To Save Yankee Stadium

[elmer]

Follow these steps:


There is a serious effort underway to save current Yankee Stadium.
If anyone is interested in helping, go to the following sites to petition
appropriately.

Email the 2nd two sites stating how you feel about Yankee Stadium and
what you would like to see done.

http://saveyankeestadium.org/petition/

saveamericastreasures@nthp.org

preservation@nthp.org


for this site direct your e-mail to:
saveamericastreasures@nthp.org
To: Mr Moe and Sue Eisenhower, Directors of "Save America's Treasures"

To tell Mayor Bloomberg what Yankee Stadium means to you!

E-MAIL:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/mail/html/mayor.html

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg
City Hall
New York, NY 10007
PHONE 311 (or 212-NEW-YORK outside NYC)

FAX (212) 788-2460



If we gan get the endorsement of Save America's Treasures and/or the National Trust fo Historic Preservation, we can landmark and save the Stadium. Right now, they're hiding.

If they can cite big public concern (especially on a national level), they'll have an excuse to publicly admit what everyone already knows, that Yankee Stadium is a national treasure.



Fiona Lawless is the person to contact. People should write AND call.

fiona_lawless@nthp.org: (202) 588-6012

[metfan13]

So NY can have two full size stadiums standing side by side?

[tomzpc]

If they can cite big public concern (especially on a national level), they'll have an excuse to publicly admit what everyone already knows, that Yankee Stadium is a national treasure.


Yankee Stadium holds a lot of meaning and memories for a lot of New Yorkers who happen to root for the Yankees but it is certainly not a national treasure dude.

It's not going to happen. You guys who are still trying to fight this just need to let go. Sorry. Sure I'm a Mets fan and not a Yankees fan but I'm just being honest.

[SparkyL]

Yankee Stadium holds a lot of meaning and memories for a lot of New Yorkers who happen to root for the Yankees but it is certainly not a national treasure dude.

It's not going to happen. You guys who are still trying to fight this just need to let go. Sorry. Sure I'm a Mets fan and not a Yankees fan but I'm just being honest.

I will politely disagree . . . over the past year anyone of fame that has visited the Stadium and later commented on it has gushed about it in "national treasure" terms. In the official retrospective book, Bush and Clinton open up speaking in terms of "national treasure."

The All Star Game send off . . .

Baseball is America's sport and Yankee Stadium is it's cathedral.

While preserving the entire structure is probably impractical, saving meaningful part is . . . like what they are trying to do for Tiger Stadium.

[tomzpc]

I will politely disagree . . . over the past year anyone of fame that has visited the Stadium and later commented on it has gushed about it in "national treasure" terms. In the official retrospective book, Bush and Clinton open up speaking in terms of "national treasure."

The All Star Game send off . . .

Baseball is America's sport and Yankee Stadium is it's cathedral.

While preserving the entire structure is probably impractical, saving meaningful part is . . . like what they are trying to do for Tiget Stadium.

Put it this way, if you polled everyone in the country (since we are talking "national" treasure here right) and asked them if they consider Yankee Stadium a national treasure, what percentage of people would say yes?

I'm guessing single digit.

[hellborn]

So NY can have two full size stadiums standing side by side?

:applaud::applaud::applaud::applaud::applaud:

As long as they preserve the original monuments in the new park, I'm good.
Ballparks just don't make good museums.

[KCGHOST]

As long as all the people who want to save YS indicate how much financial support they are willing to chip in to maintain it I don't have any problem with the idea.

This is one of those "they" ideas. If "they" had any leadership skills, "they" would come up with an idea that would make OYS a self-supporting enterprise without any financial commitment from the people who want to talk about saving this "national treasure".

[DGDGBD]

For leaving a large remnant of the structure, I think you'll be fighting local opposition who are demanding that the open space erased by the NYS site be recreated at the OYS site.

Also, who is going to decide what is a meaningful part to preserve? And who is going to pay for the preservation and maintenance of that meaningful part? Wouldn't it be enough to have a baseball diamond and dugouts laid out in the approximate location and orientation of the OYS field? That would be pretty meaningful to be able to play ball on that field.

[six4three]

As a lifelong New Yorker (and Yankee fan), I'm strongly opposed to this (and have called and emailed the mayor's office to tell him).

The Bronx deserves to get its park back. All the land they can get.

I'll miss the old girl, but life moves on.

[JohnCropp]

I fear that we've got a rival to the "Bring the Dodgers Back to Brooklyn" campaign.

[six4three]

At least this one'll die out once the old stadium has been torn down.

The City of New York isn't going to pull a Detroit and leave the place to rot for years. I expect demolition will start by next summer.

[shaneslatts]

For leaving a large remnant of the structure, I think you'll be fighting local oppposition who are demanding that the open space erased by the NYS site be recreated at the OYS site.

Also, who is going to decide what is a meaningful part to preserve? And who is going to pay for the preservation and maintenance of that meaningful part? Wouldn't it be enough to have a baseball diamond and dugouts laid out in the approximate location and orientation of the OYS field? That would be pretty meaningful to be able to play ball on that field.

I have posted about this before, and I know it can seem overdone,....but I think that the plan to save a part of YS would be a dugout to dugout, lower section only, with some seating from the original stadium. The rest of the area being demolished. This would open up almost the entire site to the residents for parkland, AND would preserve a small section of ORIGINAL Yankee Stadium for whatever use the City, and or the BB Hall of Fame, or MLB deems fit. The plan I would support would be this one. I have posted this before, and somehow, for some odd reason, the thread turns into "It's not the original stadium"(The section I'm talking about, if it were preserved, IS part of the original stadium.) Or people post"they cant save the whole stadium" (I'm not advocating keeping intact the entire stadium, just a very small, very scaled back piece of the orignal 1923 section)
Again, once its gone, its gone forever

[six4three]

In that plan, would you move the preserved stands, dugout and infield back to their 1923 location, or leave them in the post-1976 configuration?

None of what you're seeking to preserve is in the sample place it was when the park opened.

[DGDGBD]

I have posted about this before, and I know it can seem overdone,....but I think that the plan to save a part of YS would be a dugout to dugout, lower section only, with some seating from the original stadium. The rest of the area being demolished. This would open up almost the entire site to the residents for parkland, AND would preserve a small section of ORIGINAL Yankee Stadium for whatever use the City, and or the BB Hall of Fame, or MLB deems fit. The plan I would support would be this one. I have posted this before, and somehow, for some odd reason, the thread turns into "It's not the original stadium"(The section I'm talking about, if it were preserved, IS part of the original stadium.) Or people post"they cant save the whole stadium" (I'm not advocating keeping intact the entire stadium, just a very small, very scaled back piece of the orignal 1923 section)
Again, once its gone, its gone forever

Whatever would be preserved, unless its just an original footing or something very-very small, there will be significant increased costs for the specialized stadium demo. Plus increased costs for restoration and maintenance. And if there's any interior space to it (such as field level stands) you'll need security to keep people out of it.

Leave it as parkland and in 50 to 75 years they'll rebuild a new NYS on the original site.

[placount]

does Yankee stadium have a Cochrane plan that we can hear about for the next 10 years? Perhaps someone has the booklet reading about this but will never post it, it'll forever be the elusive holy grail to save Old Yankee Stadium.

[six4three]

Leave it as parkland and in 50 to 75 years they'll rebuild a new NYS on the original site.

Bingo. That's the best tribute I can think of.

Only I'd put it at more like 30 to 40 years. But who's quibbling?

[mrakbaseball]

So NY can have two full size stadiums standing side by side?

Just like Seattle, Kansas City, Detroit, Baltimore and Houston just to name a few.

[Captain Cold Nose]

Just like Seattle, Kansas City, Detroit, Baltimore and Houston just to name a few.

Tiger Stadium and Comerica Park are not side by side, they're a few miles apart.

[The House That Ruth Built]

I think he means Comerica Park being adjacent to Ford Field

[Drivinjoe56]

honestly i think that most of the true yankee history was destroyed when they renovated the stadium. YS 2 only history was reggie jackson's 77 and 78 teams, and the late 90 teams which can have an astiric on some of those players. i am from new york but i cant wait for that stadium to come down cause it was renovated just so some greddy buisnessman could make more money. lastly i think a YS 2 is not any thing special looking and that stadiums should only be keep for themselves and not what happened in between its walls.

[Captain Cold Nose]

I think he means Comerica Park being adjacent to Ford Field

I think you're right. :blush:

Sorry, Mrak.

However, the current YS is not going to be a full-use professional sports facility regardless of what happens. So does that really count?

I have to side with the majority of New Yorkers here. Save part of it.

[six4three]

Don't think it counts, for the reason you mention.

[KCGHOST]

Just like Seattle, Kansas City, Detroit, Baltimore and Houston just to name a few.

In KC it is a baseball stadium and a football stadium that are both currently in use.

[mrakbaseball]

In KC it is a baseball stadium and a football stadium that are both currently in use.

Yeah, 2 full size stadiums. Seattle, Baltimore, Detroit have MLB/NFL stadia adjacent to one another. The Astrodome is next door to Reliant.

[shaneslatts]

In that plan, would you move the preserved stands, dugout and infield back to their 1923 location, or leave them in the post-1976 configuration?

None of what you're seeking to preserve is in the sample place it was when the park opened.

Yes. I am talking of scaling the stands back to their 1923 layout, or even further. Im not quibiling over a few seats. As far as Im concerned they could use a large section of whats left for a pinic area. Im also FOR the New Stadium, I think its beautiful. I also think that preserving a small section, which I am proposing, and using the inside for whatever the city, or MLB sees fit would bring more people to the area in the off season, and would still give almost all the land space back to the residents. As far as maintence and security, security guards are available. Dont get me wrong here...if it gets totaly demolished, I will always have my memories, and I will look forward to visiting the new place(I live in Florida now) If part of it IS preserved, it would become a part of my Yankee Stadium expierence, and I dont think I would be alone

[aqib]

At least this one'll die out once the old stadium has been torn down.

The City of New York isn't going to pull a Detroit and leave the place to rot for years. I expect demolition will start by next summer.

Well the City of NY already has a plan for the spot and space is a premium in NYC, different cases entirely.

[New York Kid]

I have to side with the majority of New Yorkers here. Save part of it.



When Bloomberg and the Yankees announced the new stadium just three years ago, they promised the original would not be demolished. Instead, it would be modified to accommodate ballgames on a smaller scale. It was great to think that teams of every age would be able to play on the same field that everyone from Ruth to A-Rod played. What a thrill.

Somewhere, somehow, that promise was broken. Now, the Yankees are planning to sell every square inch of sod, every chip of concrete, everything. Auction houses around the world are lined up to plunder the majestic Yankee Stadium - the greatest arena since the Coliseum of Rome.

An honest landmark review would have undoubtedly found Yankee Stadium - a national treasure and international icon - to be worthy of national landmark status. Because the process was so corrupted by greed, ego, and politics, though, it wasn't even declared to be a LOCAL landmark. At the very same time, the same local commission responsible for that absurdity, has successfully fought to NATIONALLY landmark sites of FAR, FAR less historical significance.

Landmarks are granted for historical, cultural AND architectural significance. That's why battlefields, for example, that have had one skirmish can be landmarked. No architectural significance required - undermining completely the argument that renovations 35 years ago negate Yankee Stadium's landmark qualifications. In those 35 years multiple generations have witnessed some of America's greatest events. Pele, Ali, Mandela, Jackson, Martin, Pope John Paul, two of history great baseball dynasties, 911 - on and on.

The House That Ruth Built should stand. It should be used as a site of recreation for the people of New York - possibly even housing a satellite museum of the Baseball Hall of Fame. That would generate huge funds for the community. It's one of America's greatest treasures. It should be saved.

[NYFan1stYankFan2nd]

When Bloomberg and the Yankees announced the new stadium just three years ago, they promised the original would not be demolished. Instead, it would be modified to accommodate ballgames on a smaller scale. It was great to think that teams of every age would be able to play on the same field that everyone from Ruth to A-Rod played. What a thrill.

Somewhere, somehow, that promise was broken. Now, the Yankees are planning to sell every square inch of sod, every chip of concrete, everything. Auction houses around the world are lined up to plunder the majestic Yankee Stadium - the greatest arena since the Coliseum of Rome.

An honest landmark review would have undoubtedly found Yankee Stadium - a national treasure and international icon - to be worthy of national landmark status. Because the process was so corrupted by greed, ego, and politics, though, it wasn't even declared to be a LOCAL landmark. At the very same time, the same local commission responsible for that absurdity, has successfully fought to NATIONALLY landmark sites of FAR, FAR less historical significance.

Landmarks are granted for historical, cultural AND architectural significance. That's why battlefields, for example, that have had one skirmish can be landmarked. No architectural significance required - undermining completely the argument that renovations 35 years ago negate Yankee Stadium's landmark qualifications. In those 35 years multiple generations have witnessed some of America's greatest events. Pele, Ali, Mandela, Jackson, Martin, Pope John Paul, two of history great baseball dynasties, 911 - on and on.

The House That Ruth Built should stand. It should be used as a site of recreation for the people of New York - possibly even housing a satellite museum of the Baseball Hall of Fame. That would generate huge funds for the community. It's one of America's greatest treasures. It should be saved.

ALL of the above quoted text, AS it IS, should be forwarded to the powers that be in NYC regarding Yankee Stadium, including Mayor Bloomberg & George Steinbrenner.

Most thoughtfully stated!

[Milwaukee County Stadium]

I Signed The Petition, Because Yankee Stadium Is Baseball's Cathedral.
Look At The Years The Yankees Won The World Series At Yankee Stadium:
1923
1927
1928
1932
1936
1937
1938
1939
1941
1943
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
1956
1958
1961
1962
1977
1978
1996
1998
1999
2000
Look At The Years The Yankees Were AL Champions, But Lost The World Series At Yankee Stadium:
1926
1942
1957
1960
1963
1964
1976
1981
2001
2003

And If You Tell Me That Yankee Stadiums Field Does Not Need To be Preseved Your Crazy!!!

Without Pre or Post Renovated Yankee Stadium The Yankees Would be nothing. Yankee Stadium Is Everything Yankees, It's The Yankees History.
They Must Save Yankee Stadium's Field, and Dugouts, and then bring dowwn Yankee Stadiums Capacity To About 10,000 and Make It the Yankees Practice Field.

[shaneslatts]

I Signed The Petition, Because Yankee Stadium Is Baseball's Cathedral.
Look At The Years The Yankees Won The World Series At Yankee Stadium:
1923
1927
1928
1932
1936
1937
1938
1939
1941
1943
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
1956
1958
1961
1962
1977
1978
1996
1998
1999
2000
Look At The Years The Yankees Were AL Champions, But Lost The World Series At Yankee Stadium:
1926
1942
1957
1960
1963
1964
1976
1981
2001
2003

And If You Tell Me That Yankee Stadiums Field Does Not Need To be Preseved Your Crazy!!!

Without Pre or Post Renovated Yankee Stadium The Yankees Would be nothing. Yankee Stadium Is Everything Yankees, It's The Yankees History.
They Must Save Yankee Stadium's Field, and Dugouts, and then bring dowwn Yankee Stadiums Capacity To About 10,000 and Make It the Yankees Practice Field.

I dont think it should be kept as a practice field for the yankees, ..the field should be used for the residents. If on some special occasion the Yankees want to borrow the field for whatever reason, then that would have to be worked out between them and the city. I again think a scaled down vesion of YS would be good for the residents, good for NYC, good for the Yankees and for MLB as well.
To simply knock the entire structure down without a trace would be a crime, IMHO:homeplate::hp

[JT7]

I see all those world championships and division titles won at Yankee Stadium...but can you really count all of those as being won at Yankee Stadium? Maybe for the last 3 decades you can. I understand the reasoning behind saving this stadium. True, it has A LOT of history. BUT...all that history is some what diluted with the renovation that stripped the original architecture and true historical significance of Yankee Stadium. Now, if it was kept the way it was prior to the renovation with minor alterations like Wrigley, then one can say SAVE YANKEE STADIUM. To me, Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig didn't play at this current Yankee Stadium...they played at the one prior to the 70's.

[mandrake]

The only part of YS that should be saved is the field itself. I think that St Louis had the right idea with Sportsmans Park. They saved the field for youth groups, and the stands were removed. However, I saw a picture where the ball park left shadows on the grass around the field. Spooky.

The Old Stadium died in 1973. Those of us who were lucky to have been there know that the replacement in 1976 is a different place. 2008's Death Valley is a joke. The dimensions are 314 and 318 down the lines. 408 in CF and 399 in what was once death valley. The dimensions make it one of the smallest playing fields in MLB. To compare any stats by any Right handed hitter vs the real Yankee Stadium is a joke. You don't even have to go back to the 1920's with a 490 ft death valley; just look at the 457 and 461 markings up until 1973.

Face it, YS needs to be replaced. I am going there for my Birthday next month (somebody came through for me ) and it will be missed, but it is time to move on. And since the NYS took up some open land, give back the land under the present YS to the community.

[New York Kid]

Since 1975 - on the same hallowed ground Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle, and so many other greats played - Yankee Stadium has continued to be the most important and celebrated stadium in the world.

Renovations to remove its old wooden seats, which proved too narrow, and its old steel columns, which proved too visually obstructive, did not destroy the stadium, or its history. Nor did its cantilevered roof, and installation of elevators. These improvements all made it possible for the Stadium to continue as the epicenter of historic events - sporting events and otherwise - in America. While tasteless cookie-cutters were popping up across the country, Yankee Stadium stayed true to its original architectural beauty and grandeur.

Quoting a representative article expressing the widespread contemporaneous feeling that the renovated Stadium was world class - necessarily modernized, but truly faithful to the original design:

"All agreed that (the renovated) Yankee Stadium is beautiful, a magiificnet edifice, a showplace."

"(The renovated Stadium is) a magnificent structure, a wonderful blend of the old park and convenience of the new."

Or, as Billy put it: "It's the sharpest park in the league, no doubt."

And thus began three more decades of history as the greatest Stadium in the world.

[IPO]

King George III had his press conference and presented a scaled down stadium, when it disappeared from the blueprints no one said anything.

That was the time everyone should have jumped down their throats and said that's not what you advertised or presented. The city did nothing, the fans must have had amnesia because that press conference presented a scaled down YS, not a total demolition.

Quietly, new plans were presented and the entire park was out of the new plans.

It's a done deal and for all the new taxpayer handouts King George III is now demanding to complete the taxpayers new Stadium no way will NYC pay more to keep a 1976 version of the other stadium standing when people would go there instead of the corporate park being built.

King George III will have the bulldozers rolling as quick as Wilpon wants to clear his new doorstep from that Shea Stadium outfield and they can sell off everything from the seats to the grass.

If they could sell the air they would do that too.

City should have told King George III, do another renovation because your not getting a new stadium and if you don't like it move and see if four million will follow.
Same for Wilpon.

[Kentucky Bomber]

When the Yankee Stadium project took over Macombs Dam Park the residents lost huge, tree lined acreage they used for their recreation. The promise to them was to replace that multi-use recreational acreage, not to create a single use ballfield with pieces of Yankee Stadium so people who would never view or use the site could sleep knowing a part of their life is deathless.

When all of you preservationists take apartments on Jerome Avenue or 157th Street to raise your asthma ridden children I'll take you seriously.

[stadiumbuilder]

I think the old saying "You don't know what you've got 'till it's gone" applies here. People of average wisdom don't understand now, but future generations will question our judgement and wonder how we could have not seen the significance of this place. They'll not understand what happened and want to know what was wrong with "those people back then". It's easier to have the proper perspective as a Yankee fan, but this goes way beyond which team it is you root for. This is a large peice of Major League Baseball history that will be gone forever, and it's loss will be felt more and more as the seasons pass. What's to become of it will be veiwed as a mistake, but there is probably nothing that can be done at this point because the people that really love this game and it's history are not calling the shots and have no input in any of this.

[New York Kid]

Prayer for America: September, 2001

http://archives.cnn.com/2001/US/09/23/vic.yankee.service.report/index.html

[New York Kid]

Ali vs. Norton: 1976

[BigMac1212]

And what about the new stadium?

[New York Kid]

Reggie! Reggie! Reggie!

[New York Kid]

John Paul, 1979

[New York Kid]

Pele! 1975

[mandrake]

I think the old saying "You don't know what you've got 'till it's gone" applies here. People of average wisdom don't understand now, but future generations will question our judgement and wonder how we could have not seen the significance of this place. They'll not understand what happened and want to know what was wrong with "those people back then". It's easier to have the proper perspective as a Yankee fan, but this goes way beyond which team it is you root for. This is a large peice of Major League Baseball history that will be gone forever, and it's loss will be felt more and more as the seasons pass. What's to become of it will be veiwed as a mistake, but there is probably nothing that can be done at this point because the people that really love this game and it's history are not calling the shots and have no input in any of this.

I certainly am not denying the history of YS. Not at all. But just from a comfort level, the place is obsolete. The concourses are a hazard. The aisles are too narrow. The upper deck is too steep. The bathrooms stink. Some rows of seats have only one entry/exit. Just think of how you would ever get out of the place in an emergency. Thank God it never happened, especially post 9/11.

I sat in the RF upper deck. I could not see anything in RF. I sat in the RF porch Main level and had a railing across the aisle in front of me, blocking any exit route except to turn around and go up.

Since the size of field has been turned into a AAA field, the old bleachers in LCF are horrible. You can see monument park, and several layers of outfield fences, but that's about all I could see last time I sat there.

People have wonderful memories of YS. (And Ebbets Field. And the Polo Grounds). But the place is obsolete. We still think of JFK as that young handsome president, and we don't think of him as a 91 yr old man if he had lived. Marilyn Monroe is still 36 in our memory, not an 82 yr old senior.

YS will always be special. But it is time to move on.

[New York Kid]

1976 ALCS Victory

[New York Kid]

The Bronx Zoo (is Burning)

[New York Kid]

1, 2, 3, They're Out

[SparkyL]

Here was the original plan. Not only was the field, dugouts and field boxes preserved but the underground facilities such as locker rooms, weight rooms, storage areas, etc. You would think that local youth leagues would want these facilities.

[New York Kid]

Yogi, Steinbrenner & Billy

[New York Kid]

Here was the original plan. Not only was the field, dugouts and field boxes preserved but the underground facilities such as locker rooms, weight rooms, storage areas, etc. You would think that local youth leagues would want these facilities.

Great Post, Sparky. Who wouldn't prefer that over the run-of-the-mill park now planned?

[New York Kid]

Tribute to Thurman

[SparkyL]

In the new plan 100% of the stadium is gone. The playing field area is filled in with about 10 feet of dirt to bring the area up to street level. All underground facilities are gone.

In the aerial view it appears that the footprint of the stadium is preserved, but the artist rendering shows that the fields extend to the property perimeter, obliterating even the footprint - and no field is aligned to the original diamond.

http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_your_park/nyy_stadium/pdf/feis_figures.pdf

[SparkyL]

So this looks like a classic bait and switch. There are still lots of people out there (they post on boards like this all the time) that still think the original plan is in place.

From yankees.com:

"Preliminary plans are for the preservation of key elements of the current Yankee Stadium, such as the playing field for the use of local amateur leagues."

http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050615&content_id=1090587&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy

Model during the new stadium announcement:

[New York Kid]

I guess they couldn't stop themselves from selling every last chip and splinter. They just had to demolish everything and sell it off to auction houses all over the globe. This is the greatest score since the raid on King Tut's tomb.

The Yankees are cursing themselves with this one.

[New York Kid]

"I am a Yankee" Mandela at Yankee Stadium, 1992

[The House That Ruth Built]

Sparky, are you sure that the new plan is official. I was scrolling thru that PDF attachment and under the "new plans" it stated that it was the "Heritage Park alternate plan. Could this still be the case?

EDIT: Just read and arcticle, NYC Parks Department confirming complete demolition of the Yankee Stadium site. So I take back my above post.

[New York Kid]

Paul Simon
at
Tribute to DiMaggio

[New York Kid]

1996 World Champions

[New York Kid]

Victory Ride

[New York Kid]

On Broadway

[New York Kid]

Nineteen-Ninety-Eight

[New York Kid]

more ticker tape

[New York Kid]

Opening Pitch

[New York Kid]

Papal Mass

[New York Kid]

Jeter Dives - Jeter Flips - Jeter Babes

[tugger]

That Boggs riding b***h on the horse was soooooo g*y!

[New York Kid]

2008 All Star Game

[shaneslatts]

Here was the original plan. Not only was the field, dugouts and field boxes preserved but the underground facilities such as locker rooms, weight rooms, storage areas, etc. You would think that local youth leagues would want these facilities.

Thank you Sparky, I had not seen those pictures before, but that was what I was thinking, although maybe even a bit more scaled back then that. Move a few of the trees and make two additional fields as well in the outfield area. I think this would be a great plan. Again, I would possibly remove a few more rows of stands, reduce it from dugout to dugout, and make three fields.
The residents would have their land, the fans would have a museum, and the City would look like they care
If it all comes down, the only losers will be the future generations who will wonder why we were so dumb as to smash Yankee Stadium to the ground

[New York Kid]

... so dumb as to smash Yankee Stadium to the ground



so dumb, indeed, shane. As the photos of representative events above show, Yankee Stadium has been America's greatest and most historic Stadium from 1923, to this very date. Modernization in the early 70's didn't change that a lick.

Oh yeah, and then their was the Subway Series ...

[mets16]

Oh yeah, and then their was the Subway Series ...

And game 7 of the 2004 NLCS!

[New York Kid]

Follow these steps:


There is a serious effort underway to save current Yankee Stadium.
If anyone is interested in helping, go to the following sites to petition
appropriately.

Email the 2nd two sites stating how you feel about Yankee Stadium and
what you would like to see done.

http://saveyankeestadium.org/petition/

saveamericastreasures@nthp.org

preservation@nthp.org


for this site direct your e-mail to:
saveamericastreasures@nthp.org
To: Mr Moe and Sue Eisenhower, Directors of "Save America's Treasures"

To tell Mayor Bloomberg what Yankee Stadium means to you!

E-MAIL:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/mail/html/mayor.html

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg
City Hall
New York, NY 10007
PHONE 311 (or 212-NEW-YORK outside NYC)

FAX (212) 788-2460



If we gan get the endorsement of Save America's Treasures and/or the National Trust fo Historic Preservation, we can landmark and save the Stadium. Right now, they're hiding.

If they can cite big public concern (especially on a national level), they'll have an excuse to publicly admit what everyone already knows, that Yankee Stadium is a national treasure.

Fiona Lawless is the person to contact. People should write AND call.

fiona_lawless@nthp.org: (202) 588-6012

I agree with you, Elmer. Let's save it. It could be one of the premier ameteur ballparks in the world, giving kids a chance to play where the greats played. The new Yanks are certainly never going to replicate the history that is The House That Ruth Built. Let it stand as testimony and tribute to the greatest Stadium in history. It would be a crime to replace it with a chain-linked, under-the-El, run-of-the-mill city park - which is what is presently in store.

[Manhattan]

I agree with you, Elmer. Let's save it. It could be one of the premier ameteur ballparks in the world, giving kids a chance to play where the greats played. The new Yanks are certainly never going to replicate the history that is The House That Ruth Built. Let it stand as testimony and tribute to the greatest Stadium in history. It would be a crime to replace it with a chain-linked, under-the-El, run-of-the-mill city park - which is what is presently in store.I also agree with you, Elmer. Let's save Old Yankee Stadium. And 7 minutes ago I signed the petition to save Old Yankee Stadium.

[mandrake]

At least they are not planning a housing project like they did to the Polo Grounds and Ebbets Field. And not to nit pick, but Babe and Lou never played on that field. The old field was removed in the renovations.

If everyone was really serious about keeping OYS, they would have stopped the construction of NYS. And they would have stopped the PG demolition since Ruth's two best years , 1920 and 1921, were there. And don't forget Highland Park before that.

And Boggs was Red Sox. That riding piggy back with a NYPD was the lamest attempt to give him Yankee 'street cred'. He should have rode off the field with Margo instead.

[DGDGBD]

I guess they couldn't stop themselves from selling every last chip and splinter.
New York City owns the stadium and are demo'ing using taxpayer dollars. Revenue from the rights to sell off seats and other artifacts is supposed to offset demolition costs.

[New York Kid]

At least they are not planning a housing project like they did to the Polo Grounds and Ebbets Field. And not to nit pick, but Babe and Lou never played on that field. The old field was removed in the renovations.

If everyone was really serious about keeping OYS, they would have stopped the construction of NYS. And they would have stopped the PG demolition since Ruth's two best years , 1920 and 1921, were there. And don't forget Highland Park before that.



The fact that the Polo Grounds, Ebbets Field, and Highland Park, were all destroyed, does not justify the destruction of Yankee Stadium. Indeed, just the opposite. It's the last of New York's historic ballparks. Moreover, it has been the greatest of them all - not only in New York, but the world.

[New York Kid]

New York City owns the stadium and are demo'ing using taxpayer dollars. Revenue from the rights to sell off seats and other artifacts is supposed to offset demolition costs.

The "Harvesting of Yankee Stadium" is not going to benefit New York in the least. The real beneficiaries will be auction houses and wealthy collectors, who have long been salivating and scheming to rip our national treasure apart, piece by piece. As made crystal clear in the revealing New York Magazine article below, the City will not and can not articulate exactly how much this sale will offset their quite significant demolition costs.

http://nymag.com/news/sports/48329/

[Wall-E]

The "Harvesting of Yankee Stadium" is not going to benefit New York in the least. The real beneficiaries will be auction houses and wealthy collectors, who have long been salivating and scheming to rip our national treasure apart, piece by piece. As made crystal clear in the article below, the City will not and can not articulate exactly how much this sale will offset their quite significant demolition costs.

What are you talking about? Yankee Stadium is being turned into parkland for the Bronx for children to play on the same field that Ruth and A-Rod did. What are you on about?

[New York Kid]

As you can see from my above posts, I, and many others, advocate the Stadium and Stadium grounds be saved as a premier recreational area for the people of New York - a place where kids and teams from all over the City can play where the greatest ballplayers in history played. That was the City's the original plan officially announced by Mayor Bloomberg, but, after some slimy back-room deals, it was decided to allow to plunder and sell EVERYTHING - every speck of dirt and chip of paint. This was certainly NOT done for the poor kids in the neighborhood. It was done out of greed.

Let the kids have the greatest ballpark in history as their own to play on - they certainly won't be able to afford tickets to watch the new Yankees, who are fatally cursing themselves with this decision to demolish & plunder The House That Ruth Built.

http://www.nysun.com/opinion/save-yankee-stadium-babes-granddaughter-says-yes/84425/

http://www.saveyankeestadium.com/2008/02/so-what-are-actual-plans.html

[locke40]

Opening Pitch

http://baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=50771&stc=1&d=1220068338

And from this point forward, the New York Yankees will be cursed.

[New York Kid]

Not a Bush league fan, I presume.

[metfan13]

As you can see from my above posts, I, and many others, advocate the Stadium and Stadium grounds be saved as a premier recreational area for the people of New York - a place where kids and teams from all over the City can play where the greatest ballplayers in history played. That was the City's the original plan officially announced by Mayor Bloomberg, but, after some slimy back-room deals, it was decided to allow to plunder and sell EVERYTHING - every speck of dirt and chip of paint. This was certainly NOT done for the poor kids in the neighborhood. It was done out of greed.

Let the kids have the greatest ballpark in history as their own to play on - they certainly won't be able to afford tickets to watch the new Yankees, who are fatally cursing themselves with this decision to demolish & plunder The House That Ruth Built.

http://www.nysun.com/opinion/save-yankee-stadium-babes-granddaughter-says-yes/84425/

http://www.saveyankeestadium.com/2008/02/so-what-are-actual-plans.html

It's going to be park land. Kids will be able to play there. Just without the unecessary huge structure around it.

[New York Kid]

It's going to be park land. Kids will be able to play there. Just without the unecessary huge structure around it.

The "unnecessary huge structure" you refer to is a national treasure. Why not push for tearing down the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island, while you're at. Put some inferior chain-link-fenced parks there, too. At least they won't have El's running over them. Don't stop there, tear down all our national treasures and put up some see-saws.

To further demonstrate how unfairly corrupt the landmarking process was when it came to saving Yankee Stadium, the most historic stadium in the world, consider the landmarking of 1520 Sedgewick Avenue, in the South Bronx, not far from the Stadium.

Never heard of it? Well, that's because it's of absolutely no architectural importance and almost nothing of note ever happened there. It's now a NATIONAL landmark, though, because DJ Kool Herc spun some records there one night in the mid-Seventies. The VERY SAME City and State landmarking officials who so dismissively ruled that Yankee Stadium did not qualify even as a LOCAL landmark, successfully fought tooth-and-nail to NATIONALLY landmark 1520 Sedgewick Avenue, a thoroughly unappealing 1970's era low-cost hi-rise - because of one alleged party. (Making matters worse, the party really took place next door, in a small park - but landmarking that park would not have kept rent-control at 1520 Sedgewick Avenue - which was the real goal of the landmark effort.)

So, the great Yankee Stadium - the world's most historic (but officially unlandmarked) Stadium - is facing complete and avaricious destruction, while it's totally nondescript neighbor,1520 Sedgewick Avenue, has been officially declared worthy a national landmark.

Below are contemporaneous photos of both structures.

[BigMac1212]

New York Kid, what about the new stadium?

[YankeeFanBx]

I would love to see something of Yankee Stadium standing in 2010, but what?
To maintain an entire 55,000 seat stadium is totally absurd. If someone can come up with a solid plan to have some semblance of this historic monument saved, I'm with it!

[placount]

The "unnecessary huge structure" you refer to is a national treasure. Why not push for tearing down the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island, while you're at. Put some inferior chain-link-fenced parks there, too. At least they won't have El's running over them. Don't stop there, tear down all our national treasures and put up some see-saws.

To further demonstrate how unfairly corrupt the landmarking process was when it came to saving Yankee Stadium, the most historic stadium in the world, consider the landmarking of 1520 Sedgewick Avenue, in the South Bronx, not far from the Stadium.

Never heard of it? Well, that's because it's of absolutely no architectural importance and almost nothing of note ever happened there. It's now a NATIONAL landmark, though, because DJ Kool Herc spun some records there one night in the mid-Seventies. The VERY SAME City and State landmarking officials who so dismissively ruled that Yankee Stadium did not qualify even as a LOCAL landmark, successfully fought tooth-and-nail to NATIONALLY landmark 1520 Sedgewick Avenue, a thoroughly unappealing 1970's era low-cost hi-rise - because of one alleged party. (Making matters worse, the party really took place next door, in a small park - but landmarking that park would not have kept rent-control at 1520 Sedgewick Avenue - which was the real goal of the landmark effort.)

So, the great Yankee Stadium - the world's most historic (but officially unlandmarked) Stadium - is facing complete and avaricious destruction, while it's totally nondescript neighbor,1520 Sedgewick Avenue, has been officially declared worthy a national landmark.

Below are contemporaneous photos of both structures.

Really? Most historic in the world. What about Wembley, Sin Siro, Bernabeu, Nou Camp, Old Trafford. Your world view is incredibly narrow if you think a baseball stadium is the most historic stadium in the world. You could argue that it isn't even the most historic stadium in the United States on a world scale. You could argue that the Coliseum in LA is more historic due to the importance of the events it has held as far as the whole world goes.

[New York Kid]

The Yankees will never let local kids play at Steinbrenner Field. Heck, they've even priced them out watching game. The only chance those kids have to play in the same Stadium as the Yankees, will be to landmark and save Yankee Stadium. The pretense that demolishing Yankee Stadium is being destroyed for local kids is absurd. The only thing more unbelievable is that anyone would believe it. It's being done out of ego, greed, and corruption. Does anybody really think auction houses or investors in Dubai, Switzerland, or Cayman Islands, could care less about kids in the South Bronx.

Babe Ruth - the man on whose phenomenal talents, achievements, and good will, the Yankees have become so wealthy - would be disgusted how families and fans are being priced out of seeing the Yankees play. And, just like his granddaughter, he would do everything possible to save The House That He Built for the kids of New York.

The new stadium - aka Hankee Stadium, aka The House That Ruth-less Built -is much like the new Yankees themselves - reminiscent of the old team, but grossly overpriced and without any accomplishments to justify the price of admission.

[New York Kid]

Really? Most historic in the world. What about Wembley, Sin Siro, Bernabeu, Nou Camp, Old Trafford. Your world view is incredibly narrow if you think a baseball stadium is the most historic stadium in the world. You could argue that it isn't even the most historic stadium in the United States on a world scale. You could argue that the Coliseum in LA is more historic due to the importance of the events it has held as far as the whole world goes.

As great as they are, I don't personally believe Wembley, San Siro, Bernabeu, Camp Nou, or Old Trafford, exceed Yankee Stadium in historical significance (except for soccer, cricket, and George Michael concerts). Like the Coliseum of Rome, Yankee Stadium is even greater. But, contrary beliefs are irrelevant to the fact that Yankee Stadium is a national treasure, and should be landmarked as such. None of those stadiums are in the United States.

Likewise, you could argue the LA Coliseum is great historical importance, too. That's exactly why it was officially declared a landmark in 1984. Yankee Stadium would be landmarked, also, except for local corruption & greed.

[Mike Wagner]

If you were to try to save Yankee Stadium, the only thing I can see is making it the official New York Yankees Living Museum.

Maybe charge $25. a person to enter. Have restaurants and a museum shop for additional income. How about charging another $25. for a batting practice pitcher to throw 5 or 10 pitches to a batter. Lots of us would love to see how far we could hit the ball at Yankee Stadium.

How about a $25 tour?

Sell a small bag of dirt from Yankee Stadium for $25. It could always be replenished by putting more dirt on the field. These $25. figures seem affordable enough to where you're not paying through the nose, yet enough to where it's a good income when added up.

100,000 admissions a year would be $2,500,000. That doesn't include the museum, food, batting practice, or anything else you can think of. You're only limited by your imagination-or lack of it.

Sell used game equipment. Instead of players having, say 5 uniforms a year, or whatever they're issued, what if they were issued 40 or so a year. Wear them once or twice, have them sign the uniforms, balls, bats, etc., for more income. But, have reasonable, affordable prices.

I would think there would be a lot of income from this to help with maintenance costs. Hopefully money would also help the community.

Possibly some parking lots could be turned into parks for the community.
The local community should most certainly benefit.

-Mike Wagner

[New York Kid]

I would love to see something of Yankee Stadium standing in 2010, but what?
To maintain an entire 55,000 seat stadium is totally absurd. If someone can come up with a solid plan to have some semblance of this historic monument saved, I'm with it!

The original plan WAS to save key parts of the Stadium, as both a tribute to its unparalled historical importance, as well as to enhance it's beauty, usage and usefulness, profitability, and popularity.

That plan was nixed, relatively recently, behind closed doors, with the end result that every shred of the stadium will be sold in the largest such sale in history. This will not only generate huge profits for the already wealthy, it will also finally and totally remove the building and legacy that has overshadowed Steinbrenner's ownership - both physically and metaphorically.

The Stadium should be beautifully, and respectfully, scaled down, so that people and teams from all over, most especially the neighborhood whose greatest treeasure it is, can play ball there.

[New York Kid]

If you were to try to save Yankee Stadium, the only thing I can see is making it the official New York Yankees Living Museum.

Maybe charge $25. a person to enter. Have restaurants and a museum shop for additional income. How about charging another $25. for a batting practice pitcher to throw 5 or 10 pitches to a batter. Lots of us would love to see how far we could hit the ball at Yankee Stadium.

How about a $25 tour?

Sell a small bag of dirt from Yankee Stadium for $25. It could always be replenished by putting more dirt on the field. These $25. figures seem affordable enough to where you're not paying through the nose, yet enough to where it's a good income when added up.

100,000 admissions a year would be $2,500,000. That doesn't include the museum, food, batting practice, or anything else you can think of. You're only limited by your imagination-or lack of it.

Sell used game equipment. Instead of players having, say 5 uniforms a year, or whatever they're issued, what if they were issued 40 or so a year. Wear them once or twice, have them sign the uniforms, balls, bats, etc., for more income. But, have reasonable, affordable prices.

I would think there would be a lot of income from this to help with maintenance costs. Hopefully money would also help the community.

Possibly some parking lots could be turned into parks for the community.
The local community should most certainly benefit.

-Mike Wagner

Great ideas, Mike. In a similar way, some of the structure could be used, very profitably, as a branch of the Baseball Hall of Hame. Not only would the revenues be huge for the neighborhood, it would also bring the treasures of Cooperstown to huge, enthusiastic crowds - something it can't do at its present, very remote location. Meanwhile, kids can, very proudly, still play ball at the park. Saving the Stadium in this way is both the right thing to do, AND the smart thing to do. Everybody does better, except auction houses and wealthy collectors, who already have far more than they need. This treasure should be saved for the little guy, the same guy Ruth built it for in the first place.

Here's some ideas on the subject from a writer who resides in the Bronx:

http://www.nysun.com/opinion/save-yankee-stadium/82184/

[stadiumbuilder]

Really? Most historic in the world. What about Wembley, Sin Siro, Bernabeu, Nou Camp, Old Trafford. Your world view is incredibly narrow if you think a baseball stadium is the most historic stadium in the world. You could argue that it isn't even the most historic stadium in the United States on a world scale. You could argue that the Coliseum in LA is more historic due to the importance of the events it has held as far as the whole world goes.

So you're not a Yankee fan. I'm not a Red Sox fan, but if I found out Boston was planning on trashing Fenway, I'd be very disappointed. Yankee Stadium's resume is quite impressive, and your not really understanding the significance of its closure. The number of threads devoted to the Stadium on this website should be your first clue. The volumes of books written and being written will be your second. The newspaper and magazine articles in the coming months will be another. This is not just some other place some guys played baseball, this is America's first true sports arena.

[DGDGBD]

The Yankees will never let local kids play at Steinbrenner Field. Heck, they've even priced them out watching game. The only chance those kids have to play in the same Stadium as the Yankees, will be to landmark and save Yankee Stadium. The pretense that demolishing Yankee Stadium is being destroyed for local kids is absurd. The only thing more unbelievable is that anyone would believe it. It's being done out of ego, greed, and corruption. Does anybody really think auction houses or investors in Dubai, Switzerland, or Cayman Islands, could care less about kids in the South Bronx.

Babe Ruth - the man on whose phenomenal talents, achievements, and good will, the Yankees have become so wealthy - would be disgusted how families and fans are being priced out of seeing the Yankees play. And, just like his granddaughter, he would do everything possible to save The House That He Built for the kids of New York.

The new stadium - aka Hankee Stadium, aka The House That Ruth-less Built -is much like the new Yankees themselves - reminiscent of the old team, but grossly overpriced and without any accomplishments to justify the price of admission.

Well, I would love to see some part of the stadium preserved as was originally planned, but if not I don't see it as a huge tragedy as others do. I just think you're facing a major uphill battle. One bit of friendly advice though - you'll might get more accomplished if you lose the hostile 'tude and concentrate on solutions instead of griping.

[shaneslatts]

The original plan WAS to save key parts of the Stadium, as both a tribute to its unparalled historical importance, as well as to enhance it's beauty, usage and usefulness, profitability, and popularity.

That plan was nixed, relatively recently, behind closed doors, with the end result that every shred of the stadium will be sold in the largest such sale in history. This will not only generate huge profits for the already wealthy, it will also finally and totally remove the building and legacy that has overshadowed Steinbrenner's ownership - both physically and metaphorically.

The Stadium should be beautifully, and respectfully, scaled down, so that people and teams from all over, most especially the neighborhood whose greatest treeasure it is, can play ball there.
:highfive:


Great post. Yankee Stadium is a treasure. A scaled back version of the Stadium would still give the residents the parkland, would preserve what should be a landmark, and would be a moneymaker for the city as well as a what could be used a draw for the area in season and out. If a small scaled back version of Tiger Stadium can be saved as a landmark, then there is no reason whatsoever that Yankee Stadium, with much more History cant be saved as well. It would only make New Yankee Stadium that much more popular, and it would honer all the greats that played there, as well as prayed there, and wept there as well
This is after all Yankee Stadium. :bowdown:

[New York Kid]

I would love to see some part of the stadium preserved as was originally planned ...



Glad to hear it. Hope you signed the petition(s) and are writing and calling all the right people. That's what will do it. It will be less of an uphill battle for everyone, if everyone who feels like you do joins in and helps. The powers pushing for the demolition don't wan't to be called out on this. They're desperately hoping to evade exposure of what they're really up to - destroying the Stadium so they can make a fortune selling it piece-by-piece.

Same goes for the landmarking commisioners who somehow determined Yankee Stadium - an obvious national treasure - is NOT even worthy of local landmarking, while they simultaneously worked overtime to declare 1520 Sedgewick Avenue a NATIONAL landmark, a fact recently mocked by the editorial cartoon attached below. Talk about going down the rabbit hole.

Of all the solutions proposed above, which do you like?

[New York Kid]

:highfive:


Great post. Yankee Stadium is a treasure. A scaled back version of the Stadium would still give the residents the parkland, would preserve what should be a landmark, and would be a moneymaker for the city as well as a what could be used a draw for the area in season and out. If a small scaled back version of Tiger Stadium can be saved as a landmark, then there is no reason whatsoever that Yankee Stadium, with much more History cant be saved as well. It would only make New Yankee Stadium that much more popular, and it would honer all the greats that played there, as well as prayed there, and wept there as well
This is after all Yankee Stadium. :bowdown:

Thanks, Shane, it's guys like you who are going to save Yankee Stadium.

[metfan13]

Maybe it could be a landmark if they hadn't trashed it themselves in the 70's.

Absurd to have two complete major league scale parks side by side.

And yes other stadium in the world may be more significant. Outside your NY and baseball centric view of things.

[New York Kid]

(1) Maybe it could be a landmark if they hadn't trashed it themselves in the 70's.

(2) Absurd to have two complete major league scale parks side by side.

(3) And yes other stadium in the world may be more significant. Outside your NY and baseball centric view of things.

(1) Metfan13, maybe you're not familiar with landmark law. Historical sites can be landmarked for historical, cultural, and/or architectural, significance. Yankee stadium qualifies in all three categories. Compare, for example, 1520 Sedgewick Avenue, its nondescript neighbor in the Bronx, first inhabited in the Seventies, which was nationally landmarked recently, because it may have had one party with DJ Kool Herc spinning records. You may want to re-read about all the remarkable history made in Yankee Stadium since the renovation.

Moreover, the renovation of Yankee Stadium in the Seventies was a very highly regarded and necessary merging of historical architecture with modern upgrades. It resulted in Major League Baseball's showplace stadium.

(2) As detailed above repeatedly, saving Yankee Stadium as a landmark for city kids and teams to play ball on does not result in having two full scale stadiums. The House That Ruth Built will require significantly less than a third of the seating it now has. The cantilevered superstructure and upper deck will also be unnecessary.

(3) I'm familiar with, and have even visited, many stadiums around the world and respect them for their own unique greatness. I think, however, Yankee Stadium is the most historic and iconic of those I know - other than the Coliseum of Rome, which has long been landmarked and closed to athletic events. (I believe the Lions are now in Detroit.)

Yankee Stadium is not only an American treasure, it is also an international icon - which is why it should be landmarked and saved.

[New York Kid]

So you're not a Yankee fan. I'm not a Red Sox fan, but if I found out Boston was planning on trashing Fenway, I'd be very disappointed. Yankee Stadium's resume is quite impressive, and your not really understanding the significance of its closure. The number of threads devoted to the Stadium on this website should be your first clue. The volumes of books written and being written will be your second. The newspaper and magazine articles in the coming months will be another. This is not just some other place some guys played baseball, this is America's first true sports arena.

Excellent points, stadiumbuilder!!!

[shaneslatts]

Maybe it could be a landmark if they hadn't trashed it themselves in the 70's.

Absurd to have two complete major league scale parks side by side.

And yes other stadium in the world may be more significant. Outside your NY and baseball centric view of things.


Umm...It has been posted several times that the idea would be a greatly scaled back version of Yankee Stadium, not "two complete major league scale parks side by side",
so let be clear that is not the original plan, nor what is being talked about here.
Other Stadiums in the world MAY be more significant, POSSIBLY, but none in America are more significant HISTORICLY then Yankee Stadium.

[New York Kid]

Here's the astronomical ticket prices for the new Stadium. Amazingly, actual costs will be even worse than the Yankees are portraying it.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2008/08/29/2008-08-29_yankees_announce_season_ticket_prices_fo.html

I see no evidence of concern whatsoever for local kids. With the Yanks so emphatically pricing families out of Hankee Stadium, the least they could do is kick back some of their huge profits and corporate welfare they've been receiving for decades back to the City, for redesign and renovation of the existing Stadium. The City, also, could put the $100 million dollars or so they'll have to spend for demolition toward refurbishing the Stadium for City recreational use (and possibly for a profit-generating museum.)

[metfan13]

So you scale down. Take down the upper deck with that famous facade. Oh wait they already took down the most identifiable part of the stadium back in the 70's.

So, what do you do? Leave up some of the outer wall?

[New York Kid]

Here's the astronomical ticket prices for the new Stadium. Amazingly, actual costs will be even worse than the Yankees are portraying it.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2008/08/29/2008-08-29_yankees_announce_season_ticket_prices_fo.html

I see no evidence of concern whatsoever for local kids. With the Yanks so emphatically pricing families out of Hankee Stadium, the least they could do is kick back some of their huge profits and corporate welfare they've been receiving for decades back to the City, for redesign and renovation of the existing Stadium. The City, also, could put the $100 million dollars or so they'll have to spend for demolition toward refurbishing the Stadium for City recreational use (and possibly for a profit-generating museum.)

Steinbrenner's right-hand man, Yankee COO, Lonn Trost, revealingly put it last month:

"Look, we can't lose the next generation of Yankee fan just because a father can't afford to take his kid to a game."

Greed. Corruption. Arrogance. All the same reasons they had for destroying The House That Ruth Built. The Babe would Not Approve.

Below: Lonn Trost/new Stadium

[New York Kid]

Maybe it could be a landmark if they hadn't trashed it themselves in the 70's.



Metfan13, how do you feel about local officials nationally landmarking 1520 Sedgewick Avenue (pictured below) - not built until the Seventies, and of little historical note -while the very same officials ruled Yankee Stadium not qualified for even local landmarking?

The so-called Landmark Preservation Commission has landmarked over 25,000 buildings in New York, but deems Yankee Stadium not worthy of such recognition. Why would that be so, Metfan13?

http://www.nysun.com/opinion/save-yankee-stadium/82184/

[Manhattan]

Metfan13, how do you feel about local officials nationally landmarking 1520 Sedgewick Avenue (pictured below) - not built until the Seventies, and of little historical note -while the very same officials ruled Yankee Stadium not qualified for even local landmarking?

The so-called Landmark Preservation Commission has landmarked over 25,000 buildings in New York, but deems Yankee Stadium not worthy of such recognition. Why would that be so, Metfan13?

http://www.nysun.com/opinion/save-yankee-stadium/82184/
I still want to see the concession stands,the souviner booths,the offices,the announcers box and more at Old Yankee Stadium. Please save Yankee Stadium.

[stadiumbuilder]

I took the kids to Independence Hall in 2002. Not a particulary useful building at this point, its obsolete by today's standards. But if somebody hadn't recognized the major historical significance of this structure a couple of centuries ago, I wouldn't have been standing there that day getting chills up my spine. Yankee Stadium has a large place in the history of American culture. That we can just walk away from all this is a sign of the times we live in. Everything is disposable. People seem to have better hindsight than ever, there's never a shortage of those who are ready to question and criticize anybody and everything. The handling of this will be questioned 'til the end of baseball, but there just weren't quality people in leadership positions to make the right things happen. The Brooklyn Bridge was showing its age and becoming a problem a couple of decades ago. It could have been replaced, but because of its historical nature and stunning beauty, it was restored, at great cost, one steel cable at a time. Last time we were in Manhattan, my 10 year old son insisted we walk over the BB. He gets it. This bridge is a part of what America is, just as the Stadium is. Had they preserved the original beauty of the stadium when they renovated it in 1976, I don't think we'd be having this discussion.

[placount]

I'll reply here to both responses.

I said...
Really? Most historic in the world. What about Wembley, Sin Siro, Bernabeu, Nou Camp, Old Trafford. Your world view is incredibly narrow if you think a baseball stadium is the most historic stadium in the world. You could argue that it isn't even the most historic stadium in the United States on a world scale. You could argue that the Coliseum in LA is more historic due to the importance of the events it has held as far as the whole world goes.

As great as they are, I don't personally believe Wembley, San Siro, Bernabeu, Camp Nou, or Old Trafford, exceed Yankee Stadium in historical significance (except for soccer, cricket, and George Michael concerts). Like the Coliseum of Rome, Yankee Stadium is even greater. But, contrary beliefs are irrelevant to the fact that Yankee Stadium is a national treasure, and should be landmarked as such. None of those stadiums are in the United States.

Likewise, you could argue the LA Coliseum is great historical importance, too. That's exactly why it was officially declared a landmark in 1984. Yankee Stadium would be landmarked, also, except for local corruption & greed.

Your xenophobia is showing. The reason all of those buildings are more significant worldwide is because they host international events. Whereas Yankee Stadium, as wonderful as it is to us, doesn't mean a whole lot of anything to the rest of the world. Outside of Canada (Blue Jays) you aren't going to see many international teams taking advantage of the venue.

Ask a kid in Australia if he dreams of someday going to Yankee Stadium or Nou Camp. He'll know both but will have no particular interest in Yankee Stadium. Ask that question in Kansas and the kid wont know what Nou Camp is. So I suppose that makes Yankee Stadium more widely known, but in my opinion as a sporting venue, something with as small a player/fan base as our game cannot be the top.

So you're not a Yankee fan. I'm not a Red Sox fan, but if I found out Boston was planning on trashing Fenway, I'd be very disappointed. Yankee Stadium's resume is quite impressive, and your not really understanding the significance of its closure. The number of threads devoted to the Stadium on this website should be your first clue. The volumes of books written and being written will be your second. The newspaper and magazine articles in the coming months will be another. This is not just some other place some guys played baseball, this is America's first true sports arena.


You gotta understand, I'm not trying to detract from the Stadium at all, I think it's unfortunate that you're losing it. I think that as a purely American Stadium it is the most historic we have. I never went to deny that, what I did say was that it wasn't, and it isn't, the most important venue in the world.

You mentioned the amount of threads it has here, and to be honest that doesn't add worldly significance once again. Just because something gets press or internet message board traffic doesn't make it great, Miley Cyrus or any other pop sensation anyone?

You guys really gotta understand the economics of it. I hear a lot of bitching and moaning that the Yankees are selling out by building this new stadium. The Yankees have always sold out, and that's why you were so successful. You Yankee fans should really be embracing the future and not waiting in the past.


I suppose I can post this here. I always have felt that they should have kept the stadium for one more year and used it as the centerpiece to the next World Baseball Classic.

[stadiumbuilder]

Placount, this is a websight devoted to the discussion of primarily American Baseball. I don't give a crap if some soccer playing kid in Australia doesn't hold Yankee Stadium near and dear to his heart. His opinion is irrelevant. By your logic, things purley American like the Golden Gate Bridge, Hoover dam, the Empire State Building, Independence Hall, Monticello, The Gateway Arch, The Lincoln Memorial, The Washington Monument, etc aren't important because they're not international in nature? You're missing this one. And by the way, I've been to three Yankee games this year and the place has been loaded, each time, with people from ALL over the world. Every game is a sellout because people are traveling thousands of miles (yes, from outside the US) to come to this place. Camera flashes are a constant throughout the game and between innings too, because they are photograghing THE BALLPARK.

[New York Kid]

... I think that as a purely American Stadium it is the most historic we have.

... I always have felt that they should have kept the stadium for one more year and used it as the centerpiece to the next World Baseball Classic.



I agree, placount, Yankee Stadium the most historic stadium in America, which is exactly why it should be landmarked as such, and saved.

Saving it for the World Baseball Classic is a great idea - consistent both with its unparalleled international stature and with the many proposals that it be used for amateur ball, all year round.

I hope you have written to someone in power with that great idea. New York Senators Schumer & Clinton would be ideal. If not, here's how to contact them:

Senator Chuck Schumer: Hart Senate Building, DC 20510; (202) 224-6542, (212) 486-4430; [e-mail at his website] schumer.senate.gov

Senator Hillary Clinton: Russell Senate Building, DC 20510; (202) 224-4451, (212) 688-6262; [e-mail at her website] clinton.senate.gov

Everybody who wants to save the Stadium should call or write.

[placount]

Placount, this is a websight devoted to the discussion of primarily American Baseball. I don't give a crap if some soccer playing kid in Australia doesn't hold Yankee Stadium near and dear to his heart. His opinion is irrelevant. By your logic, things purley American like the Golden Gate Bridge, Hoover dam, the Empire State Building, Independence Hall, Monticello, The Gateway Arch, The Lincoln Memorial, The Washington Monument, etc aren't important because they're not international in nature? You're missing this one. And by the way, I've been to three Yankee games this year and the place has been loaded, each time, with people from ALL over the world. Every game is a sellout because people are traveling thousands of miles (yes, from outside the US) to come to this place. Camera flashes are a constant throughout the game and between innings too, because they are photograghing THE BALLPARK.

The comment that all of this started from was a comment saying that Yankee Stadium was the most important stadium in the world. As is everywhere. That's what I took issue with, go back and read it if you must.

Selling out consistently at the stadium also isn't unique to historic baseball stadiums in the Bronx. A new ice hockey arenas that replaced that sports most treasured rink also sells out every game, and has for years. Does that make the Bell Centre one of the greatest arenas in the whole world? Or should Canada then have saved the Forum? (my guess here is that you would argue against the Forum being the most important hockey arena as well).

[stadiumbuilder]

The comment that all of this started from was a comment saying that Yankee Stadium was the most important stadium in the world. As is everywhere. That's what I took issue with, go back and read it if you must.

Selling out consistently at the stadium also isn't unique to historic baseball stadiums in the Bronx. A new ice hockey arenas that replaced that sports most treasured rink also sells out every game, and has for years. Does that make the Bell Centre one of the greatest arenas in the whole world? Or should Canada then have saved the Forum? (my guess here is that you would argue against the Forum being the most important hockey arena as well).

I'm talking about the spike in attendence at Yankee Stadium, people are going there to experience it before its gone. Comparisons of sports arenas in other countries is not relevant. Pop entertainers come and go, 83 years of American history has occurred in this historic building. Why would I argue for or against the Forum? This is a baseball discussion involving an American landmark.

[New York Kid]

Since its creation in 1965, New York City's Landmark Protection Commission has landmarked over 25,000 sites. Very few of them have been as historically significant as Yankee Stadium. Their decision NOT to landmark is plainly absurd and ill-motivated. Their decision needs to be overruled. Senators Schumer & Clinton - who both recently supported the landmarking of 1520 Sedgewick Avenue, and other sites dramatically less historical than Yankee Stadium - can get the Stadium landmarked. Writing and calling them will help save the Stadium. It's an easy thing to do:

[metfan13]

Independence Hall.

Yankee Stadium.

Uh, yeah no difference there. :rolleyes:

[New York Kid]

Senator Chuck Schumer: Hart Senate Building, DC 20510; (202) 224-6542, (212) 486-4430; [e-mail at his website] schumer.senate.gov

Senator Hillary Clinton: Russell Senate Building, DC 20510; (202) 224-4451, (212) 688-6262; [e-mail at her website] clinton.senate.gov



To save the Stadium, these are the numbers to call & addresses to write.

[New York Kid]

Independence Hall.

Yankee Stadium.

Uh, yeah no difference there. :rolleyes:

Once again, metfan13, how do you feel about 25,000 other buildings being landmarked in New York - recently including 1520 Sedgewick Avenue, also in the South Bronx - but NOT Yankee Stadium? Do you not see anything wrong with that, metfan13?

For your convenience, I'll attach contemporaneous photos buildings. The officially declared a NATIONAL landmark, 1520 Sedgewick Avenue, is on your left. The building ruled NOT eligible for even LOCAL landmarking, Yankee Stadium, is on your right.

Which would you say is more historically significant, metfan13?

[NYFan1stYankFan2nd]

Pele! 1975

You mean 1976 - or 77? If that was 1975 Pelee would be trouncing through a half-rain-soaked mud-hole similar to Florida Everglades. :)

-CC

[NYFan1stYankFan2nd]

I agree, placount, Yankee Stadium the most historic stadium in America, which is exactly why it should be landmarked as such, and saved.

Saving it for the World Baseball Classic is a great idea - consistent both with its unparalleled international stature and with the many proposals that it be used for amateur ball, all year round.

I hope you have written to someone in power with that great idea. New York Senators Schumer & Clinton would be ideal. If not, here's how to contact them:

Senator Chuck Schumer: Hart Senate Building, DC 20510; (202) 224-6542, (212) 486-4430; [e-mail at his website] schumer.senate.gov

Senator Hillary Clinton: Russell Senate Building, DC 20510; (202) 224-4451, (212) 688-6262; [e-mail at her website] clinton.senate.gov

Everybody who wants to save the Stadium should call or write.

Two things will happen without doubt during the next 8 months.

1. McCain will take the Whitehouse.

2. 1923 YS will be struck down.

In the latter case, it's ALL about the MONEY..

Hate to break it to ya.

[stadiumbuilder]

Independence Hall.

Yankee Stadium.

Uh, yeah no difference there. :rolleyes:

There's plenty of difference, and they have seperate distinctions. Are you saying all landmarks must be of equal importance? As for saving the Stadium, Shumer is interested in all things Shumer, and I doubt Hillary cares. Landmarks are often picked based on local politics, IE. I do something for you, you do something for me. Obviously this was left off the list of landmarks because of what a few powerful people stood to gain. Always follow the money trail, at its end you will find the truth.

[New York Kid]

Two things will happen without doubt during the next 8 months.

1. McCain will take the Whitehouse.

2. 1923 YS will be struck down.

In the latter case, it's ALL about the MONEY..

Hate to break it to ya.

I refer you to post #28.

P.S. The odds of McCain getting elected are indeed about the same as Yankee Stadium getting totally demolished - which is why every one should go out and do all they can for what they believe in. Again, I refer you to post #28, on page 2 of this Save Yankee Stadium thread.

[New York Kid]

There's plenty of difference, and they have seperate distinctions. Are you saying all landmarks must be of equal importance? As for saving the Stadium, Shumer is interested in all things Shumer, and I doubt Hillary cares. Landmarks are often picked based on local politics, IE. I do something for you, you do something for me. Obviously this was left off the list of landmarks because of what a few powerful people stood to gain. Always follow the money trail, at its end you will find the truth.

True, stadiumbuilder. People in power need the acquiescence of the average fan, though, to get away with this. That's changing now. Thousands are writing and calling to express their outrage over this. Neither Shumer nor Clinton want anyone thinking they were part of this scandal - StadiumGate. After all, Shumer was just up in the Bronx clamoring for the national landmarking of 1520 Sedgewich Avenue, and Hillary founded, with her husband, Bill, "Save America's Treasures" for the very purpose of saving landmarks like Yankee Stadium.

They need to be put right in the middle of this and take a public stand to landmark the Stadium. That will make the difference.

[Coach Bombay]

Two things will happen without doubt during the next 8 months.

1. McCain will take the Whitehouse.
.

Not a chance

[stadiumbuilder]

True, stadiumbuilder. People in power need the acquiescence of the average fan, though, to get away with this. That's changing now. Thousands are writing and calling to express their outrage over this. Neither Shumer nor Clinton want anyone thinking they were part of this scandal - StadiumGate. After all, Shumer was just up in the Bronx clamoring for the national landmarking of 1520 Sedgewich Avenue, and Hillary founded, with her husband, Bill, "Save America's Treasures" for the very purpose of saving landmarks like Yankee Stadium.

They need to be put right in the middle of this and take a public stand to landmark the Stadium. That will make the difference.

But they were up there landmarking that place for the wrong reasons. They'll have no problem blaming this on other people, claiming they had no recourse and "what a shame". They're never held accountable when things don't go right. The Steinbrenners will go down in history as the ones who dropped the ball (pun intended).

[NYFan1stYankFan2nd]

Not a chance

That is just a prediction, by the way, not what I'd hope to happen.

America just isn't ready for a Democrat in the Whitehouse, at least, not this Democrat.

[David Atkatz]

That is just a prediction, by the way, not what I'd hope to happen.

America just isn't ready for a Democrat in the Whitehouse, at least, not this Democrat.

Wanna bet?

(And "White House" is two words.)

[NYFan1stYankFan2nd]

Wanna bet?

(And "White House" is two words.)


"Whitehouse", "toiletseat", "trainstation" are internetese for the nouns they describe. No harm done.

[David Atkatz]

"Whitehouse", "toiletseat", "trainstation" are internetese for the nouns they describe. No harm done.

Oh. Internetese.

I thought we were speaking English.

(I can see, BTW, what a great savings in man hours it is to leave out the space in the examples you give. I think I'll try this "internetese."

Theresnoexcuseforlaziness.)

[stadiumbuilder]

Oh. Internetese.

I thought we were speaking English.

(I can see, BTW, what a great savings in man hours it is to leave out the space in the examples you give. I think I'll try this "internetese."

Theresnoexcuseforlaziness.)
This is a baseball discussion forum. If your going to come on here and be sarcastic, at least stick to baseball related sarcasm, OK?

[NYFan1stYankFan2nd]

Oh. Internetese.

I thought we were speaking English.

(I can see, BTW, what a great savings in man hours it is to leave out the space in the examples you give. I think I'll try this "internetese."

Theresnoexcuseforlaziness.)


Oh lighten up! Live a little. ;) The whole country could use a good laugh.

[David Atkatz]

Oh lighten up! Live a little. ;) The whole country could use a good laugh.

Actually, as the Yankees continue their fall from grace with today's loss, I am laughing.

The Yankees are cursed--for letting the Stadium go--and it couldn't happen to a nicer owner.

[NYFan1stYankFan2nd]

Actually, as the Yankees continue their fall from grace with today's loss, I am laughing.

The Yankees are cursed--for letting the Stadium go--and it couldn't happen to a nicer owner.

Not that kind of a laugh. I'm talkin' this country's got a pool cue stuck up our collective ass because of what we've been fed the last 6 years, 11 months & 3 weeks.

We've got to live again. Laugh. Turn up the stereo a little louder than usual. Fart in church - or at a ballgame!

Laugh at the money mongerers who don't care if OYS stands or falls.

[Wall-E]

Not that kind of a laugh. I'm talkin' this country's got a pool cue stuck up our collective ass because of what we've been fed the last 6 years, 11 months & 3 weeks.

Laugh at the money mongerers who don't care if OYS stands or falls.

Still can't believe it's been that long.

[New York Kid]

Still can't believe it's been that long.

The Steinbrenners have not won a Series since they came up with this scheme to plunder & destroy The House That Ruth Built.

The curse is on. (See photo below from the 2004 ALCS.) The Yanks have cursed themselves, and all fans of New York, with this one.

It was a monumental error for the Steinbrenners to fight so greedily, so egotistically, and so corruptly, against landmarking and saving Yankee Stadium.

Only one way out. Save the Stadium.

[metfan13]

Metfan13, how do you feel about local officials nationally landmarking 1520 Sedgewick Avenue (pictured below) - not built until the Seventies, and of little historical note -while the very same officials ruled Yankee Stadium not qualified for even local landmarking?

The so-called Landmark Preservation Commission has landmarked over 25,000 buildings in New York, but deems Yankee Stadium not worthy of such recognition. Why would that be so, Metfan13?

http://www.nysun.com/opinion/save-yankee-stadium/82184/

This is a baseball board. I really don't care how many other buildings are landmarked by NY.

I don't think sporting venues should be landmarked.

[David Atkatz]

This is a baseball board. I really don't care how many other buildings are landmarked by NY.

I don't think sporting venues should be landmarked.

Why not?

Theaters are landmarked. A sporting venue is nothing more than a big theater.

If you can landmark a nondescript apartment house because "hip hop" allegedly began there, you can certainly landmark Yankee Stadium.

[New York Kid]

This is a baseball board. I really don't care how many other buildings are landmarked by NY.

I don't think sporting venues should be landmarked.

Why do you believe sporting venues should be exempted from landmarking?

Considering the fact that they are NOT exempted, how do you feel about the glaring inequity cited above, between the NATIONAL landmarking of 1520 Sedgewick Avenue, because it allegedly had one party in 1973, and the refusal of the same City officials to landmark Yankee Stadium, which has been the site of unparalleled history since 1923?

You must agree this is wrong. Right?

[stadiumbuilder]

This is a baseball board. I really don't care how many other buildings are landmarked by NY.

I don't think sporting venues should be landmarked.

Please don't be offended if I'm wrong, but is the 13 in your user name your age?

[Coach Bombay]

The Steinbrenners have not won a Series since they came up with this scheme to plunder & destroy The House That Ruth Built.

The curse is on. (See photo below from the 2004 ALCS.) The Yanks have cursed themselves, and all fans of New York, with this one.

It was a monumental error for the Steinbrenners to fight so greedily, so egotistically, and so corruptly, against landmarking and saving Yankee Stadium.

Only one way out. Save the Stadium.

Get a life kid...

[BigMac1212]

And there's a $500 million new stadium being built right next door.

I don't think this member has answered my question: "What about the new stadium?"

[New York Kid]

Get a life kid...

I already have a GREAT one, CB. Working to do the right thing makes it even greater.

If you want to help, and not just naysay those who work to get things done in this world, you're welcome to join all those who know that games don't end in the eighth inning. You don't quit in the late innings, do you Coach?

This one's going into extra innings. If you have the spirit and ability to call or write the officials listed, you should do so. Don't quit, Coach. Do the right thing.

[David Atkatz]

Get a life kid...

He's got a life.

And what's more...

he's right.

[New York Kid]

And there's a $500 million new stadium being built right next door.

I don't think this member has answered my question: "What about the new stadium?"


What specific questions do you have about the new stadium, Big Mac?

[BigMac1212]

If you're so caught up on Saving OYS, what would you do with the Half-a-billion dollar NYS? Scrap it?

[DaBigMotor]

If you're so caught up on Saving OYS, what would you do with the Half-a-billion dollar NYS? Scrap it?That's actually the $1.3b NYS....

[BigMac1212]

That's actually the $1.3b NYS....

I though $1.3 billion was for BOTH NYS & Citi Field.

[David Atkatz]

That's actually the $1.3b NYS....

Yes.

But think of all the jobs created, and all the money put back into the economy if we had NYS carefully taken apart, and the site returned to parkland.

(And the Yankees would start winning again.)

The Yankees can play at NYS until Yankee Stadium is restored to its pre-renovation state.

Then...

Bye bye NYS.

[metfan13]

Please don't be offended if I'm wrong, but is the 13 in your user name your age?

No, it's not.

I've been to games at Yankee Stadium before it was ruined. Have you?

[metfan13]

Why do you believe sporting venues should be exempted from landmarking?

Considering the fact that they are NOT exempted, how do you feel about the glaring inequity cited above, between the NATIONAL landmarking of 1520 Sedgewick Avenue, because it allegedly had one party in 1973, and the refusal of the same City officials to landmark Yankee Stadium, which has been the site of unparalleled history since 1923?

You must agree this is wrong. Right?

You seem obsessed with this one building. Is it because of the hip hop connection?

Buildings, theaters, houses, historic sites like Independence Hall. Or a giant stadium. Right next door to another giant stadium. I see a difference.

[New York Kid]

If you're so caught up on Saving OYS, what would you do with the Half-a-billion dollar NYS? Scrap it?

Of course not. I refer you to all the posts above - by mayself and others -describing how to save the Stadium in a way that enhances both the community and new Stadium.

[David Atkatz]

You seem obsessed with this one building. Is it because of the hip hop connection?

Buildings, theaters, houses, historic sites like Independence Hall. Or a giant stadium. Right next door to another giant stadium. I see a difference.

Yeah.

The difference is that King George would have lost a lot of money if Yankee Stadium had been landmarked.

[New York Kid]

You seem obsessed with this one building. Is it because of the hip hop connection?

Buildings, theaters, houses, historic sites like Independence Hall. Or a giant stadium. Right next door to another giant stadium. I see a difference.

Hip hop has nothing to do with it. Relative insignificance is the issue, which is why I earlier posted an article referring to other buildings being landmarked that were of far less significance than Yankee Stadium - such as the Berlin & Jones Envelope Co., for instance. [read article below] In total, over 25,000 buildings have been landmarked by the same commission that denied Yankee Stadium that designation.

What makes 1520 Sedgewick Avenue the best comparison has nothing to do with hip hop, it has to do with your argument that renovations in the 1970's have rendered Yankee Stadium unworthy of landmarking and saving. 1520 Sedgewick Avenue has absolutely no architectural significance, just one alleged party - and wasn't even occupied until the 1970's.

Also important to this comparison is the fact that 1520 Sedgewick Avenue is also in the same part of the City as Yankee Stadium, and was approved for national landmarking by the very same officials that deemed Yankee Stadium not worthy of even LOCAL landmarking.

http://www.nysun.com/opinion/save-yankee-stadium/82184/







Do you not see how wrong that is, metfan13?

[metfan13]

No, just because the Sedgewick Ave building wasn't occupied until the 70's doesn't make it unworthy of landmark status. And I'm not about to read up on the pros and cons of that site.

In my opinion the changes made to YS in the 70's materially changed the building. Its then continued use in the altered format further removed it from the classic baseball stadium it was.

[New York Kid]

The difference is that King George would have lost a lot of money if Yankee Stadium had been landmarked.



Exactamundo ... and, he hoped, simultaneously get out from under the overpowering metaphorical shadow of The House That Ruth Built.

Unfortunately for him, though, he'll never be bigger than the greats who actually knew how to play ball. Rather, he'll go down with Jacob Ruppert and Ed Barrow.

[New York Kid]

No, just because the Sedgewick Ave building wasn't occupied until the 70's doesn't make it unworthy of landmark status. And I'm not about to read up on the pros and cons of that site.

In my opinion the changes made to YS in the 70's materially changed the building. Its then continued use in the altered format further removed it from the classic baseball stadium it was.

Let me get this straight. If a architecturally meritless building isn't even occupied until the 1970's, and has one party, you find it worthy of landmarking. At the same time, the majestic Yankee Stadium - site of so much premier history for over 85 years - is not qualified, because it was renovated in the 1970's.

You must either be on Steinbrenner's staff, metfan13 - or, out on weekend leave from Belleview.

[David Atkatz]

Exactamundo ... and, he hoped, simultaneously get out from under the overpowering metaphorical shadow of The House That Ruth Built.

Unfortunately for him, though, he'll never be bigger than the greats who actually knew how to play ball. Rather, he'll go down with Jacob Ruppert and Ed Barrow.

There's nothing wrong with Ruppert and Barrow. Ruppert provided the money, and Barrow the baseball savvy. Ruppert never tried to tell Barrow what to do, and both of them let their managers, Huggins and McCarthy, manage.

In no way can you compare Steinbrenner with Ruppert.

Otherwise, kid, I completely agree with you.

[metfan13]

Let me get this straight. If a architecturally meritless building isn't even occupied until the 1970's, and has one party, you find it worthy of landmarking. At the same time, the majestic Yankee Stadium - site of so much premier history for over 85 years - is not qualified, because it was renovated in the 1970's.

You must either be on Steinbrenner's staff, metfan13 - or, out on weekend leave from Belleview.

No, I said I don't care to read up on the building. Perhaps there's another side to that story that you're not presenting. But either way, I DON'T CARE.

As for YS. In general I'm not for landmarking sites of sporting events. Any building over a certain age will have been the site of significant events. The Beatles debuted in the US at Shea - landmark it! The Sox have been playing forever at Fenway - landmark it! MSG - landmark it! Wrigley - landmark it! Ty Cobb played at Navin/Briggs/Tiger - landmark it! Oops, maybe a little slow on that one. Let's knock down the buildings, rebuild a new Ebbets and LANDMARK IT!

[David Atkatz]

The Beatles debuted in the US at Shea - landmark it!

The Beatles did not make their US debut at Shea. I don't think anyone with such a poor knowledge of history going all the way back to 1964 should have anything to say about what structures are worthy of landmark status.

[metfan13]

The Beatles did not make their US debut at Shea. I don't think anyone with such a poor knowledge of history going all the way back to 1964 should have anything to say about what structures are worthy of landmark status.

Sorry. Opened their 65 tour.

[New York Kid]

No, I said I don't care to read up on the building. Perhaps there's another side to that story that you're not presenting. But either way, I DON'T CARE.

As for YS. In general I'm not for landmarking sites of sporting events. Any building over a certain age will have been the site of significant events. The Beatles debuted in the US at Shea - landmark it! The Sox have been playing forever at Fenway - landmark it! MSG - landmark it! Wrigley - landmark it! Ty Cobb played at Navin/Briggs/Tiger - landmark it! Oops, maybe a little slow on that one. Let's knock down the buildings, rebuild a new Ebbets and LANDMARK IT!

I presented the whole story, metfan13, as purported by landmark officials. Reportedly, though, the real story's worse. The actual party actually took place in a small park next to Sedgewick Avenue, not in the building itself. But, residents wanted the building itself landmarked, in order to rents low.

So, the City had it declared a national landmark, while they simultaneously declared Yankee Stadium unworthy of landmarking - revealing the corrupt, inequitable nature of the process leading to the Stadiums scheduled demolition.

Fenway & Wrigley should be landmarked, but there's less urgency, because Boston & Chicago have done the right thing and not scheduled them for demolition and yard sale.

[New York Kid]

The Beatles did not make their US debut at Shea. I don't think anyone with such a poor knowledge of history going all the way back to 1964 should have anything to say about what structures are worthy of landmark status.

No problem, let's tear down Carnegie Hall, the Ed Sullivan Theatre, and anywhere else that lays claim to the Beatles' debut. That will solve that problem.

[Transic]

Metfan13, how do you feel about local officials nationally landmarking 1520 Sedgewick Avenue (pictured below) - not built until the Seventies, and of little historical note -while the very same officials ruled Yankee Stadium not qualified for even local landmarking?

The so-called Landmark Preservation Commission has landmarked over 25,000 buildings in New York, but deems Yankee Stadium not worthy of such recognition. Why would that be so, Metfan13?

http://www.nysun.com/opinion/save-yankee-stadium/82184/

If anything, it argues against the CONCEPT of landmarking rather than its APPLICATION. Just why should government be given ANY right to decide which buildings should be left untouched or not?! 25,000 (I'm assuming you're right on that number) is way too much in a city that is supposed to represent the dynamism of American society! To somehow use this particular location to argue for the preservation of OYS misses the point. While the city does own the Stadium and, theoretically, can decide it can keep it standing, what would guarantee that they wouldn't just let it deteriorate (just like in Detroit)? They can't even balance a proper budget, let alone fulfill many funding pledges. It's always somewhat funny that they complain about having to cut back library hours or cut back on fire, police but then continue to approve massive spending increases to fund an ever expanding goverment (because people somehow think they'll die if they don't have Big Government around).

The irony is that the same people who support Big Government won't see that it is this very mechanism that allows politicians to approve and support projects that they don't personally approve. Unless you are willing to argue for the government to take over the New York Yankees and New York Mets and run them as public entitities, I won't take you seriously. While I don't personally approve of the business practices of the New York Yankees, at the same time I would be hypocritical to deny them the right to make money, apart of my voluntary decision to not purchase tickets to show my disapproval of said practices. I also don't agree that they are being recipients of large subsidies to help fund the NYS construction. But then, how is New York being different from, say, Chicago, in that respect?

Even if OYS was converted to a baseball museum, it would still not be comparable to MoMA or the Guggenheim or even the old Fulton Fish Market for that matter. Like I said, previously, there's no guarantee that the city would be good stewards of such a place. At the same time, while we may think that there would be some Yankee fanatics who would jump at the chance of managing a "Yankee Stadium Museum", the reality of the society that we live in suggest to me that there would not be any takers for such a proposition. Face it! No one really cares about coming to Yankee Stadium unless there is a Yankee game going on. While keeping an old ballpark around may fulfill sentimental wishes of some, no owner should be obliged to.

Now I'm one of those who support the idea of a new Yankee Stadium. The difference was I want it on the same spot as the current one. Baseball parks, like sporting facilities in general, need to be upgraded to reflect tougher demand on safety, comfort, fan experience, etc.. I would've liked for the Yankees and Mets to find some accomodation that would allow both teams to build the ballparks and not touch Macombs Dam Park in the process. The city could have also make that stipulation. There would've been a lot of unnecessary strife saved if that was the condition made. Instead, the city agreed to a whole lot of mess as a way for a big city politician to claim credit for fulfilling some crazy idea of urban regeneration. I like the new Metro North station but the parking facilities should've been built elsewhere, maybe where the new shopping mall is being built would've worked. Tear down that ugly triangular lot and the tiny parking lot adjacent to the stadium entrance, then expand the stadium outer shell. That would have been a beauty! :dance

[metfan13]

Would landmarking in any way prevent them from taking down most of the structure? If the plan calls for keeping the field as a park with a small portion of the exterior, would landmarking prevent this from happening? Forcing them to keep the whole structure?

[New York Kid]

There's nothing wrong with Ruppert and Barrow. Ruppert provided the money, and Barrow the baseball savvy. Ruppert never tried to tell Barrow what to do, and both of them let their managers, Huggins and McCarthy, manage.

In no way can you compare Steinbrenner with Ruppert.

Otherwise, kid, I completely agree with you.

One thing for sure, Fancy Pants & Bulldog would have wanted Yankee Stadium landmarked!!

[New York Kid]

If anything, it argues against the CONCEPT of landmarking rather than its APPLICATION. Just why should government be given ANY right to decide which buildings should be left untouched or not?!



Exactly wrong. Landmarking a building clearly inferior to Yankee Stadium, but not Yankee Stadium itself, does not at all negate the need for landmarking laws. It just accentuates the need for not letting corrupt officials circumvent good laws.

Government does and should have a right to protect historical treasures and landmark historically important buildings, and most particularly when they actually OWN them, as the City of New York owns Yankee Stadium.

[New York Kid]

Would landmarking in any way prevent them from taking down most of the structure? If the plan calls for keeping the field as a park with a small portion of the exterior, would landmarking prevent this from happening? Forcing them to keep the whole structure?

No, landmarking only ensures that decisions involving the Stadium will be based on community input. The City can modify the building however they wish, or even demolish it. But, landmarking brings the community in, allows experts -from historians to architects to businessmen - to comment and make recommendations.

The near unanimous opinion of those wanting to save the Stadium is that it should be gutted of most seating, and have the superstructure removed, but that the outer wall should be left in a manner that conveys and memorializes the history of the site, enhances the beauty of the park, and makes it a place where people from all over can come to play ball. Adding a museum that would generate funds for the community is also widely advocated.

[Transic]

If we can't guarantee that "they" could be stopped from "corrupting" the process, then it's best that "they" have certain tools be taken away to stop them from utilizing them in a "corrupting" fashion.

Government can't save every important building. Somewhere down the line, private foundations must step up to the plate and help preserve many structures considered important to the history of the country.

[monkeypants]

No, landmarking only ensures that decisions involving the Stadium will be based on community input. The City can modify the building however they wish, or even demolish it. But, landmarking brings the community in, allows experts -from historians to architects to businessmen - to comment and make recommendations.

But wasn't the community largely responsible for final decision to demolish the whole stadium and create more open park land, rather than preserve a chunk of the stadium and playing field?

[shaneslatts]

No, landmarking only ensures that decisions involving the Stadium will be based on community input. The City can modify the building however they wish, or even demolish it. But, landmarking brings the community in, allows experts -from historians to architects to businessmen - to comment and make recommendations.

The near unanimous opinion of those wanting to save the Stadium is that it should be gutted of most seating, and have the superstructure removed, but that the outer wall should be left in a manner that conveys and memorializes the history of the site, enhances the beauty of the park, and makes it a place where people from all over can come to play ball. Adding a museum that would generate funds for the community is also widely advocated.

Yes, exactly correct. No one I can think would expect the city to try to maintain a full blown version of Yankee Stadium. But the lower outer shell, dugout to dugout is very feasible. I have written to, and called, "save americas treasures".
There seems to be (finaly) a push to save a small section of the original structure. I cat think of anyone who has "fantasys of running a yankee museum" at the site, as has been posted.
The reason to save a small part of the structure is simple
It deserves it. It is the most famous sporting facility in America. It is(whether based on myth or fact or both) "The House that Ruth Built"
I just cant imagine having to argue for this really. What is proposed ADDS to the area, it dosent detract anything
If saving a small section of Yankee Stadium for future generations to visit isnt done, we will have to answer the question of "why".

Its the right thing to do to honor all that happened on that site :bowdown:

[New York Kid]

If we can't guarantee that "they" could be stopped from "corrupting" the process, then it's best that "they" have certain tools be taken away to stop them from utilizing them in a "corrupting" fashion.

Government can't save every important building. Somewhere down the line, private foundations must step up to the plate and help preserve many structures considered important to the history of the country.

You still can help guarantee an honest landmark evaluation, by writing and calling officials who have oversight and power to call for a re-evaluation. Many are doing that right now. New York Senators Chuck Shumer & Hillary Clinton have the ability to invoke check-and-balances on this issue, for example.

Why wait for "somewhere down the line" before doing anything. The issue is here and now. The Stadium will be saved if people make their concerns heard. The Yankees do not own the Stadium, the City does. The City can and should still save the Stadium. They only caved in earlier because Steinbrenner threatened to leave for New Jersey. That threat's empty now.

[New York Kid]

But wasn't the community largely responsible for final decision to demolish the whole stadium and create more open park land, rather than preserve a chunk of the stadium and playing field?

No. The plan to demolish Yankee Stadium was cooked up behind closed doors. The City publicly declared that it was going to save the majority of the building. The people of New York were endlessly misled about and kept from knowing exactly what was going to happen to the Stadium. See, for example, the New York Times article on Bloomberg's and the Yankee's unveiling of the new Stadium plan, pledging that "most of Yankee Stadium will not fall to the wrecking ball." That official promise and position was surreptitiously changed without notice to the public.


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/15/nyregion/15cnd-stadium.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

[placount]

I cannot stomach the heads of this thread any longer.

[New York Kid]

If you really want to see the World Baseball Classic at the existing Yankee Stadium next year, placount, be sure to write all the officials listed above. Senators Shumer & Clinton can help get that done for you.

[New York Kid]

Yes, exactly correct. No one I can think would expect the city to try to maintain a full blown version of Yankee Stadium. But the lower outer shell, dugout to dugout is very feasible. I have written to, and called, "save americas treasures".

...

The reason to save a small part of the structure is simple
It deserves it. It is the most famous sporting facility in America.

...

I just cant imagine having to argue for this really. What is proposed ADDS to the area, it doesn't detract anything.

...

If saving a small section of Yankee Stadium for future generations to visit isn't done, we will have to answer the question of "why".

...

It's the right thing to do to honor all that happened on that site :bowdown:



Amen, Shane. We all have a civic and moral responsibility to save that Stadium, to let future generations know where the most magnificent Stadium in American history once stood - where Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio & Mickey Mantle put on the greatest show on Earth. A show that will never be replicated.

Imagine visiting Rome and finding only a run-of-the-mill soccer field where the Roman Coliseum once stood. That's the equivalent of tearing down Yankee Stadium.

[Manhattan]

Amen, Shane. We all have a civic and moral responsibility to save that Stadium, to let future generations know where the most magnificent Stadium in American history once stood - where Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio & Mickey Mantle put on the greatest show on Earth. A show that will never be replicated.

Imagine visiting Rome and finding only a run-of-the-mill soccer field where the Roman Coliseum once stood. That's the equivalent of tearing down Yankee Stadium.
I agree with you New York Kid about Old Yankee Stadium.

[mandrake]

I agree with you New York Kid about Old Yankee Stadium.

Two quick questions:

Where were you guys when the announced in 1971 that they were going to renovate the original Yankee Stadium ?

Where were you guys when they had the groundbreaking ceremony for the NYS a few summers ago ?

If you were serious about 'saving' Yankee Stadium, I would think you were front and center trying to prevent these two happenings.

And please do not compare YS to the Roman Coliseum. You're beginning to sound a little silly when you begin historical comparisons to a 2,000 year old relic. What's next, comparing it to the Great Pyramid?

[Wall-E]

Two quick questions:

Where were you guys when the announced in 1971 that they were going to renovate the original Yankee Stadium ?

Where were you guys when they had the groundbreaking ceremony for the NYS a few summers ago ?

If you were serious about 'saving' Yankee Stadium, I would think you were front and center trying to prevent these two happenings.

And please do not compare YS to the Roman Coliseum. You're beginning to sound a little silly when you begin historical comparisons to a 2,000 year old relic. What's next, comparing it to the Great Pyramid?

I did not exist for the first one so scratch that out.

[stadiumbuilder]

Two quick questions:

Where were you guys when the announced in 1971 that they were going to renovate the original Yankee Stadium ?

Where were you guys when they had the groundbreaking ceremony for the NYS a few summers ago ?

If you were serious about 'saving' Yankee Stadium, I would think you were front and center trying to prevent these two happenings.

And please do not compare YS to the Roman Coliseum. You're beginning to sound a little silly when you begin historical comparisons to a 2,000 year old relic. What's next, comparing it to the Great Pyramid?

The Coliseum in Rome became a two thousand year old relic because it wasn't demolished in it's 85th year. Is that what it takes to make something special? It has to be really ,really, really old? If only really old structures are worth our respect, then how does something get to be 2000? It'll all get torn down long before someone with your logic decides it should be protected. There's undocumented, unrecorded prehistoric history, ancient history, more recent history, and most importantly, personal history. Many of us have a personal history here, with mine going back to the later 1960's. I have no personal connection to the pyramids or the coliseum and the comparison you are making is very flawed. I'm glad various structures from all over the world have been preserved for us to enjoy and appreciate, it all represents human achievement, of which I am a big fan. The past was yesterday, it was last week, it was last year, it was 85 years ago and 2000+ years ago. You shouldn't have to be a Yankee fan to understand this issue.

[mandrake]

My first game at YS : April 25, 1970 I was one of the 10,617 that 'packed' the old ball yard that day. My last game(scheduled) will be September 14th, 2008. I will take my pictures and my memories with me.

No matter how sentimental people get, it is time for the Stadium to go. And it is going no matter how many times people post the same thing over and over and over. You could have millions of people sign a petition, but it is still going. (BTW, the only people who should be signing any petition, or not signing it, are the people who actually live around the Stadium. it is their lives that are affected)

[stadiumbuilder]

Yes, the Stadium is going. People are asking for a footprint, something similar to what they've done at the Freedom Tower sight. Nobody is trying to preserve anything other some lower stands around home plate, maybe part of gate 4. We know its doomed, nobody is being unrealistic about what could and should be done. They should revert to the original plan they sold us on a few years ago.

[monkeypants]

The Coliseum in Rome became a two thousand year old relic because it wasn't demolished in it's 85th year.

It wasn't demolished...it was left derelict to rot, collapse, and infill with silt and mud from the nearby river. Then its building material was quarried for use in other brand new structures (brand new at the time). One of the main reasons it survived even in part was because the city in which it was built lost something like 90% of its population--it was allowed to stand because it wasn't in the way. Its survival, like the survival of many of the very old, great architectural marvels of the world, was largely an accident of history. Far more historic structures have been destroyed in war, or because they ceased to serve their function, or they were abandoned and left to disintegrate. So too with Yankee Stadium.

Maybe if the Stadium were not situated in a hugely dense urban setting, there would be more reason to keep it. Maybe if there was not a law requiring the parkland being taken up by the new stadium be replaced, leaving a stretch of the old stadium standing would make sense. Maybe if much of the visible "feel" and "charm" of the 1920s stadium had not been lost in the 1970s, then more people would be feel more strongly about keeping the old yard. But the confluence of specific historical circumstances (including, yes, the motives and personality of the team's owner) make saving the stadium, even a chunk of it, unattractive to many people.

So, flame away. Compare remodeled Yankee Stadium to the Cathedral of Chartres or St. Peter's Basilica (which, in fact, was built new in the 1500s after the historic older version was demolished), or the Pyramids, or the Colisseum, or any other old, historic, and architecturally important structure. However valid those comparisons may be (and I question many of them), they don't change, nor are they particularly relevant to, the particular circumstances of the looming demolition of Yankee Stadium.

[metfan13]

It wasn't demolished...it was left derelict to rot, collapse, and infill with silt and mud from the nearby river. Then its building material was quarried for use in other brand new structures (brand new at the time). One of the main reasons it survived even in part was because the city in which it was built lost something like 90% of its population--it was allowed to stand because it wasn't in the way. Its survival, like the survival of many of the very old, great architectural marvels of the world, was largely an accident of history. Far more historic structures have been destroyed in war, or because they ceased to serve their function, or they were abandoned and left to disintegrate. So too with Yankee Stadium.

Maybe if the Stadium were not situated in a hugely dense urban setting, there would be more reason to keep it. Maybe if there was not a law requiring the parkland being taken up by the new stadium be replaced, leaving a stretch of the old stadium standing would make sense. Maybe if much of the visible "feel" and "charm" of the 1920s stadium had not been lost in the 1970s, then more people would be feel more strongly about keeping the old yard. But the confluence of specific historical circumstances (including, yes, the motives and personality of the team's owner) make saving the stadium, even a chunk of it, unattractive to many people.

So, flame away. Compare remodeled Yankee Stadium to the Cathedral of Chartres or St. Peter's Basilica (which, in fact, was built new in the 1500s after the historic older version was demolished), or the Pyramids, or the Colisseum, or any other old, historic, and architecturally important structure. However valid those comparisons may be (and I question many of them), they don't change, nor are they particularly relevant to, the particular circumstances of the looming demolition of Yankee Stadium.

Well stated.

[New York Kid]

Where were you guys when they had the groundbreaking ceremony for the NYS a few summers ago ?



Are you referring to the ceremony when Mayor Bloomberg, George Steinbrenner, and George Pataki jointly and unequivocally promised that the existing Stadium would be saved, with only relatively minor modification? Is that the ceremony you're referring to?

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/15/nyregion/15cnd-stadium.html

I have groundbreaking news for you: the deceit that took place at that ceremony is further proof and motivation of why the Stadium should be saved.

[placount]

Are you referring to the ceremony when Mayor Bloomberg, George Steinbrenner, and George Pataki jointly and unequivocally promised that the existing Stadium would be saved, with only relatively minor modification? Is that the ceremony you're referring to?

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/15/nyregion/15cnd-stadium.html

I have groundbreaking news for you: the deceit that took place at that ceremony is further proof and motivation of why the Stadium should be saved.

I love the anger and passion, if only it could be directed to value.

[New York Kid]

I love the anger and passion, if only it could be directed to value.

No anger, placount, just passion to save an American treasure in a way that makes it both wonderful and profitable for the community. Standing by - doing absolutely nothing - letting ego, greed and corruption result in the plundering and destruction of the first and greatest stadium in American history is the obviously wrong thing to do.

Hope you've written the right people about saving the stadium for the World Baseball Classic, as you rightly think it should be. Many are writing New York Senators Shumer & Clinton, telling them how the Stadium should be and can be saved.

Send your idea to them at.


http://clinton.senate.gov/contact/webform.cfm


http://schumer.senate.gov/SchumerWebsite/contact/webform.cfm

[New York Kid]

The Coliseum in Rome became a two thousand year old relic because it wasn't demolished in it's 85th year. Is that what it takes to make something special? It has to be really ,really, really old? If only really old structures are worth our respect, then how does something get to be 2000? It'll all get torn down long before someone with your logic decides it should be protected. There's undocumented, unrecorded prehistoric history, ancient history, more recent history, and most importantly, personal history. Many of us have a personal history here, with mine going back to the later 1960's. I have no personal connection to the pyramids or the coliseum and the comparison you are making is very flawed. I'm glad various structures from all over the world have been preserved for us to enjoy and appreciate, it all represents human achievement, of which I am a big fan. The past was yesterday, it was last week, it was last year, it was 85 years ago and 2000+ years ago. You shouldn't have to be a Yankee fan to understand this issue.

Great insight, stadiumbuilder. The Roman Coliseum is indeed a compelling comparison to Yankee Stadium, both of which were the most prominent and iconic stadiums of the most powerful nations on Earth, at the peak of their power and prestige. Historically AND visually the comparison is striking, as the photo below makes clear.

[monkeypants]

Great insight, stadiumbuilder. The Roman Coliseum is indeed a compelling comparison to Yankee Stadium, both of which were the most prominent and iconic stadiums of the most powerful nations on Earth, at the peak of their power and prestige. Historically AND visually the comparison is striking, as the photo below makes clear.

You *do* realize that the picture of the Coliseum you posted does *NOT* show the original exterior of the structure, as it looked in antiquity? That is an inner course of travertine blocks, what was left over after the structure collapsed in an earthquake and most of the stones were carried off to build other structures. The brickwork is modern, including some buttressing put in by Mussolini to hold up the crumbling old building, which was falling apart from pollution, vibrations from traffic, and general neglect.

So, you have just compared Yankee Stadium to the substructure of the Coliseum, with a Fascist overlay. Hmmm...

[New York Kid]

You *do* realize that the picture of the Coliseum you posted does *NOT* show the original exterior of the structure, as it looked in antiquity? That is an inner course of travertine blocks, what was left over after the structure collapsed in an earthquake and most of the stones were carried off to build other structures. The brickwork is modern, including some buttressing put in by Mussolini to hold up the crumbling old building, which was falling apart from pollution, vibrations from traffic, and general neglect.

So, you have just compared Yankee Stadium to the substructure of the Coliseum, with a Fascist overlay. Hmmm...

So, monkeypants, you think the Roman Coliseum, too, should be totally demolished because even Missolini saw the wisdom of saving it. It's now wonder you're all behind the demolition and sale of Yankee Stadium. I would say anybody pushing for the destruction of the Roman Coliseum, could obviously never be expected to save Yankee Stadium.

I'll post a picture of what the Coliseum looked like originally, side-by-side with what remains. I say save it!!!

[monkeypants]

So, monkeypants, you think the Roman Coliseum, too, should be totally demolished because even Missolini saw the wisdom of saving it. It's now wonder you're all behind the demolition and sale of Yankee Stadium.

I am not for the demolition of the Coliseum, nor for the current Yankee Stadium. I only point out the facetiousness of your comparisons.

BTW, Mussolini wanted to save the Coliseum mainly as a showcase for his revived Roman Empire, which lasted all of a few years. He also obliterated plenty of old, historic buildings in order to show off older Roman remains. It had everything to do with power and privileging certain structures over others for their propagandistic value, not because of heritage or wisdom, at least as you define it.

So again, it only proves my point. Some buildings survive and others die because of specific historic circumstances. Unfortunately, those circumstances are against Yankee Stadium at this time.

[New York Kid]

In relation to the point above regarding Egypt, the Valley of the Kings, to my knowledge, have any remaining athletic arenas. If it did, would be a great addition to the treasures there. In 1923, the very same year the amazing Yankee Stadium was built, Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon, raided King Tut's tomb, which triggered the wholesale plundering of all it's treasures, and subsequent greed-induced raids all of the Valley.

The treasures of Yankee Stadium are scheduled to be sold off in much the same way. Knocking down the historic outer wall that can easily be saved provides a king's ransom in collectible sales - which is why the wall is really being totally demolished. That decision has absolutely nothing to do with making a better park for local kids.:rolleyes: It's about insatiable greed. The new park would be much more wonderful and usable, if the Stadium's wall remained. Only auction houses lined up to repackage every chip and splinter of Yankee Stadium end up with less. The rest of the city, country, and world, ends up with far more.

[New York Kid]

I am not for the demolition of the Coliseum, nor for the current Yankee Stadium.



I am so glad to hear you want to save Yankee Stadium. Have you written or called anyone, yet? If not, I suggest Senators Shumer & Clinton, at this point. They have the power and influence to put the brakes on the latest plan to totally demolish the Stadium. Their email addresses are linked above.

[monkeypants]

I am so glad to hear you want to save Yankee Stadium. Have you written or called anyone, yet?

I have not, mainly because I believe that it is futile, and moreover, since I am not a member of that community and do not have to live with the consequences (good or bad) of sacrificing parkland to keep the old park, I don't feel it's my place.

Just because I am not "for" something does not necessarily imply that I am "against" it wither. The world is not that simple.

My preference would have been for the old stadium to be renovated in some way, but that horse left the barn a long time ago.

I wish you luck in your quest, and hope that you succeed only in so far as it benefits more than those few die hards who refuse to let go of an old, albeit storied building.

[New York Kid]

My preference would have been for the old stadium to be renovated in some way



Then, write or call the right people. Don't quit before it's even the ninth inning.

Yankee Stadium is a NATIONAL treasure. And, don't fall for the Yankees' transparently bogus line that they're demolishing it to help the local community. In reality, they're doing it to sell off the every historical speck of it. They've also dramatically priced the neighborhood out of watching games at the new stadium, and schemed to eliminate all the Mom & Pop stores, and small businesses, that would compete with the new Stadium - if a historical remnant of the famous one remained.

They're not helping the neigborhood, their crippling it. This new Stadium was built for Wall Street MBA's, who don't want to step foot any longer in the neighborhood. It's a Field of Schemes.

Don't allow yourself to be fooled. This ain't over by any means. Remember what Yogi said.

[stadiumbuilder]

I gotta say, letting go of the old Stadium would be a whole lot easier for me if I liked the new one. So far, from what I've seen, its just not doing it for me. I find it awkward looking and not pleasing to my eye. I had an open mind and was hoping it would grow on me, but so far that hasn't happened. So with the old place gone, new place not working, net loss for me- 1 stadium. I'm also worried about the fence in right center being closer, this place could get the reputation as a bandbox.

[monkeypants]

Then, write or call the right people. Don't quit before it's even the ninth inning.

This ain't over by any means. Remember what Yogi said.

It is over. They have built about 75% of a 1.5 billion dollar stadium. The only way to save and renovate the old stadium, which you suggest could be done, would have to involve demolishing the new stadium, renovating the current stadium (at how many hundreds of millions of dollars?), finding a place for the team to play for the next two or three years. And who is going to pay for this?

Please, you need to function in reality. The new stadium is not going to be torn down. The only hope you have is to convince the powers that be to save a rump of the old stadium, since MOST of the land MUST be turned into replacement parkland by law.

Again, I wish you luck in your efforts to save a piece of wall or a bit of grandstand. But I think the effort is futile. And in any case, I am not sure that *I* want to see a fragment of the old park standing next to the new...I have my memories and photos, which are far, far preferable to me.

Good luck.

[New York Kid]

It is over. They have built about 75% of a 1.5 billion dollar stadium. The only way to save and renovate the old stadium, which you suggest could be done, would have to involve demolishing the new stadium, renovating the current stadium (at how many hundreds of millions of dollars?), finding a place for the team to play for the next two or three years. And who is going to pay for this?



The new Stadium has absolutely zero impact on saving the historical Stadium. They're are totally independent of each other. Saving the existing Stadium does not interfere with use of the new Stadium whatsoever.

I don't understand why you think saving the old Stadium would be to demolish the new Stadium. Where does that come from? That's absurd.

Similarly, what "parkland" law do you believe prevents saving the existing Stadium. I've never seen any such law. Can you provide evidence of it?

There is a law, however, requiring that the Stadium be landmarked if it is of historical importance. How do you feel about that law being broken? And how do you feel about the gross disparity of the building pictured and lampooned below being NATIONALLY landmarked, while Yankee Stadium was denied, at the very same time - by the very same officials - even LOCAL landmarking? Over 25,000 buildings have been landmarked in New York, but not Yankee Stadium. How do you feel about that?

I'm glad you have your photographs and memories of seeing Yankee Stadium, and therefore you feel there's no need to save it. I've been to the Roman Coliseum twice, and have some photos - does that justify tearing that down, too. What about others, who haven't seen the Stadium or Coliseum? Isn't that a terribly selfish position, denying others the chance to see a historical treasure, just because you've already seen it?

[monkeypants]

The new Stadium has absolutely zero impact on saving the historical Stadium. They're are totally independent of each other. Saving the existing Stadium does not interfere with use of the new Stadium whatsoever.

I don't understand why you think saving the old Stadium would be to demolish the new Stadium. Where does that come from? That's absurd.

Similarly, what "parkland" law do you believe prevents saving the existing Stadium. I've never seen any such law. Can you provide evidence of it?



Wow, you're heading up an effort to save the stadium and you don't even know the basic legal parameters. Here is a recent article from the Daily News (the first link that came up when I googled...you can do the same)

http://tinyurl.com/57gjlq

Here is the money quote from said article:

Opponents of the city's decision to hand 22 acres of public parkland to the Yankees for the team's new stadium have taken issue with the Parks Department plan to replace the parks, which it is required to do by law.

"They're playing semantic games," Geoffrey Croft, head of NYC Park Advocates, said of the replacement plan, which, among other things, counts a city street as new "parkland."

Since the new stadium is being built on parkland, the city must BY LAW replace the parkland being used for private development. So, where else will the city find about 20 acres of parkland in the Bronx. hmmmm.....

Meanwhile, as you can plainly see, it is local community advocates who are (rightly, in my opinion) pressing the Yankees and the city to come good on their promise: ie, streets and other structures cannot 'count' as parkland. So, what do you think those same advocates will think of your plan to have some of the parkland occupied by an abandoned stadium, or chunk of stadium?

To say that the construction of the new stadium and renovation/demolition/preservation of the old stadium are independent of each other is naive at best and downright misleading at worst. The two projects are intimately linked. Once the city agreed to gobble up 20 acres of parkland and hand it over to private development, the old stadium was pretty much doomed. Now that the new stadium is nearly completed, there is no going back. there is no possible chance for the old stadium to be renovated unless the new stadium is torn down and the parkland given back, and that is not going to happen.

The ONLY thing that your effort MIGHT get is a piece of the old stadium preserved, on the new parkland. And I highly doubt that anyone involved (city, Yankees, community leaders) want that very much.

Again, I wish you good luck. I also suggest that you read up a little more about the legalities involved.

[monkeypants]

Here's another recent link from the NY Times, with key quote:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/25/nyregion/25parks.html

The city was required to build the new parks after it selected the 28.4-acre Macombs Dam Park and a portion of the 18.5-acre John Mullaly Park as the site of the new stadium in 2005. State and federal law dictated that a similar amount of parkland nearby of equal or greater fair market value be built to replace the parks that would be lost.

[monkeypants]

What about others, who haven't seen the Stadium or Coliseum? Isn't that a terribly selfish position, denying others the chance to see a historical treasure, just because you've already seen it?

Now, please go back and read, very slowly and carefully what I wrote, then in the future refrain from mischaracterizing it. I said that I personally would not see much point in preserving a chunk of the old park, but I wished you luck in your efforts. I also said, most unselfishly, that those living in the local community should have the most say in what happens to the site of the old stadium. they got screwed when the new park was dropped on their parkland, and if they don't want their new green space broken up by pieces of the old grandstand, I can't blame them.

It is not I who am selfish. The selfishness resides in those who, it seems, have no idea about the costs or legalities of saving the old stadium, but would impose their desires on the local community, just like Steinbrenner did.

[metfan13]

Then, write or call the right people. Don't quit before it's even the ninth inning.

Yankee Stadium is a NATIONAL treasure. And, don't fall for the Yankees' transparently bogus line that they're demolishing it to help the local community. In reality, they're doing it to sell off the every historical speck of it. They've also dramatically priced the neighborhood out of watching games at the new stadium, and schemed to eliminate all the Mom & Pop stores, and small businesses, that would compete with the new Stadium - if a historical remnant of the famous one remained.

They're not helping the neigborhood, their crippling it. This new Stadium was built for Wall Street MBA's, who don't want to step foot any longer in the neighborhood. It's a Field of Schemes.

Don't allow yourself to be fooled. This ain't over by any means. Remember what Yogi said.

I think what Yogi said, this summer, when asked if he'd miss the stadium, was something along the lines of "no, why? I never played at THIS stadium"

[New York Kid]

monkeypants, you're all over the place. Let's sum up your position:

(1) You don't mind Yankee Stadium coming down because you have photos and memories of it when you were there.

(2) The Roman Coliseum is not so great, 'cause time has worn it down and it was buttressed earlier in the last century.

and

(3) Yankee Stadium isn't worth saving either.

You've also shown yourself to be completely wrong that any law requires the demolition of Yankee Stadium, and refuse to address why the landmark laws that do require the landmarking and protection of Yankee Stadium have been flagrantly circumvented and violated.

You have also not addressed the issue of Mayor Bloomberg, Governor Pataki, and George Steinbenner, violating the original plan.

So, let me ask you again, why aren't you standing up and protesting the violation of landmark laws - which really do exist and really do require the landmarking and protection of Yankee Stadium?

You are correct about one thing. George Steinbrenner is a greedy crook. But, like with the Stadium, you're not doing anything about that. You're only going on and on about a "parkland law" which neither takes precedence over federal, state, or local landmarking laws, nor requires the destruction of Yankee Stadium.

It's guys like you that help national treasures get destoyed. When you're old and showing people your photos of Yankee Stadium, are you going to proudly tell them about how you so agressively argued for it's total destruction? Are you going to head up to the South Bronx and take a stroll through the totally non-historic, run-down, chain-linked, under-the-El "parkland." Fat chance of that.

[New York Kid]

I think what Yogi said, this summer, when asked if he'd miss the stadium, was something along the lines of "no, why? I never played at THIS stadium"


If he said that, that would be a certain sign of advancing age and declining recollection, because Yogi used to compliment the Stadium during his decade-long coaching and managing career, from 1976 on. In fact, he was there during some VERY successful and legendary years, of which he's rightfully very proud. See the photo below, for example, taken in the renovated Stadium - which Billy Martin also loved.

__________________________________________________ _______________________

BUT, there's hope, because, as we all well know, Yogi DID certainly say:

"IT AIN'T OVER TILL IT'S OVER" - which any one who's successfully played ball knows very well to be true. Quitting before something's actually over, is a very undignified way to live life.

[monkeypants]

You really do need to take a course, maybe in reading comprehension.

monkeypants, you're all over the place. Let's sum up your position:

(1) You don't mind Yankee Stadium coming down because you have photos and memories of it when you were there.


That is NOT what I said. I said that I preferred the stadium to be renovated to being torn down. But given that the stadium WILL be demolished, I prefer it to be demolished fully than to have a small piece of it preserved. That small piece do little, in my opinion, to "save" the history of the stadium, and if anything it would probably just depress me to see a chunk of the old park just rot away.

I also said that it wasn't my decision to make--that it should fall on the local community to decide how best to use the land on which the current stadium stands.


(2) The Roman Coliseum is not so great, 'cause time has worn it down and it was buttressed earlier in the last century.

I never said such a thing. I pointed out that your comparison to the *preservation* of the Coliseum to the *preservation* of Yankee Stadium is bogus, because the Coliseum was not really *preserved* in any active fashion. It was allowed. Moreover, there is and was no *need* to knock it down because it occupied a site that was depopulated, and by the time the modern city of Rome grew up around it, the structure was preserved, such as it was.

Yankee Stadium, meanwhile, exists in a modern city, densely populated and short of green space. It it much more difficult to justify in this specific case leaving up building whose original function is rendered useless by a newer stadium.

You really think it makes sense to leave up two stadiums, side by side?

Which leads me to...


and

(3) Yankee Stadium isn't worth saving either.



I never said that. I said that IN THE PARTICULAR CONTEXT it will not be saved unless the new stadium is demolished, which it won't be. No one is going to justify keeping two whole stadiums standing side by side. The MOST you can hope for is that a part of the old stadium is kept up. And as I said above, I wish you luck in you efforts, but I don't think that is my call to make.


You've also shown yourself to be completely wrong that any law requires the demolition of Yankee Stadium, and refuse to address why the landmark laws that do require the landmarking and protection of Yankee Stadium have been flagrantly circumvented and violated.


And you are wrong. As both articles cited indicate, the 20 or so acres of lost parkland must by law be replaced, nearby and on land with approximately the same value. Did you simply refuse to read the articles?

Now you tell me, where will they find those 20 acres if both stadiums are left standing. When you can come back with a reasonable answer, then your plan to save the old stadium will have merit.

There is no point in griping about the backroom deals that got the stadium situation to this point. As I said before, that horse has left the barn. You need to deal with reality. The new stadium is largely complete. The old stadium will be largely or entirely demolished. I don't like it, but that's the way it is.

Good luck in your efforts to save some fragment of the old park.

[monkeypants]

It's guys like you that help national treasures get destoyed. When you're old and showing people your photos of Yankee Stadium, are you going to proudly tell them about how you so agressively argued for it's total destruction? Are you going to head up to the South Bronx and take a stroll through the totally non-historic, run-down, chain-linked, under-the-El "parkland." Fat chance of that.

Since I never did, no I will not. But if you prefer to see the world in such black and white terms...if that makes you feel better..go right ahead.

What I will tell them is that there was no real reason to demolish the Old Stadium. But once a deal was in place that involved the loss of 20 acres of parks, the fate of the old stadium was sealed. i will also tell my grandkids how almost no one objected loudly to the plans--certainly not like they did when plans were floated to demolish Fenway. I will tell them how a few people on an internet site decided to do something, but only about three years after the plans were released and when the new stadium was basically already built.

I would also tell them that I wish they too could have gone to see the stadium, but I am happy that they don't have to see it rot away, or worse yet, see a derelict fragment "preserved"--run-down, covered in graffiti, and surrounded by a chain link fence. See, two can play at this game.

[metfan13]

If he said that, that would be a certain sign of advancing age and declining recollection, because Yogi used to compliment the Stadium during his decade-long coaching and managing career, from 1976 on. In fact, he was there during some VERY successful and legendary years, of which he's rightfully very proud. See the photo below, for example, taken in the renovated Stadium - which Billy Martin also loved.

__________________________________________________ _______________________

BUT, there's hope, because, as we all well know, Yogi DID certainly say:

"IT AIN'T OVER TILL IT'S OVER" - which any one who's successfully played ball knows very well to be true. Quitting before something's actually over, is a very undignified way to live life.

Believe it or not the baseball world over the past 40 years has not revolved around only the Yankees. Now if you want to denegrate a Yankee legend by writing off his opinion to advancing age, go for it.

[New York Kid]

________________________

I'm glad you're now in favor of Stadium and Coliseum, monkeypants. But, still sad that you're not willing to do the even first thing about saving it.

________________________

You now, too, concede that Yankee Stadium is of great historical note - on a national scale - but won't fight to save it, falsely claiming it's an issue only locals can weigh in on. Does that go for every national landmark? If so, there'd be a lot of national landmark's demolished.

________________________

You also now concede that there is no law requiring the demolition of Yankee Stadium, nor even that it's site be converted to parkland - much less parkland devoid of a historical remnant of the structure. That's true. Moreover, saving the Stadium in a historically significant manner greatly ENHANCES both the look and usage the park - simultaneously saving all the businesses in that area, which are about to go down the tubes.

_________________________

I don't recall you addressing the issue of the landmark laws - which really do exist and require the protection of Yankee Stadium. Why are you evading discussions of those laws, which take precedence over the so-called "parkland law" you now correctly admit doesn't require demolition.

Please explain why you think local officials should be allowed to so flagrantly violate federal, state, and local, preservation and landmark laws, as they so obviously have.

[New York Kid]

What I will tell them is that there was no real reason to demolish the Old Stadium.



... but that you argued fervently for its destruction anyhow.

[monkeypants]

... but that you argued fervently for its destruction anyhow.

And yet I did not.

You only read what you want to read.

[New York Kid]

Believe it or not the baseball world over the past 40 years has not revolved around only the Yankees.

We're talking about saving YANKEE STADIUM, metfan13 - not about the Yankees. I'd do the same for Fenway or Wrigley. Now I understand the root of your desire to destroy the Stadium.

It's touching to see you so concerned about Yogi? :rolleyes: My guess is that you'd kick him to curb, as fasst as you would Yankee Stadium.

He's on record as liking the renovated Stadium very much, as was Billy Martin, Mickey Mantle, and many others. Read "Yankee Stadium: The Official Retrospective" and you'll have a better appreciation of what you want to destroy.

[monkeypants]

You now, too, concede that Yankee Stadium is of great historical note - on a national scale - but won't fight to save it, falsely claiming it's an issue only locals can weigh in on. Does that go for every national landmark? If so, there'd be a lot of national landmark's demolished.


It is an issue for locals to weigh in on because it is THEIR PARKLAND THAT WAS TAKEN. Otherwise, the debate should be on a larger scale.

YOU come up with a viable plan to replace the parkland, I will listen.


You also now concede that there is no law requiring the demolition of Yankee Stadium, nor even that it's site be converted to parkland - much less parkland devoid of a historical remnant of the structure. That's true. Moreover, saving the Stadium in a historically significant manner greatly ENHANCES both the look and usage the park - simultaneously saving all the businesses in that area, which are about to go down the tubes.


Again, if YOU can either find 20 acres of parkland, or convince local civic groups that a park with an old stadium remnant on it is better than a park without such a structure, I will be impressed.


I don't recall you addressing the issue of the landmark laws - which really do exist and require the protection of Yankee Stadium. Why are you evading discussions of those laws, which take precedence over the so-called "parkland law" you now correctly admit doesn't require demolition.


Do they take precedence?

I can't answer why the stadium was not declared a landmark. I don't know what scandalous behavior allowed this. But the point is now largely irrelevant.

By the way, the landmark status issue was dealt with two years ago, when city officials claimed that the renovations made the stadium not a landmark. (http://tinyurl.com/5gbh58). Where was the national outcry then? Where was the petition then?


Please explain why you think local officials should be allowed to so flagrantly violate federal, state, and local, preservation and landmark laws, as they so obviously have.

I never said they should be allowed to. But however it happened, there is a 1.5 billion dollar stadium sitting right next to an old stadium set to be demolished. You can cry about it and shout foul, and you may even be correct, but it won't change the situation. Once the new stadium went up, saving the old stadium became a non-option.

----

Good luck with preserving a fragment of the old park. Good luck convincing the city to pay for its upkeep, and convincing the locals that it will make their parks better.

[New York Kid]

monkeypants, I can see that you are going to have a very hard time living with your fervent advocation of demolishing Yankee Stadium. For that reason, I, once again, recommend you write Senators Shumer & Clinton, asking them to landmark Yankee Stadium, as required by federal, state, and local, law.

You're obviously a very intelligent guy, with a keen knowledge of history. This is a great chance for you to use that intelligence and knowledge in a positive way. Save one of America's great treasures for others to see.

[New York Kid]

Do they take precedence?

I can't answer why the stadium was not declared a landmark. I don't know what scandalous behavior allowed this. But the point is now largely irrelevant.

Once the new stadium went up, saving the old stadium became a non-option.



Yes, landmark laws do take precedence.

And, yes, it was scandalous, but not at all irrelevant. Indeed, it's exactly the point: the Stadium should not be torn down because it is a national treasure.

And, no, the new Stadium does not require destruction of the historic Stadium. In fact, as you were able to read above, the actual plan was to leave the historic Stadium predominantly intact. Everyone relied on that very public promise and proclamation. I refer to that link again. The new link below - from the Yankees own website echoes that "key elements" of the existing Stadium would be saved - much as the New York Times report that "little of the existing Stadium will fall to the wrecking ball."

http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050615&content_id=1090587&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy

People all around the country - citizens, fans, historians, and preservationists - relied on these reports. Now that they know the truth -about the false reports, the outrageous denial of landmarking, and the corrupt backroom deals to sell off the Stadium - they're fighting to stop the demolition. Why don't you join in? It's a national issue threatening the destruction of a national treasure.

[monkeypants]

In fact, as you were able to read above, the actual plan was leave the historic Stadium predominantly intact. Everyone relied on that very public promise and proclamation. I'll post that link again:

Yes, that was the original announced plan. No need to link it...I know the story. But the reality is that the city has decided to demolish the stadium, whether from pressure by the Yankees, or from local groups who do not think that maintaining the field equals real parkland, or because city officials don't want to pay for upkeep.

You can link to the original story all you want. Doesn't change the reality.

I wish you all the best with your efforts to convince all relevant parties to maintain a chunk of the original stadium.

[monkeypants]

monkeypants, I can see that you are going to have a very hard time living with your fervent advocation of demolishing Yankee Stadium. . .

You're funny.

I grow fatigued by this game.

[monkeypants]

much as the New York Times report that "little of the existing Stadium will fall to the wrecking ball."



You refer to this NY Times story from June 15, 2005:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/15/nyregion/15cnd-stadium.html

But that plan was already modified by November 18, 2005, when the city decided to demolish the whole stadium allegedly because of community concerns over parkland:

http://tinyurl.com/5vx28g

So, it's not like the demolition is a surprise--the current plan has been around since late 2005, almost three years ago.

[New York Kid]

I grow fatigued ...



Don't let fatigue and failure so far to do anything deter you from picking up the phone, or writing an email, so that you don't have to live with not doing anything to save Yankee Stadium - the greatest stadium in our nation's history. It's not too late for redemption, or for saving the Stadium.

[New York Kid]

You refer to this NY Times story from June 15, 2005:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/15/nyregion/15cnd-stadium.html

But that plan was already modified by November 18, 2005, when the city decided to demolish the whole stadium allegedly because of community concerns over parkland:

http://tinyurl.com/5vx28g

So, it's not like the demolition is a surprise--the current plan has been around since late 2005, almost three years ago.

You've misread the article. The plan was NOT "already modified." Rather, there was a "proposal" to change the plan.

But, what's your point anyway. Just because some local official(s) unlawfully circumvent federal, state, and local, landmark laws, and unilaterally propose to change a publicly promised plan, you think that justifies demolition of a national landmark?

Do you really quit that easy? This one's going into extra innings. You still have time to help save Yankee Stadium.

[monkeypants]

Don't let fatigue and failure so far to do anything deter you from picking up the phone, or writing an email, so that you don't have to live with not doing anything to save Yankee Stadium - the greatest stadium in our nation's history. It's not too late for redemption, or for saving the Stadium.

And for yourself, don't get down on yourself that you missed the change in plans three years ago and only picked up the story about the stadium's demise at the last minute.

[monkeypants]

You've misread the article. The plan was NOT "already modified." Rather, there was a "proposal" to change the plan.

But, what's your point anyway. Just because some local official(s) unlawfully circumvent federal, state, and local, landmark laws, and unilaterally propose to change a publicly promised plan, you think that justifies demolition of a national landmark?

Do you really quit that easy? This one's going into extra innings. You still have time to help save Yankee Stadium.

My point is that you act like this change in plans fell from the sky yesterday. Anyone who was paying attention knew the stadium was going to be completely demolished. The plan was changed by November 2005, and that changed plan was the one voted on and (finally) approved in late November 2005.

I don't claim any of this is *justified*. That, again, is fairly moot at this point. Maybe if greater efforts were made earlier in the process you would have a chance. But to wait until this point to start a petition is, well, probably not the best strategy.

[New York Kid]

How do you feel about the corrupt denial of landmark status to Yankee Stadium? Don't you believe that should be corrected? Everyone with even minimal intelligence knows Yankee Stadium is worthy of at least LOCAL landmarking, like the over 25,000 other buildings deemed so by the City's so-called Landmark Preservation Commission (LPC).

Why don't you pick up the phone at least about that, monkeypants? THat's some pretty clear-cut corruption.

[monkeypants]

How do you feel about the corrupt denial of landmark status to Yankee Stadium? Don't you believe that should be corrected? Everyone with even minimal intelligence knows Yankee Stadium is worthy of at least LOCAL landmarking, like the over 25,000 other buildings deemed so by the City's so-called Landmark Preservation Commission (LPC).

Why don't you pick up the phone at least about that, monkeypants? THat's some pretty clear-cut corruption.

Because it's not my corrupt local commission. The local community is responsible for their own local government.

How do I "feel" about it. I feel that at this point, practically, it cannot be corrected. Three years ago, yes. But now, when the new stadium is already built and the city is responsible for upkeep of a soon-to-be empty stadium? Now, when the city will have to find 20 acres of parks to replace the parks they handed over to private development?

How can this possibly be "corrected" without depriving the community of parks, or without exacting a significant financial burden on the city, which will be spun off on the taxpayers?

The responsible government officials could be investigated and tried and fined or imprisoned. But that would do little to save the Stadium.

Like I keep saying, that horse left the barn three years ago, in November 2005, and no one--no one--made a fuss then. Not me, not you, not the locals. Where was the petition then?

[New York Kid]

Anyone who was paying attention knew the stadium was going to be completely demolished. by November 2005



Really? All the baseball fans, historians, preservationists, baseball executives and media people, I know, are unanimous in their opinion and recollection that the actual plans for totally demolishing the Stadium have been severely conflicting, confusing, and ambiguous until this very year. The public has NOT been fully aware of plans to TOTALLY demolish Yankee Stadium. Nor, by any means, were they aware of how corrupt the landmark review was.

Can you show with any documentation that there was any wide or even uniform public recognition of plans to TOTALLY demolish the Stadium before this year? I'd like to see that, because I know people very close to things that didn't realize what was really happening until fairly recently - due primarily to deliberately false information, misinformation and misdirection.

Don't attack people who are trying to do something positive, while you sit there rationalizing your support to destroy the Stadium, on specious "parkland" grounds that would have led YOU to do the very same thing three years ago.

Snap out of it and do something, even it's just so you can proudly say you that you did to those people you want to show old photos of Yankee Stadium to, when you too are old. To this date, you're only aiding and abetting the demolition.

[New York Kid]

Because it's not my corrupt local commission. The local community is responsible for their own local government.



The State of New York and U.S. Department of Interior have jurisdiction, also. If you're a citizen of either New York or the United States, you can write them. Moreover, reports of evidence and concern of local corruption is not limited to people who live in any particular city, town, or neighborhood. You have a right to report corruption anywhere in the U.S., if you're a citizen. Especially on matters involving a national treasure.

As Stengel would say: "You could look it up." And, as Babe Ruth would advise you, you're not going to hit anything out of the park unless you get up there and swing. Go ahead, get the bat off your shoulders and write some people in power - tell them how absurd it was to deny Yankee Stadium landmark status. Now, that's something to proudly tell people when you get old. I hope no one demolishes you before your time.

[monkeypants]

Really? All the baseball fans, historians, preservationists, baseball executives and media people, I know, are unanimous in their opinion and recollection that the actual plans for totally demolishing the Stadium have been severely conflicting, confusing, and ambiguous until this very year. The public has NOT been fully aware of plans to TOTALLY demolish Yankee Stadium. Nor were they aware of how corrupt the landmark review was.

Well, I knew what was going to happen, so maybe I'm just more vigilant than all the others. And I was struck by the lack of response to what seemed like a pretty obvious fate for the stadium.

Should I have "done" something? I don't know. Like I wrote before, I was never thrilled with the original plan to leave only a piece of the stadium. It is an all or nothing deal for me--either the stadium stays and is renovated, or otherwise it doesn't matter much to me. I prefer total preservation, but it was clear from the start that this was not going to be the case. And frankly I see little value in maintaining a piece of the stadium--a piece of wall or stretch of stands. To what end? For whose benefit? What precisely would be the historical value of such a meagre preservation?

And as I have said all along, once the fate of the stadium was set (partial or complete demolition), I would rather defer to the local community to decide how best to replace their lost parks.

Find me 20 acres of parkland and maybe I'll "snap out of it" as you so self-righteously exhort.

Once again, you seem to want very badly to preserve a few bricks or whatever of the stadium, and I wish you the best of luck with your efforts. But I cannot support your initiative at this point until I am sure that the local community would prefer your solution to the current plan.

[monkeypants]

The State of New York and U.S. Department of Interior have jurisdiction, also. If you're a citizen of either New York or the United States, you can write them. Moreover, reports of evidence and concern of local corruption is not limited to people who live in any particular city, town, or neighborhood. You have a right to report corruption anywhere in the U.S., if you're a citizen. Especially on matters involving a national treasure.

As Stengel would say: "You could look it up."

Again, cui bono? Let's prove that an organ of NYC government is corrupt, which should shock no one. Let's succeed in grinding the current plans to a halt. Then what? What happens to the new stadium? Nothing. OK. What happens to the old stadium? Will it still stand in full when landmark status is granted? And who will pay for it? And how will it be used? And how will we feel when it slowly rots? And what replacement parks will the neighborhood get?

[Manhattan]

Again, cui bono? Let's prove that an organ of NYC government is corrupt, which should shock no one. Let's succeed in grinding the current plans to a halt. Then what? What happens to the new stadium? Nothing. OK. What happens to the old stadium? Will it still stand in full when landmark status is granted? And who will pay for it? And how will it be used? And how will we feel when it slowly rots? And what replacement parks will the neighborhood get?I will email Hillary Clinton and other famous people to save Yankee Stadium.

[New York Kid]

Again, cui bono? Let's prove that an organ of NYC government is corrupt, which should shock no one. Let's succeed in grinding the current plans to a halt. Then what? What happens to the new stadium? Nothing. OK. What happens to the old stadium? Will it still stand in full when landmark status is granted? And who will pay for it? And how will it be used? And how will we feel when it slowly rots? And what replacement parks will the neighborhood get?

So, again, you will not do anything to protest flagrant violation of federal, state, and local, landmark laws to help save an obvious national treasure, but repeatedly argue that (an actually non-existent) "local parkland law" must be honored at all costs. Hence, you're incredibly twisted and self-serving rationale to help destroy Yankee Stadium - which easily could and should be kept as a spectatular and very profitable ballpark, museum and park.

cui bono? For the benefit of everyone, except those in on the demolition score. And for the principle of doing the right thing. Unlike you, I don't aid and abet the other side, just because some corrupt politicos conjured up some fake "parkland law" to give cover to the plundering of Yankee Stadium.

[New York Kid]

I will email Hillary Clinton and other famous people to save Yankee Stadium.

Good for you, Manhattan!

[monkeypants]

Unlike you, I don't aid and abet the other side, just because some corrupt politicos conjured up some fake "parkland law" to give cover to the plundering of Yankee Stadium.

What fake law? The parkland laws are real.

Yep, it's to everyone's benefit to have two stadiums standing side by side, one whose upkeep will paid for by the public despite no tenant in sight. Well done.

Good night. Good luck.

[elmer]

People ARE listening, not only is it their job they may already have their own private supportive feelings about saving the stadium.

If that is so why would those of us in favor of preserving Yankee Stadium not wish to take advantage of that possible support. If all of these people CAN be instrumental in saving one of the most famous structures the world has ever known, it is worth the time.

Both of these organizations specialize in saving endangered buildings scheduled for demolition.

New York Landmarks Conservancy http://ebo.nylandmarks.org/ (212) 995-5260

Municipal Arts Society of New York info@mas.org (212) 935-3960

[New York Kid]

Well done.

Good night. Good luck.



So, now that it's been shown:

(1) Federal, State, and Local laws require that Yankee Stadium be landmarked;

(2) There are absolutely no laws of any kind - "parkland" or otherwise - requiring the demolition of Yankee Stadium;

and,

(3) The Stadium would be saved in a manner that would make it the most premier, productive, and profitable athletic field and park in New York,

You can write Senators Shumer & Clinton to:

(1) Express how you recognize Yankee Stadium to be a national treasure;

(2) Initiate investigation and reversal of the plainly corrupt and erroneous landmark decision leading to the proposed demolition of the Stadium;

and,

(3) Recommend how a scaled-down Stadium, used for year-round ballgames for City kids and teams, and even possibly a museum, would be a magnificent way of to both commemorate our nation's most historic arena AND generate huge and desperately need revenues for the people and businesses of the local South Bronx community.

If you spent 1/10 th the time writing people in power in support saving Yankee Stadium as you do writing on this site in support of destroying it, it would help immensely.

[New York Kid]

People ARE listening, not only is it their job they may already have their own private supportive feelings about saving the stadium.

If that is so why would those of us in favor of preserving Yankee Stadium not wish to take advantage of that possible support. If all of these people CAN be instrumental in saving one of the most famous structures the world has ever known, it is worth the time.

Both of these organizations specialize in saving endangered buildings scheduled for demolition.

New York Landmarks Conservancy http://ebo.nylandmarks.org/ (212) 995-5260

Municipal Arts Society of New York info@mas.org (212) 935-3960
Tremendous points, Elmer. I can tell you that every preservation group I've met and spoken with is absolutely horrified that Yankee Stadium is being demolished. They themselves can't believe it. They want no part of it's destruction whatsoever and want to help save it. To overcome the damage done by the corrupt decision of the local group that ruled Yankee Stadium not worthy of landmarking, though, they need and want a record of public interest and complaints. That will give them the power to act and save the Stadium from complete obliteration - which no rational, well-intended person wants.

[stadiumbuilder]

And when you guys talk to the landmarks people, remind them that pretty much every map of NYC has Yankee Stadium noted, in red, like all the rest of the MAJOR landmarks in the city, with many other thousands of officially landmarked structures not noted, which illustrates the lack of logic in their decisions.

[metfan13]

We're talking about saving YANKEE STADIUM, metfan13 - not about the Yankees. I'd do the same for Fenway or Wrigley. Now I understand the root of your desire to destroy the Stadium.

It's touching to see you so concerned about Yogi? :rolleyes: My guess is that you'd kick him to curb, as fasst as you would Yankee Stadium.

He's on record as liking the renovated Stadium very much, as was Billy Martin, Mickey Mantle, and many others. Read "Yankee Stadium: The Official Retrospective" and you'll have a better appreciation of what you want to destroy.

No, I like Yogi. He's got more class in his pinkie than Steinbrenner or Martin ever had.

And now we're quoting books made by the Yanks to glorify their own past?

[New York Kid]

I like Yogi. He's got more class in his pinkie than Steinbrenner or Martin ever had.

And now we're quoting books made by the Yanks to glorify their own past?



Quoting the Yankees' own book about how magnificent and important Yankee Stadium has been, from its inaugural day in 1923 until this very day, shows beyond any real question how arrogant, absurd and despicable their decision to fight against its landmarking and for its destruction truly is.

In their book "YANKEE STADIUM: THE OFFICIAL RETROSPECTIVE" they quote hundreds of national and international figures and celebrities, as well as many dozens of premier athletes and leading politicians - including Hizzoner MAYOR BLOOMBERG himself - who unanimously express special, historical, beautiful and irreplaceble a place it is. Mayor Bloomberg said that when he travels the world, the two places foreignors most ask him about are Yankee Stadium & the Empire State Building. All reasons NOT to demolish it.

Amazingly, however, and quite deceitfully, the Yankees and City both fought against landmarking it, as REQUIRED by law. The City's so-called Landmark Preservation Commission somehow has found more than 25,000 other buildings more worthy of landmarking. Imagine how stupid they must believe people are.

[metfan13]

Quoting the Yankees' own book about how magnificent and important Yankee Stadium has been, from its inaugural day in 1923 until this very day, shows beyond any real question how arrogant, absurd and despicable their decision to fight against its landmarking and for its destruction truly is.

In their book "YANKEE STADIUM: THE OFFICIAL RETROSPECTIVE" they quote hundreds of national and international figures and celebrities, as well as many dozens of premier athletes and leading politicians - including Hizzoner MAYOR BLOOMBERG himself - who unanimously express special, historical, beautiful and irreplaceble a place it is. Mayor Bloomberg said that when he travels the world, the two places foreignors most ask him about are Yankee Stadium & the Empire State Building. All reasons NOT to demolish it.

Amazingly, however, and quite deceitfully, the Yankees and City both fought against landmarking it, as REQUIRED by law. The City's so-called Landmark Preservation Commission somehow has found more than 25,000 other buildings more worthy of landmarking. Imagine how stupid they must believe people are.

Yeah, those people are smarter than they think. That new stadium will be empty next year because those people will all stay away and show them for landmarking 25000 buildings and not the semi-old YS.

[six4three]

I for one, will miss the old girl. But she's long since gone, and the kids of the Bronx need more than just a ballfield to replace the lost parkland.

[shaneslatts]

So, now that it's been shown:

(1) Federal, State, and Local laws require that Yankee Stadium be landmarked;

(2) There are absolutely no laws of any kind - "parkland" or otherwise - requiring the demolition of Yankee Stadium;

and,

(3) The Stadium would be saved in a manner that would make it the most premier, productive, and profitable athletic field and park in New York,

You can write Senators Shumer & Clinton to:

(1) Express how you recognize Yankee Stadium to be a national treasure;

(2) Initiate investigation and reversal of the plainly corrupt and erroneous landmark decision leading to the proposed demolition of the Stadium;

and,

(3) Recommend how a scaled-down Stadium, used for year-round ballgames for City kids and teams, and even possibly a museum, would be a magnificent way of to both commemorate our nation's most historic arena AND generate huge and desperately need revenues for the people and businesses of the local South Bronx community.

If you spent 1/10 th the time writing people in power in support saving Yankee Stadium as you do writing on this site in support of destroying it, it would help immensely.

I have written to all concerned, and I hope that those here at Baseball Fever, who 'grew up' at Yankee Stadium will join in and help landmark this building so that preservationists can decide, along with those who need the parkland, to see how much of a scaled down version of Yankee Stadium can be saved.
Kid, is there anything else I can do? I live in Florida...

[GordonGecko]

My opinion on the matter is that the city should save the stands immediately behind the plate, and build the park around it. It's not feasible in any sense to save the whole structure with all the maintenance and parkland considerations. It would be even better if the stands preserved were retrofitted with support beams and original style frieze. You could probably hang some pictures inside and charge a $5 admission fee and that would pay for the janitor and security guard on staff. I think something needs to be preserved, and I'm not talking about a jar of dirt or some lame penciled in home plate where Yankee Stadium once stood

[mandrake]

My opinion on the matter is that the city should save the stands immediately behind the plate, and build the park around it. It's not feasible in any sense to save the whole structure with all the maintenance and parkland considerations. It would be even better if the stands preserved were retrofitted with support beams and original style frieze. You could probably hang some pictures inside and charge a $5 admission fee and that would pay for the janitor and security guard on staff. I think something needs to be preserved, and I'm not talking about a jar of dirt or some lame penciled in home plate where Yankee Stadium once stood

Sounds like a pretty reasonable plan. You would have to have somebody there or it would really disappear, piece by piece, souveneir by souveneir.

[New York Kid]

I have written to all concerned, and I hope that those here at Baseball Fever, who 'grew up' at Yankee Stadium will join in and help landmark this building so that preservationists can decide, along with those who need the parkland, to see how much of a scaled down version of Yankee Stadium can be saved.
Kid, is there anything else I can do? I live in Florida...

Here's the situation, shane. The National Trust and Save America's Treasures, who work with the Department of Interior to landmark and protect national historic sites totally deferred to the City and State on this one - a decision they now gravely regret and want to undo. They need a reason. Public outcry is the most compelling one.

There is celebrity support, including Baseball royalty, waiting in the wings. Babe Ruth's granddaughter has already spoken out about publicly about how so many people come up to her at ballparks and charity events passionately wanting to save the Stadium her grandfather built. She is now a spokesperson for saving a scaled-down Stadium as a recreational area for the kids of New York.

Writing Senators Shumer & Clinton, as you have done, is one, important way to get a Federal landmark designation for Yankee Stadium - which not one preservation authority in Washington disputes is an obvious and undisputable national landmark. Writing the Nationjal Trust, Saving America's Treasures, Municipal Arts Society, and New York Landmarks Conservancy will also be helpful, as is signing all the various on-line petitions, which are being used as evidence of public concern. Preservation experts & attorneys recognize this as the most powerful way of saving the Stadium - for the public to make their concerns heard. With that, they see the chances as excellent for saving a significant historical remnant of the Stadium.

For the time being, the best focus is to document public concern and get a new, this time honest, landmark review. In summary, the best way to get that is through the petition and intervention of the Federal officials and preservation groups Elmer identified and linked above

Thanks, shane.

[six4three]

I like the idea in principle, but the more complicated you make it the less parkland will be available for public use. Even a single section of grandstand is awfully deep, and will take up a lot of space.

Anything that requires a fence around it reduces the amount of parkland being returned to the community.

[New York Kid]

My opinion on the matter is that the city should save the stands immediately behind the plate, and build the park around it. It's not feasible in any sense to save the whole structure with all the maintenance and parkland considerations. It would be even better if the stands preserved were retrofitted with support beams and original style frieze. You could probably hang some pictures inside and charge a $5 admission fee and that would pay for the janitor and security guard on staff. I think something needs to be preserved, and I'm not talking about a jar of dirt or some lame penciled in home plate where Yankee Stadium once stood

Great ideas, Gordon. It could easily be a self-sustaining, even quite profitable park for the neighborhoods. People would come from all over to see and play on the same ballpark as the immortals.

[New York Kid]

Sounds like a pretty reasonable plan. You would have to have somebody there or it would really disappear, piece by piece, souveneir by souveneir.

Good thinking!!!

Better do some background checks to make sure they don't work for the guys trying, right now, to sell it off, piece by piece, souvenier by souvenier!!!

[shaneslatts]

My opinion on the matter is that the city should save the stands immediately behind the plate, and build the park around it. It's not feasible in any sense to save the whole structure with all the maintenance and parkland considerations. It would be even better if the stands preserved were retrofitted with support beams and original style frieze. You could probably hang some pictures inside and charge a $5 admission fee and that would pay for the janitor and security guard on staff. I think something needs to be preserved, and I'm not talking about a jar of dirt or some lame penciled in home plate where Yankee Stadium once stood

Gordon, Exactly correct. The plan you are talking about has been the plan recomended. Gordon, it would be appreciated if you would email the appropriate people, they are listed in several posts here.
Again, saving a small section of Yankee Stadium would only help the area, bring in fans year long, and most importantly, preserve an original section of the House that Ruth Built.
I bet the Babe would think it was worth it, as well as future generations of not only Yankee fans, but baseball fans as well
To leave those future Americans only a penciled in homeplate as the only thing to mark the spot where Ruth transformed the game of baseball, all the way down thru time to the place where not only New York City, but the Nation mourned after the 9-11 attack, would not only do those future generations a diservice, but it would do nothing to remember US by as well.
Think of it. Part of YOU is there. It is the place our dads took all of OUR generations to to see Ruth, Dimaggio, Mantle, Thurman, Reggie and A-Rod. Its the place that shook so hard at times you just KNEW that you were in someplace special. No one had to tell you that somehow, the Stadium itself was a part of that feeling, and somehow had a say in it. It was when the Ghosts came alive.

Its the place you took your children to as well..

So there you have a building whose very walls have seen so many memories that its amazing, from 1923 all the way to today, those walls have been there. To smash this entire structure to the ground and sell the fragments would not only be wrong, but un American as well

And you see, all we really want to save is a small section of those very walls that shook so hard when those ghosts came alive

Maybe one day, someones son here, before they attend a game at the new Yankee Stadium, will go to the old place, and just maybe, those walls that once shook will still be there, no longer shaking, but now speaking softly to him.. He will look out at the field and see neighberhood kids playing soccer, football and baseball in the same aea that Ruth and company once roamed, and he will then look at the walls that we made sure were left to stand and he will look to HIS son and say........
'My dad took me here to see Arod play, and I saw the Yanks win it all in 96..... you should have seen how those old walls SHOOK'

[six4three]

So which is it - walls, or stands? ;)

[Milwaukee County Stadium]

What Should Realy Be Done Is Carefully Take Apart The Upper Deck And The Keep The Entire Lower Deck & concourse & concession stands in the lower deck, and then move the playing field up like 10 feet to it's original spot, and then build a exact replica of the Old Yankee Stadium frieze, and then make the outfield layout to what it was like when it was like in the 1952 Layout Look Here:
http://www.andrewclem.com/Baseball/Diag/YankeeStadium1952.gif
And Then Restore The Exterior of Yankee Stadium To What It Looked Like From 1923-1973
Like This:
http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/al/yankee715.jpg
And Then Restore The Bleachers Of Yankee Stadium To Look Like This Again:
http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/al/yankee701.jpg
Here Is A Photo Shopped Photo Of My Plan
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67353786@N00/2823348420/
This Is The Original Photo
http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/al/pictures/yankpast953.jpg
And Then They Could Make A Replica Of This Scorebaord And Put It Where It was In Pre Renovated Yankee Stadium:
http://majorleaguemodels.com/images/ys61scoreboard.gif

[GordonGecko]

What Should Realy Be Done Is Carefully Take Apart The Upper Deck And The Keep The Entire Lower Deck & concourse & concession stands in the lower deck, and then move the playing field up like 10 feet to it's original spot, and then build a exact replica of the Old Yankee Stadium frieze, and then make the outfield layout to what it was like when it was like in the 1952 Layout Look Here:

Then there's no community park, aka that plan is DOA

[Power Wally]

Some time after the demolition of Old Yankee Stadium, New Yankee Stadium will simply be referred as "Next Door".



NYC simply loves to torture its citizens. If LA was to tear down the Colosseum, I would practically go nuts. :banghead:

[yankies4life]

What Should Realy Be Done Is Carefully Take Apart The Upper Deck And The Keep The Entire Lower Deck & concourse & concession stands in the lower deck, and then move the playing field up like 10 feet to it's original spot, and then build a exact replica of the Old Yankee Stadium frieze, and then make the outfield layout to what it was like when it was like in the 1952 Layout Look Here:
http://www.andrewclem.com/Baseball/Diag/YankeeStadium1952.gif
And Then Restore The Exterior of Yankee Stadium To What It Looked Like From 1923-1973
Like This:
http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/al/yankee715.jpg
And Then Restore The Bleachers Of Yankee Stadium To Look Like This Again:
http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/al/yankee701.jpg
Here Is A Photo Shopped Photo Of My Plan
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67353786@N00/2823348420/
This Is The Original Photo
http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/al/pictures/yankpast953.jpg
And Then They Could Make A Replica Of This Scorebaord And Put It Where It was In Pre Renovated Yankee Stadium:
http://majorleaguemodels.com/images/ys61scoreboard.gif

While that is a great idea, alot of money would have to be put into it. I guarantee you the yankees would not spend any money on it as they just built a $1 billion stadium.

Personally, I realize the entire building will not be saved. However, I do like what they are doing in detroit, leaving the portion behind home plate with the stands. Im not totally sure that would work in this case. What I could see done is leave the field alone, leave the lower level seats. Keep a section of the upperdeck behind home plate and get rid of the bleachers. Use the field for high school and college games.

I just dont want to see this stadium turn into what happened in detroit. The stadium just sat and sat and sat and its looked disgusting.

[SparkyL]

From Carrion's plan. Note how both the original exterior wall and the playing field would be preserved. Also from the plan:

Historic Yankee Field
The historic Yankee Stadium will be preserved and made accessible to the public as a little league field, destination spot and a village green for the community. The stadium area will also house the Yankee Hall of Fame and Museum.

Hotel Conference Center
Located just a few short train stops away from midtown Manhattan and the area airports, the 250-room hotel will feature amenities such as a conference center and fitness center.
The Conference Center will feature meeting spaces and a complete range of technology and business services.

Sports and Fitness Center
The Sports and Fitness Center will be full service state of the art fitness center.

Yankee Hall of Fame and Museum
Located inside the existing stadium the Yankee Hall of Fame and Museum will contain exhibits that showcase the rich history of
the Yankees.

[SparkyL]

While that is a great idea, alot of money would have to be put into it. I guarantee you the yankees would not spend any money on it as they just built a $1 billion stadium.

Personally, I realize the entire building will not be saved. However, I do like what they are doing in detroit, leaving the portion behind home plate with the stands. Im not totally sure that would work in this case. What I could see done is leave the field alone, leave the lower level seats. Keep a section of the upperdeck behind home plate and get rid of the bleachers. Use the field for high school and college games.
I just dont want to see this stadium turn into what happened in detroit. The stadium just sat and sat and sat and its looked disgusting.

That was the ORIGINAL plan for "Heritage Field." Look back on page two - I posted what that would look like . . .

[Swoboda4]

I was one of the original posters in the old Save YS thread. As much as some (including me) would like to save the whole place, I photoshopped a couple of old YS pics/new YS pics to get an idea of what might realistically have a chance at working and being approved.

Colonial Williamsburg is a good model. They operate as a non-profit educational outfit, and get huge corporate donations, as well as admissions. You de-renovate the area around gate four, out to the infield, save the left field foul pole, and a section of the old bleachers, with a replica of the old scoreboard, and outfield wall. The interior of the de-renovated grandstands houses a museum. Since my plan retains the infield, you can still charge corporate types to use the field for events, and outfield can be divided up as desired.

To quote Doc Brown, "Please excuse the crudity of this model."

[yankies4life]

From Carrion's plan. Note how both the original exterior wall and the playing field would be preserved. Also from the plan:

Historic Yankee Field
The historic Yankee Stadium will be preserved and made accessible to the public as a little league field, destination spot and a village green for the community. The stadium area will also house the Yankee Hall of Fame and Museum.

Hotel Conference Center
Located just a few short train stops away from midtown Manhattan and the area airports, the 250-room hotel will feature amenities such as a conference center and fitness center.
The Conference Center will feature meeting spaces and a complete range of technology and business services.

Sports and Fitness Center
The Sports and Fitness Center will be full service state of the art fitness center.

Yankee Hall of Fame and Museum
Located inside the existing stadium the Yankee Hall of Fame and Museum will contain exhibits that showcase the rich history of
the Yankees.


i like that! whats the deal with this?