always thought in New York that it was the fans and the players who made the game. They come out to see you win, not to see the venue. That's what separates New York. They'll see the stadium and everything, but they are there to watch the Yankees win and you better be able to deliver on that.
16 Comments:
I hated Shea stadium. I think it was the uglyest stadium ever built. Every one is going to miss the old park but I think it's time to move on.
Agreed, Shea was pretty damn awful.
So is Fenway. I think thats a dump too. The sox should of made a new park a long time ago.
I gotta disagree with you there. I really like Fenway. I like Wrigley too. They're both two great old ballparks.
So what are you hearing from fans who have gone to the new Stadium?? I'm curious as i'm heading up for all four games next weekend.
P.s.- You're doing a great job here with this site.
Eddie from Orlando, Fl.
I too will miss the old yankee stadium.
But I did go to the saturday game against the cubs at the new stadium and it was awesome.
Eddie,
The park is amazing. I went to the first game there on April 3rd and I walked around it a little. I loved it. It is one of the greatest ballparks ever built. You are gonna have a blast!
I was at the Stadium 3 hrs early for the first Cubs game and I thought it was magnificent.
I am one that never thought the old Stadium never needed to be replaced. I always loved it and always will.
But I have accepted the change and after seeing the new Stadium, I know that it is now the new home of the greatest franchise in sports history...
The New York Yankees!
Anon,
I've just heard a lot about the obstructions, the fact that monument park seems hidden away, the PA is way too loud, Ben over at RAB said the video screens are more of a distraction than anything else. A bunch of little things. The main thing is that a lot of people like the old place better.
Crossfire,
I'm glad you are one of the fans that like the new place. I hope I do. I haven't been there yet but I'm going to be spending most of my games either in the upper deck or the bleachers, so I'm sure I'll get a good idea of the place.
Fenway is a dump some just don't want to admit it because it's a classic park.
And it's a pain in the ass to sit and watch a game there. Absolutely no leg room.
Forget about going to the bathroom.
You have to turn your neck which eventually hurts after a while, just to see the pitcher if you're sitting down the line/s.
Yes it's a classic older park but it's not an enjoyable comfortable place to watch a game.
And I really think if the Yankees could get a new park the Sox can. There fans might not agree with it but YS is more historic ball park. Filled with great memories. Fenway IMO is not filled with great memories. It gets alot pub because it's a really old park.
And believe it or not I've heard a lot of jealous Sox fans about the Yankees new digs.
As far as the new park; fans just need to get used to it. Whether it's the food or I don't like this or that.
It's a new place and some are used to the old one. It was the same for me when I moved into a new apartment a few years ago. Initially you don't like some things but they eventually grow on you. You come to like it.
I also think some are looking to go out of their way picking on little things about the park because they didn't want a new one anyway.
I went 3 times (the workout and the 2 Cub games) and will be back for opening day. The building has its points, but it could have been so much more. That's the sad part, we noticed the problems 2 years ago as we viewed the pictures on this site. The Yankees knew about it but just didn't care. Now Levine in all his arrogance tries to spin things as if they had no choice.
In addition to obstructed views and poor site lines the wider concourse mean nothing when the concession lines are so long you can't get through. The "pimp my stadium smoke glass restaurant" is an eyesore. The PA system was way too much. And the history is hidden. Over time, we will get used to it. But like the 76 design, where I always saw the original when I looked at on the field and around the park, at this stadium I will look at what might have been.
the new yankee stadium is beautiful some people not liking it are just nitpicking at things.
Anonymous, I go to YS to see a baseball game, not to watch what I am blocked from seeing on a TV screen, or eat in a restaurant, or anything else. The hallmark of YS (both original and reconstructed) was that the fans were right on top of the field, giving Yankee fans the best view of any other ballpark, and frankly scaring the opposing players. It was a great home field advantage. I will be very interested in hearing Greg's thoughts when he goes, because he gets his seats in the upper deck, as I have for many years. The upper deck seats are much farther from the field in the new place and I question if they will be satisfying to 'real baseball fans'. I'll be going in about 6 weeks and then I'll have an idea for myself. What bothers me most is that this is the same layout as every other ballpark being built nowadays, so the uniqueness of YS compared to everywhere else is gone, and that's a real shame. If you are taken in by a big screen, or all the other bells & whistles Trost & Levine are throwing at you, good for you. I suppose you won't be alone, based upon what I see on TV. I see whole sections of the crowd with cell phones to their ears for 6 innings (because they arrive late & leave early), and always knowing when the TV cameras are turned their way so they can wave like crazy. I only go there for the game on the field.
If the Yanks win the WS at home it will be a great stadium and the debates will end. It's more about memories and great baseball than the amenities.
The sightlines are much better in the new stadium compared to the old.
Its a better stadium great place to watch a game. If people hate those 5 dollar obstructed seats thats fine, I dont like them I wont be buying those tickets.If you hate them that much then just dont buy those tickets.
I hear all these weird complaints you get see the retired numbers, well because the monument park is back in center it would be in the batters eye. You can go into monument park before the game if you want to see the retired numbers. Just walk anywhere in the building you will see the tradition and history of the yankees.
I am looking forward to coming up this coming weekend (I fly in to LGA Thursday night). After I visit the place I hoope to write something of a "review" here. I'm looking forward to going and if any of you guys want to meet up before or after the game, e-mail me.
I'll tell you one thing right now: one block is not very far for ghosts to travel.
Mike
PS If any of you guys will be in Manhattan before or after the games coming up, a great place to meet is Circus Saloon on 9th Avenue and 43rd Street. Bill the bartender is a Yankee fanatic!
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