New Yankee Stadium

January 14th, 2009

by Denise I Smithson

In spring of 09 Yankee, fans will get a chance to see the newest addition to the team, a new stadium. This modern baseball stadium has some serious shoes to fill to win the hearts of dedicated fans. The Old Yankee Stadium has stood the tests of time and adversity reigning in New York City for eighty-six years. All good things must come to an end to make way for new good things. The new Yankee stadium promises to be just that with a 1.3 billion dollar price tag.

The idea of moving the stadium is not a new one – in 1980, the owner wanted to move the stadium to an area considered safer than the South Bronx was at the time. Ideas were talked over and discarded over the following years; in the meantime, the team acquired a legion of new fans and the neighborhood improved considerably. The idea of a new stadium remained – but it was now to be built in the Bronx.

However, the cost of building a new stadium was a challenge. The team’s hopes were raised when former Mayor Giuliani proposed city funding for new stadium construction for both of the city’s baseball teams. Giuliani’s plan included $800 million in construction funds, $390 million to be invested in improved transportation to the stadiums (via the MTA’s B,D and 4 train lines to Yankee Stadium in the Bronx and the 7 line to Queen’s Shea Stadium). Both teams would also have received $25 million for planning and the Mets another $80,000 of debt forgiveness.

However, current Mayor Michael Bloomberg opted to use the escape clause in these contracts upon taking office. However, the Giuliani administration had allowed a clause in the contract permitting the teams to leave the city should the escape clause be used by the city. Thankfully for New York baseball fans, the city and the teams were able to come to an agreement and planning for the new stadiums in the Bronx and Queens continued.

A lot of care has gone into the design of the new Yankee Stadium. Built of Indiana limestone which will circle the entire facility, the park will look quite a bit like the old stadium did prior to 1974 renovations. A replica of the copper frieze which was present on the former stadium will be featured. While the new park will look much like its predecessor on the outside, the interior will feature a number of new amenities for fans, including two new restaurants which will be open all year.

Whether you are a fan of the new Yankee Stadium or fear that a vital piece of Bronx history will be lost, it can be agreed upon that the new home of the Yankees will be one which preserves the character of the old while offering the comfort of the new. The construction of the first Yankee Stadium was a risk taken by the team; one which paid off for the team and the city – and it looks like history just might repeat itself in the Bronx next spring.

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