10 most anticipated features of the new Yankee Stadium

10 most anticipated features of the new Yankee Stadium
Add a Comment October 6, 9:56 AM
by Pete Sabatini, New York Yankees Examiner
Though the doors of the old Yankee Stadium have just closed and the Cathedral will still host a final ceremony on November 9th, with a 2009 schedule announced and the grand edifice taking shape it’s hard not to look forward to the new Yankee Stadium.

Here are some of the best of the new stadium that I’ll be looking forward to:

10 - Some of the old feel. The new field will have the same odd dimensions of the old field complete with the 314’ short-porch in right. The style of the game won’t change even though the style of the stadium will.

9 - Food and souvenirs. I’m not one for consuming much at a Yankee game, but if concession revenue goes to the same place free-agent signing dollars are taken from I’m glad the Steinbrenners have found ways to make money on stuffed Jeter bears and soft pretzels at a world-record pace. There will be one concession stand for every 172 fans as opposed to one for every 260 previously.

8 - Shorter bathroom lines. In the new stadium there will be a restroom fixture for you to share with 59 others instead of the old stadium which only had one for you and 88 others. Sure, that stat looks better because of the overall reduction in capacity, 56,866 vs. 52,325, but a shorter line is a shorter line when you’re trying to get back to your slightly larger seat.

7 - Better parking. The Yankee Stadium plan calls for a $320 million parking garage project with the city of New York. I don’t know exactly what $320 million worth of parking looks like, but I’m looking forward to seeing it, if not paying for it. Now if only they could add another level to the George Washington Bridge.

6 - 500,000’ of elbow room. The new stadium will have 500,000 square feet of additional internal space making it 63% larger than the old stadium. Maybe that means sweaty shirtless guy won’t press up against me on the way out.

5 - 100’ scoreboard. The new video board will measure 59’ x 101’ as opposed to the old 25’ x 33’. The new board will also be in high definition. Camden Yards got a new video board for the 2008 season and after seeing what that upgrade could do for replays I’m really looking forward to seeing it in the Bronx. A humongous Kiss Cam I will not look forward to.

4 - Luxury. With all sorts of new luxury seating options that the average fan will never see, you might not think there’s much benefit in them for the rest of us. But all those private areas might just keep the “luxurious” from holding up the ‘Red Sox suck’ cheers in your section

3 - New chance for “our” stadium. For years I’ve been jealous of my father’s stories about the way the “original” Yankee Stadium used to be. This is a new stadium that we’ll be able to share together and I can’t wait to tell my kids about the days of the “old” stadium.

2 - Grandeur. The new stadium is still taking shape, but what we can see so far is as grand as the artists’ renderings predict. The Yankees and their history should continue to be revered by the very stadium in which they play, and this could prove to be a mighty Parthenon of Baseball.

1 - World Series 27 – The only thing better than old memories are building new memories on the foundation of those old memories. New crazy personalities, new scandals, and most importantly, I’m looking forward to seeing World Series Championship number 27 in the new Yankee Stadium.