I was one of those purists who, up until recently, would have sooner gouged my eye out before I supported a new Yankee Stadium. However, in light of the fact that I have been to about half of the stadia in MLB, as well as seeing the plans for how the new park will be built and financed, I have to say they should build it.
I was always in the "hallowed ground" corner when it came to a new yard for my team, but the fact is the Old Stadium ceased to be after the 1974-75 renovations. The new park will recapture the old bullpens, old frieze & exterior facade, as well as retain Monument Park & the current stadium's dimensions. Also, I have to concede that the current park is inferior to those currently being erected in the amenities department. The restrooms are too few and too crowded, the hallways are virtually catacombs compared to current plazas, and the food options are a tad too earthy.
What is also important is that this will be privately financed (although the question from an NPR reporter near the end of the press conference made me wonder how that bond thing mentioned would be structured). Public financing should be out of the question in my view.
I say build the thing.
I still say "if it's not broke, don't fix it." Nearly all the flaws of the existing Yankee Stadium could be remedied if they really wanted to. I might go along with the idea of a replacement ballpark if I only had more confidence in Steinbrenner's crew to do it right.
Posted by: Andrew | June 16, 2005 at 10:56 PM