Saving Yankee Stadium

[RichardLillard1]

Hello all,

This is something that should have been done months ago, and while I will be the first to admit that nothing has shocked me into realization like seeing the picture just posted in the demolition thread (not even seeing the new place across the street in November did it), there is no better time than the present to try and do at least something for the most historic baseball venue out there.

Chastise me if you must (and I'm sure some of you will), but you can't fault a man for trying.

So please, any of you that have posted things in the demo thread, post them again here, let's get something start, petitions, contacts and organizations (i.e. Save Our Parks). Any help from former and current players and people on the Yankee staff or even just citizens of New York and the Bronx would be as helpful as possible. Sportswriters, celebrities, etc.

Let's contact as many as we can so that something can be saved. There have been some GREAT ideas put forth so far, but if they just stay ideas on this thread then the Stadium doesn't stand a chance.

So who's with me? Can we get something going?


Richard

[DiggerODell]

Hello all,

This is something that should have been done months ago, and while I will be the first to admit that nothing has shocked me into realization like seeing the picture just posted in the demolition thread (not even seeing the new place across the street in November did it), there is no better time than the present to try and do at least something for the most historic baseball venue out there.

Chastise me if you must (and I'm sure some of you will), but you can't fault a man for trying.

So please, any of you that have posted things in the demo thread, post them again here, let's get something start, petitions, contacts and organizations (i.e. Save Our Parks). Any help from former and current players and people on the Yankee staff or even just citizens of New York and the Bronx would be as helpful as possible. Sportswriters, celebrities, etc.

Let's contact as many as we can so that something can be saved. There have been some GREAT ideas put forth so far, but if they just stay ideas on this thread then the Stadium doesn't stand a chance.

So who's with me? Can we get something going?


Richard

Very Good Richard! This idea of remembering Yankee Stadium should never be on a thread of it's demise. What were we all thinking?

My idea, probably 1 of 10,000 was inspired by "Pinstripes" on the demolition thread. He spoke of actually enclosing the remainder of the stadium portion of YS. The following is what I had to say on that.


I love the "enclosed aspect" of what you describe? I've never considered that. I've always thought they could leave that small section of the BP and a field where the players once played . . .and actualy invent a technology (which might be already invented and I don't know about it) whereas like a museum, folks could come and rent/lease this little IPod looking thing that would show telecasts of famous plays made at the park . . . and walk around and ponder . . . of the things that occured where they stand, watchin a live rebroadcast in the palm of their hand. Lotta stuff to figure out . . .like why someone wouldn't just walk off with this technology when they are through . . . deposit . .something . .. cc # . . .I don't know, unimportant. But it would establish and reestabllish the history of the sacred grounds for generations to come.

ps: some money could be made from this . . . even if it's small change . . .small change adds up. And it would still be . . .tah dah . . A park.

I'm tellin' ya . . . something like this might work with the powers that be. I don't personally care to make one red cent off it, but would love to see the history of a beautiful (even though my one time experience, was't great, lol) park be preserved.

Digger

[shaneslatts]

Hello all,

This is something that should have been done months ago, and while I will be the first to admit that nothing has shocked me into realization like seeing the picture just posted in the demolition thread (not even seeing the new place across the street in November did it), there is no better time than the present to try and do at least something for the most historic baseball venue out there.

Chastise me if you must (and I'm sure some of you will), but you can't fault a man for trying.

So please, any of you that have posted things in the demo thread, post them again here, let's get something start, petitions, contacts and organizations (i.e. Save Our Parks). Any help from former and current players and people on the Yankee staff or even just citizens of New York and the Bronx would be as helpful as possible. Sportswriters, celebrities, etc.

Let's contact as many as we can so that something can be saved. There have been some GREAT ideas put forth so far, but if they just stay ideas on this thread then the Stadium doesn't stand a chance.

So who's with me? Can we get something going?


Richard

Hi Richard,
There was a thread like this last summer, with alot of posts, pro and con.
As I have said, Polititians have been written to, conservation socities as well. BUT former sen clinton, and sen schumer did not return my email, where I reminded him that destroying this entire structure would not only be a bad mistake, and something that will be regreted, but would be unamerican as well.
I knew that when the day came that they started ripping into the place, THAT would be the day that shock/reality would set in.

That day is here.

The question is, WHO to bring the ideas to?(sparkeys in the demolition thread is a great idea) and what kind of time frame is available.
I honestly think that the real demolition will start right after they rip out the seats, so that means one month, maybe a little more or a little less
The thing to keep in mind here is that
A. The yankees want the stadium gone ASAP
B. the polititians dont care

The only hope of saving any of this stadium is thru the media,since it is, and always will be, the media that drives the polititians. You cant go to the Yankee media alone( that would be like going thru radio havana to complain about Castro).
If we all got together, called and flooded schumer (again) and hold him PERSONALY responible (he is the senior NY senetor, correct?) and flooded the daily news, the post, espn, and yes, the yankee offices, then MAYBE there might be a chance to save some of the historic sections of yankee stadium.
the city has never addressed why the original walls of Yankee Stadium should not be landmarked. They have stated that the 'entire structure has been changed to the point where it lost landmark status'...ok, fine, what about the original sections of the stadium....where have they changed?
Why is it that a 1970s apartment up the street HAS landmark status, while Yankee Stadium does not?
You see, the city has never answered these questions, no one in the media will ask them
In my opinion, these questions need to be asked, and answered. That and sparkeys diagram where most of the exterior wall was preserved needs to be presented as well.
If not acted on quickly, and in force, then the entire place is doomed
I think Mike Lupica needs to be contacted about these unanswered questions,and sparkeys plans need to be shown to him as well.(if my memory serves me, Lupica thinks the stadium should have been renovated)
Other NY writers need to be called as well
If I can help, let me know.

[RichardLillard1]

Keith Olbermann (whether you like him or not... my opinion will be kept to myself) is a Yankee fan and has been going to the Stadium, in the same seats, since the renovation. His mother was even hit with a baseball bat that broke.

Maybe someone can get a hold of him to make an effort.

I'll do as much as I can tomorrow afternoon, it's late here and I'm heading to bed.


Richard

[RichardLillard1]

Hi Richard,
There was a thread like this last summer, with alot of posts, pro and con.
As I have said, Polititians have been written to, conservation socities as well. BUT former sen clinton, and sen schumer did not return my email, where I reminded him that destroying this entire structure would not only be a bad mistake, and something that will be regreted, but would be unamerican as well.
I knew that when the day came that they started ripping into the place, THAT would be the day that shock/reality would set in.

That day is here.

The question is, WHO to bring the ideas to?(sparkeys in the demolition thread is a great idea) and what kind of time frame is available.
I honestly think that the real demolition will start right after they rip out the seats, so that means one month, maybe a little more or a little less
The thing to keep in mind here is that
A. The yankees want the stadium gone ASAP
B. the polititians dont care

The only hope of saving any of this stadium is thru the media,since it is, and always will be, the media that drives the polititians. You cant go to the Yankee media alone( that would be like going thru radio havana to complain about Castro).
If we all got together, called and flooded schumer (again) and hold him PERSONALY responible (he is the senior NY senetor, correct?) and flooded the daily news, the post, espn, and yes, the yankee offices, then MAYBE there might be a chance to save some of the historic sections of yankee stadium.
the city has never addressed why the original walls of Yankee Stadium should not be landmarked. They have stated that the 'entire structure has been changed to the point where it lost landmark status'...ok, fine, what about the original sections of the stadium....where have they changed?
Why is it that a 1970s apartment up the street HAS landmark status, while Yankee Stadium does not?
You see, the city has never answered these questions, no one in the media will ask them
In my opinion, these questions need to be asked, and answered. That and sparkeys diagram where most of the exterior wall was preserved needs to be presented as well.
If not acted on quickly, and in force, then the entire place is doomed
I think Mike Lupica needs to be contacted about these unanswered questions,and sparkeys plans need to be shown to him as well.(if my memory serves me, Lupica thinks the stadium should have been renovated)
Other NY writers need to be called as well
If I can help, let me know.



I do remember that thread, but it disappeared to the cracks. I wish I had done more then, but I guess I was waiting for something to come to me. A huge mistake to be sure.

The fact is, I want to do something now and I'm prepared to do as much as I can.

PM or email me with phone numbers, email addresses, and the like to try and get something done and I will do all I can from my end.


Richard

[Pinstripes]

His mother was even hit with a baseball bat that broke.I'm pretty sure she was hit with an errant Chuck Knoblauch throw that went into the stands.

[shaneslatts]

I do remember that thread, but it disappeared to the cracks. I wish I had done more then, but I guess I was waiting for something to come to me. A huge mistake to be sure.

The fact is, I want to do something now and I'm prepared to do as much as I can.

PM or email me with phone numbers, email addresses, and the like to try and get something done and I will do all I can from my end.


Richard
I will be calling the daily news, the post, the local TV stations as well. I have contacted a writer friend of mine who has contacts in the yankees as well.
We need to start somewhere and we need media help..Any media out there? HELP):hissyfit:
The WAR starts today

[shaneslatts]

I do remember that thread, but it disappeared to the cracks. I wish I had done more then, but I guess I was waiting for something to come to me. A huge mistake to be sure.

The fact is, I want to do something now and I'm prepared to do as much as I can.

PM or email me with phone numbers, email addresses, and the like to try and get something done and I will do all I can from my end.


Richard


Hey everyone. Here is one place to start http://schumer.senate.gov/
Good old chuck schumer. The senior senetor from NY should be held accountable for this. I do not have the phone numbers for the daily news, post and the local stations YET, but I will be surfing the net and finding them.
Again, today is the time to start
The WAR has begun!

[shaneslatts]

Here is a letter I just fired off to Chuck Schumer

Dear Sen Schumer,
There are many basball fans over at baseballfever .com
We, as a group are concerned with the destruction of a NY landmark, Yankee Stadium.
If you get a chance, could you take alook at some of the ideas that we have come up with to preserve parts of the historic 1923 sections of old Yankee Stadium
We, as a group, will be contacting the media today.
We, as a group, are asking for your support in our efforts to preserve part of this historic old ballbark, The House that Ruth Built, Yankee Stadium
thank You,
Mark Slattery

[doctor_gogol]

In the demolition thread, there was conversation about saving the gate 2 wall and field.

You know, its not unprecedented.

http://www.leaguepark.org/current.html

They did pretty much just that in Cleveland with League Park.


http://www.leaguepark.org/images/League_Park_Bleacher_wall_small.jpg

[RichardLillard1]

Hello all,

I don't have much time right now, but I just wanted to say that I love the pictures from League Park, it really shows that we're capable of something like this! Keep in mind though that the League Park wall is smaller, so we need a plan to preserve something much larger. Perhaps a small building, even a restaurant, museum, or even small office of some kind that would be dedicated to Bronx history and Yankee History.

I think in any and all letters we fire off to anyone, we also need to make mention of the amount of the structure that remains from the original construction and how structurally sound it still is. The common opinion that everyone has of Yankee Stadium is that it's rotting away, we need to reverse that and educate everyone!

Above all though, if this is to get any consideration, we need to stress that the Bronx will still get its parkland back as much as we can. This should almost be over-emphasized as anyone who is going to debate this with us will use that as their main rebuttal point.

If they are concerned about trees and having them replaced in one of the worst asthmatic regions in the country, then perhaps someone could draw something up that would show just how many trees (approximately) would and could be put in to mark the original structure's outline.

Maybe we could also work on illustrating several different proposals to show just what the different options are, but keep in mind that with EVERY proposal, we need to focus on the parkland around the Stadiums as well as Yankee Stadium itself.

Too many people are upset about losing parkland and trees that we need a plan that puts all of that to rest.


Richard

[Mike Wagner]

Dear Friends,

I've always believed in advertising. I think great numbers of people will be reached through the various media. Even something as simple as a Letter To The Editor. These will be read by millions of people.

How about putting a story on youtube. Everyone sees that great site. Tell what we want and have drawings included of ideas.

The same for other well-known sites.

Many great ideas were on "To Save Yankee Stadium," on Baseball Fever.

To save a reasonable part of Yankee Stadium would not take up much park space. I still think that with all the history that Yankee Stadium has given us, it absolutely deserves to have a part left behind for us to visit.

I wish Disney or another company would be involved. Audio-animatronic figures of Babe, Lou, Joe, Mickey, and many others could tell us about the teams they played on, the history of Yankee Stadium, etc. The possibilities are endless. It would also be a moneymaker. As we all know, sadly, the almighty buck is the bottom line. Besides these talking figures, a museum in the saved portion of Yankee Stadium would be on display.

Assuming the Yankees draw about 4 million people this year, hundreds of thousands of people would easily visit such an experience as this. Local people would also have some more jobs in the area.

The Baseball Hall of Fame, as I understand it, has a lot of memorabilia that cannot be displayed due to limited space (if I'm wrong, please correct me).
What better place than this shrine to display some of these priceless treasures. At, say, $10. per person for admission, this would be a nice income. Plus income from souvenirs. Instead of having a restaurant in the museum, visitors could go to the local restaurants. This would certainly be most welcome, I would think, by such establishments in the off-season.

Anything is possible, as long as people keep an open mind and are reasonable.
This could all be done, and the people living in the area would still have parks
and recreational areas.

Once it's gone, it's gone. That would be very sad and very wrong for all that The House That Ruth gave us.

Sincerely,
Mike Wagner

[NeoExelor]

It's called constructive reuse, NYC, let's start using it. Look at Boston, for example:

Braves field, home of the Braves,
http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/past/bravesuse.jpg

After the Braves left for Milwaukee, some of the stadium was demolished but the rest was reused:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/be/BUNickersonFldStands.jpg/800px-BUNickersonFldStands.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/ae/Braves_Field_and_Nickerson_Field.JPG

[NYFan1stYankFan2nd]

I think in any and all letters we fire off to anyone, we also need to make mention of the amount of the structure that remains from the original construction and how structurally sound it still is. The common opinion that everyone has of Yankee Stadium is that it's rotting away, we need to reverse that and educate everyone!



Richard

I'd venture to guess the old girl is structurally stronger even than what just opened to the public next door! And she'll be a b$%@tch to dismantle. ;)

All the more reason some of OYS can and should be incorporated into the park restoration plan for the space.

Outlining the grandstand with hundreds of trees simply does not convey the enormity and significance of what was demolished there, unless you fly over it in a plane or have access to view it from the roof of the BxCo Courthouse. From terra firma, it will look like little more than a small Central Park with three baseball diamonds all facing each other surrounded by trees. No context as to what stood there the previous 85 years.

What kind of remembrance is that??? :crazy
NYC's politicians and media need look no further than right here, Baseball Fever, to get a taste of the sentiment surrounding the preservation of Old YS. Once they've been here, they'll realize rocket science is not required to do what needs to be done.

[darbypitcher22]

I would love to see part of the old stadium remain... I like the idea that was proposed on another thread of having the gate be the gateway of the park, or something like that...

[RichardLillard1]

Hello again everyone,

Mike it's great to have you on board!

I just sent an email off to Joel Sherman, who wrote the article below for the New York Post. I hope we can get something from him.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/04032009/sports/yankees/in_tough_times__a_monument_to_greed_162731.htm?pag e=2

It's a bit late here in Arizona, so I'm off to bed again. I'll have much more time to work on things tomorrow and Sunday.


Richard

[Chris Jones]

Read Mike Wagner's latest post (#12)...it also appears on the "Demolition" thread.

The debate has to come a pretty quick end, and concrete plans (and I use the word "concrete" in a variety of ways) must be drawn up, finalized, and presented. Those holes in the leftfield bleachers are only a few feet away from Gate 2.

Mike couldn't have said it any better!

[RichardLillard1]

I couldn't agree with you more, we need to take action and have a solid plan by the end of the weekend.

A very important thing to cover, is there ANYONE out there who either lives in the Bronx, or New York and can help us/is interested in doing the leg work for this whole thing? If I need to I can book a flight out to New York and I'm aware it might come to that, but I don't want to do it unless we stand a choice.

Also, does anyone have the ability to compile all of the plans we have seen on this board so far and re-post them here? This includes all of the plans we saw last year AND the information about other places being given landmark status.

There was one that I recall about modification to the surrounding parkland, I want to see that one again, but every search brings up too many results for the amount of time I have right now. I have a few ideas that could go along with that one if I remember enough about it correctly.

In terms of what could be and should be preserved;

- Gate 2, I think this one is a no brainer, not to mention that some sort of a building could be erected behind it to be a Yankee/Baseball museum with shops and the like.

- Portions of the lower grandstand, again, no-brainer - this could not only be used as a field for many surrounding schools and semi-professional teams, but serves as THE most (paired with the lower grandstand) important shrine to Yankee Stadium.

- The section of the bleachers that so many bring up, this gives us a chance to preserve a little bit of everything.

- The last remaining section of the original outfield wall, I think this could be a nice thing to preserve as it would show just what used to be there and it's something that's been there from day one of the present bleacher sections.

- The Frieze, or at least a section of it would be very important. With a new support structure, it could be put on the ground level and would even give people a chance to see its immense size up close and personal. Just think of the souvenir pictures that could be taken of people posing next to it. Truly something New York visitors (especially ones visiting the Yankees) would love.

- Possible section of all three tiers of the grandstand, I know this is asking a lot, but it would be nice to preserve something to show what used be, perhaps with some sort of modified construction to show what it was like originally and after the renovation, I was thinking this should be behind home plate, like the renderings I've seen. This also opens up the option of preserving the original press area behind home plate, Bob Shephard's booth and allowing for more museum space.

In terms of admission; I think that a tour could be offered of the House that Ruth Built alone, or a joint tour (anyone know how to get a hold of Tony Morante?) of the former and newer.

This would mean that tours could be offered at a higher price than what the Yankees charge for tours of the new stadium and Tony Morante could still give his nostalgic tours of the original Stadium. This would generate revenue for BOTH the city and the Yankees. Something I'm sure they would both like.

When the new stadium was started a few years ago, a lot of people started and outcry about mature trees and the lack of parkland. I think we can counter this by showing just how little of it preservation would take up and how much we could use of the property to make up for both the trees and parkland.

Tennis courts could be constructed around the outfield area, or something along those lines. Trees could go around, in rows (probably three to four trees wide, if that makes sense) to outline the original grandstand structure, I know this has been mentioned that it wouldn't look like much unless viewed from above, but there is a very high building with photograph access right next door and what better way would there be to show the massive House that Ruth Built and it's outline than to be able to see it from across the street, with parts of it still in tact and a large Yankee/Baseball Museum there as well?

I think that's about it for right now, I'll be in and out all day, but feel free to PM me, or email (RichardLillard1(at)gmail(dot)com).


Richard

[Chris Jones]

Richard:

You offer magnificent plans...but at this late date, the Yankees, the Parks Dept., and the City, are going to be adamently agasinst anything more than a single, simple proposal. Personally, I'd love to see all your plans come to fruition, but I feel that the Gate 2 proposal and the way Pinstripes visually rendered it, is the best way to go. If it goes through, additions and modifications are a distinct possibility at a later date.

As I've posted before...as long as what is saved is from 1923, 1928, or 1937,
I'm all for it, but like you, I'm not in New York and that makes direct contact difficult (and as of this morning, something has completely shut down my e-mail). I have made phonecalls and still have more to make. I will be out of town April 5,6...headin' south, away from the Stadium, but will make some calls none-the-less.

I may be completely wrong in my opinion concerning the "total package"...
the gate, the stands, the wall, etc...but wehatever is ultimately decided, I'm in it for the duration.

Keep me, and the rest of the FAITHFUL informed...and I will do the same.

Best Wishes, Good Luck, and may "God Bless Us, Everyone."

Chris

[Chris Jones]

Richard:

You offer magnificent plans...but at this late date, the Yankees, the Parks Dept., and the City, are going to be adamently agasinst anything more than a single, simple proposal. Personally, I'd love to see all your plans come to fruition, but I feel that the Gate 2 proposal and the way Pinstripes visually rendered it, is the best way to go. If it goes through, additions and modifications are a distinct possibility at a later date.

As I've posted before...as long as what is saved is from 1923, 1928, or 1937,
I'm all for it, but like you, I'm not in New York and that makes direct contact difficult (and as of this morning, something has completely shut down my e-mail). I have made phonecalls and still have more to make. I will be out of town April 5,6...headin' south, away from the Stadium, but will make some calls none-the-less.

I may be completely wrong in my opinion concerning the "total package"...
the gate, the stands, the wall, etc...but whatever is ultimately decided, I'm in it for the duration.

Keep me, and the rest of the FAITHFUL informed...and I will do the same.

Best Wishes, Good Luck, and may "God Bless Us, Everyone."

Chris

[Chris Jones]

Shaneslatts:

I haven't responded to your posts as I had intended...your enthusiasm and ideas are wonderful, but the time factor ways heavily upon me...and all of us.

I'm behind whatever we can save, as are many of those on BBF. I've made some contacts and intend to make more.

Here's hopin'...and good luck.

Chris

[YankeeFanBx]

I have to say it truly breaks my heart to see the old girl standing there and not being the Queen of the ball.
Save some of the stadium, I hope they do, but I sure hope they soon end this embarrassment and let her rest in peace.

[Milwaukee County Stadium]

Buffalo did something similar to War Memorial Stadium by saving one of it's gates and then turn the rest of the stadiums into a park
http://wnyheritagepress.org/photos_week_2006/civic_stadium/wiley_dodge_best_2006.jpg
The same should be done with Old Yankee Stadium's Gate Two
http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_about/parks_history/bat_sports/24977_2-10-1947_McCombsDamParkRacewithYankeeStadium%20in%20ba ckground-lg.jpg
http://i44.tinypic.com/qyz41z.jpg

[Mike Wagner]

Dear Milwaukee County Stadium,

What a beautiful job!!!! WOW!!!!! And, just having Gate 2 with nothing else would really be maintenance free. Of course, we'd all like more to be saved, but at the very least Gate 2.

I wonder if the local shop owners would be interested in saving it if they could get some sort of financial benefit through souvenirs &/or food sales.

All the ideas we have really are reasonable, intelligent, and doable. Too bad we're only the common people and not the rich or powerful. Too often we common folk have common sense ideas. The rich and powerful should realize this. They probably do, but don't care. If they would embrace the decent ideas we come up with, they'd make more money. And, we'd get our little piece of happiness. Respect should be a two-way street.

I really think going on youtube and other huge websites to get the word out is the only possible way to accomplish anything. If not, maybe we should send part of Yankee Stadium to Detroit, where they're saving part of Tiger Stadium. At least they truly respect baseball history.

-Mike Wagner

[Mike Wagner]

Dear Richard,

You have great ideas. I especially like having some friezes to where people could get close up and take photos. It's just like taking photos of any landmark, such as the White House, Empire State Building, etc. Yankee Stadium is a shrine except to those in charge who have dollar signs in their eyes. The stupidity of it all is that they'd be making more money by keeping part of the structure up for visitors to see. A museum would add to their pockets, as we all know how rich the Yankee history is.

They have this distorted notion that keeping any part of Yankee Stadium will detract from the new Yankee Stadium and the heritage it will have starting with 2009. Nothing could be further from the truth. What will happen is that by destroying all of the original Yankee Stadium will only make its ghost stronger. Look at Babe Ruth. He died in 1948, yet his ghost gets more legendary as time goes on. The same for Lou Gehrig.

If the leaders who hate Yankee Stadium so much would keep part of it, they will be heralded by current and future generations for saving part of it. That would be a legacy they would be thanked for and be proud of. Instead, they will be damned for their hatred and destruction of this shrine. History has proven this time and again. Their names may be alongside of the new Yankee Stadium, which is fine. But, their names will have a blot throughout all of history for completely destroying such a hallowed structure. That's what history will dictate and what their descendents will inherit - like it or not.

On the other hand, if they were to keep part of Yankee Stadium, they will win on both counts - a new Yankee Stadium and foresight to keep part of the structure that has been so interwoven into American and world history.
Besides the obvious baseball history, Popes have visited Yankee Stadium, and the memorial for victims of 9/11 was held here. My take is that hatred of Yankee Stadium by the powers that be is of greater importance than the benevolence of saving a part of it for current and future generations. We're not asking for much. And, the community would still benefit - and they should, as it wouldn't take up much space, and there would still be park and recreational areas set aside for the local residents.

-Mike Wagner

[Pinstripes]

Dear Milwaukee County Stadium,

What a beautiful job!!!! WOW!!!!! And, just having Gate 2 with nothing else would really be maintenance free. Of course, we'd all like more to be saved, but at the very least Gate 2.Not a big deal, but I'd just like to point out that I made that rendering of gate 2 ;)

If anyone wants to send that to someone that you think could help, feel free.

[bravesgeek10]

In addition to Gate 2 being preserved, I think that any remaining pre-renovation bleacher sections should be saved and restored to their former glory (i.e. billboards, main scoreboard, dimension sign(s), auxiliary scoreboard, etc.). Also, the Gehrig Room, Yankees clubhouse, and Yankees dugout should be preserved. Not only could that area be used for the Yankees museum that was previously mentioned, but it would take up little park space since it is underground. Finally, (just a random thought) I think it would cool if former players could back to the clubhouse, take the walk down the tunnel and then re-create their first look at the Stadium by walking up the dugout steps and then imagining what it was like...

Best regards,
Zane

[DiggerODell]

In addition to Gate 2 being preserved, I think that any remaining pre-renovation bleacher sections should be saved and restored to their former glory (i.e. billboards, main scoreboard, dimension sign(s), auxiliary scoreboard, etc.). Also, the Gehrig Room, Yankees clubhouse, and Yankees dugout should be preserved. Not only could that area be used for the Yankees museum that was previously mentioned, but it would take up little park space since it is underground. Finally, (just a random thought) I think it would cool if former players could back to the clubhouse, take the walk down the tunnel and then re-create their first look at the Stadium by walking up the dugout steps and then imagining what it was like...

Best regards,
Zane

I think it's just wrong that the powers that be haven't confirmed or not, exactly what they will leave, if anything? The park is all I have ever read on here. Crying shame if they don't attempt to preserve some of the "actual heritage" of Yankee Field.

[jimmyjimjimz]

I'm all for saving a part of the stadium, but it's gonna be really hard to do. If theyre knocking the wall next to gate 2 down, what if there's structural damage to gate 2? I say build a wall around gate 2 if they can. We gotta come up with some more realistic suggestions. I doubt they'll save from dugout to dugout. The city won't want to pay for the repairs and all that. Once again, Gate 2 would be hard to save because there's a wall they gotta take down next to it, and what if part of gate 2 gets destroyed? The most realistic thing I can think of saving is the original outfield wall. Maybe they can keep the dugouts in, too. I also think they should save George Costanza's office, lol. They shoulda move that accross the street with Thurman's locker, lol. But seriously, it's not gonna be easy to save most of the stuff you guys wanna save. You gotta be more realistic.

[DGDGBD]

I think it's just wrong that the powers that be haven't confirmed or not, exactly what they will leave, if anything?

Actually, they (NYC Dept of Parks & Recreation) have confirmed that none of the above ground structure of the stadium will remain; and they are going to have multiple ballfields with one in the approximate location of the OYS field.

[DGDGBD]

found this on the net...maybe they plan to leave a portion of the back outside wall of the bleachers?
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc129/dhruth/misc/HeritageField010509.jpg

[SparkyL]

found this on the net...maybe they plan to leave a portion of the back outside wall of the bleachers?


This is great info. Can you provide the link?

[IPO]

Hello all,

Above all though, if this is to get any consideration, we need to stress that the Bronx will still get its parkland back as much as we can. This should almost be over-emphasized as anyone who is going to debate this with us will use that as their main rebuttal point.

If they are concerned about trees and having them replaced in one of the worst asthmatic regions in the country, then perhaps someone could draw something up that would show just how many trees (approximately) would and could be put in to mark the original structure's outline.

Maybe we could also work on illustrating several different proposals to show just what the different options are, but keep in mind that with EVERY proposal, we need to focus on the parkland around the Stadiums as well as Yankee Stadium itself.

Too many people are upset about losing parkland and trees that we need a plan that puts all of that to rest.


Maybe we should put a rest to any notion that the Yankee fan deserves anything and that those people in that neighborhood deserve everything and a lot more after what was taken from them after going without for years.

You had your chance to save Yankee Stadium, King George got his streakhouse and his grate hall on our dime and now you want baseball to be part of the parkland to that belongs to the taxpayers who paid the bonds for that monument to a convicted felon.

You deserve nothing, lobby to have the steakhouse stadium torn down and move back to the only Yankee Stadium if you want the property saved.

[DiggerODell]

found this on the net...maybe they plan to leave a portion of the back outside wall of the bleachers?
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc129/dhruth/misc/HeritageField010509.jpg

This is some dandy information! At least "it's something" . . . probably not as much as most would wish, but who knows what "change of plans" might occur during the actual razing. Great find DGDGBD!

[SparkyL]

This is some dandy information! At least "it's something" . . . probably not as much as most would wish, but who knows what "change of plans" might occur during the actual razing. Great find DGDGBD!

Yes - great find indeed - - - but I can't find it on the web - anyone else?


DGDGBD - - link please!!

[DiggerODell]

Yes - great find indeed - - - but I can't find it on the web - anyone else?


DGDGBD - - link please!!

No luck here, was hopin' he'd round back to your request.

[mackenzie]

Yes - great find indeed - - - but I can't find it on the web - anyone else?


DGDGBD - - link please!!

I also spent some time tonight looking for it and struck out. Went on both the Economic Dev't Corp. and NYC Parks Dept. websites and couldn't find it. It's hidden in plain sight, no doubt!

DGDGBD, please advise. It would be useful.

Regards,
Mark

[Pinstripes]

You had your chance to save Yankee Stadium, King George got his streakhouse and his grate hall on our dime and now you want baseball to be part of the parkland to that belongs to the taxpayers who paid the bonds for that monument to a convicted felon.Do you know what a bond is? Do you realize the beneficial income to the neighborhood that Yankee Stadium provides far outweighs the financial hit the neighborhood takes for issuance of the tax free bonds (which, by the way, will be paid back in full)?

I get the feeling that some people believe that if they complain enough, that their complains will reflect actual fact, rather than half-twisted truths with a heafty dose of bitterness mixed with opinion.

The Yankees should have just left the Bronx for greener pastures north of town or south of town back in the 1970s. We'd all be used to it by now, and the Bronx would have all sorts of "parkland" in that area, and no stupid stadium to deal with. Nevermind what the area around it would be like without the Yankees in town.

[Pinstripes]

I found this info with regard to Heritage Field. Not sure how recent it is or how accurate it remains:

http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_your_park/nyy_stadium/html/nyy_redevelopment.html
This 10-acre park to be located on the footprint of the old stadium features three championship-quality, grass athletic fields for baseball, softball, little league, discus, shot put, and javelin. The southern ballfield is oriented in the same alignment as the old Yankee Stadium ballfield and all fields offer spectator seating.

At Heritage Field, viewing mounds, overlooks, and on-grade bleachers provide a creative array of seating options for families. A new field-level public toilet is available for park users, with an adjacent garden irrigated by a natural rain water system. A tree-lined walking trail outlines the perimeter of the old Yankee Stadium with plaques and markers that commemorate its place in New York City baseball history.

The pedestrian promenade along Ruppert Plaza will feature ample walking space, shade trees, and terraces with plantings, seating, and landscaping. The plaza allows space for outdoor vendors along the promenade. A grand staircase, hill, and pedestrian ramp seamlessly connect the plaza to the adjacent Macombs Dam Park.

[IPO]

Do you realize the beneficial income to the neighborhood that Yankee Stadium provides far outweighs the financial hit the neighborhood takes

You mean like the financial hit the neighborhood now takes with all the restaurants and souvenir shops around the ballpark now rendered worthless because the convicted felon x2 needed a neighborhood of businesses inside his ballpark to go with all parking, concessions and no property taxes for the first time in the teams history to go with all the infrastructure we paid for because a bully wanted a new toy and more money to replace a perfectly good ballpark that made money?

This is almost as comical as those who defend them going to NYC for more handouts and them spend 500m on ballplayers the same month.

You get one ballpark, the wrong choice was made, real Yankee Stadium now belongs to the Bronx and those people who have to wait another two years to get back their parkland.

[kobathecat]

Sorry see below. How do you ignore this imbecile?

[kobathecat]

Iritating Penile Oriface.


Open wide.

[Pinstripes]

You mean like the financial hit the neighborhood now takes with all the restaurants and souvenir shops around the ballpark now rendered worthless because the convicted felon x2 needed a neighborhood of businesses inside his ballpark to go with all parking, concessions and no property taxes for the first time in the teams history to go with all the infrastructure we paid for because a bully wanted a new toy and more money to replace a perfectly good ballpark that made money?Again, keep repeating it, and maybe it will be the truth. You fail to take into account what the stadium means to the surrounding area. Regardless of the amount of business that it will take away from these mom and pop local businesses (mom and pop my @#$), there are still four million people passing through the neighborhood over the course of a season. In addition, there are how many jobs created between security, stadium workers, etc.

You complain about the tax breaks the stadium will get, but you neglect county sales tax that is added on to every single purchase made in that building. In addition, you fail to recognize the fact that if the stadium were gone and nothing but parkland existed there, parkland doesn't generate revenue - tax or otherwise. It provides no jobs, no tourist flow, and no incentive to spruce up the area around it.

Look, if you want to angrily spout off about how many tax breaks the new stadium is getting, that's fine by me. But to completely ignore all the benefits of having a stadium in that neighborhood is just being stubborn and closed minded. I honestly wish the Yankees had moved the stadium out of the Bronx back in the 1970s. There'd be nothing for the locals to complain about then, nor would there be any jobs or revenue from the two extra little league fields that would be there in its place.

Here's just some food for thought:

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/bronx/2008/10/27/2008-10-27_new_yankee_stadium_puts_up_championship_.html
Unfortunately, the extensive benefits of the stadium project to the people of the Bronx and to the city have been overlooked or not reported at all.

Even a cursory examination of these benefits, though, demonstrates why the city committed to this project in the first place. It's time to set the record straight.

Like the Yankees' 26 world championships, the stats on this project are staggering.

More than 6,000 mostly unionized construction jobs, with a quarter of the man-hours performed by Bronx residents.

- More than 1,000 new, mostly unionized permanent jobs. New and expanded park space.

- New parking garages that take cars off congested streets.

- A new Metro-North station.

- Plus, $40million in new tax revenue for the city, according to the analysis done when the project was approved. And the list goes on.

Nobody in his or her right mind would criticize these benefits.

But, somehow, because the project involves big-name baseball, critics characterize the money invested and the jobs created as being less real.

This kind of fuzzy logic deserves a loud Bronx cheer.

Unlike other recent stadium projects that have cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars in direct subsidies (like the new Nationals stadium in Washington, D.C.), construction of Yankee Stadium will be financed with tax-exempt bonds, paid back entirely with money from the Yankees.

The financing structure used was blessed by the IRS and is consistent with the long-established purpose of such tax-exempt bonds.

Further, the project is one of the most closely scrutinized in city history.

Not only were there nearly 20 open hearings on it, but various aspects of the project received approvals at the local, state and federal levels.

Finally, as part of the deal, the city was relieved of maintaining the fast-deteriorating, 86-year-old stadium, saving about $40million - not to mention protecting the public from hazards such as falling concrete.

And for the first time ever, the Yankees agreed that they will stay in the city for the next 40 years, or be required to pay substantial damages - starting at more than $1billion.

A great new monument is rising in the Bronx. Millions of people will enjoy the Bombers there for generations to come.

It will employ thousands of hard-working New Yorkers and generate tens of millions of dollars in new tax revenues to pay for more teachers, firefighters and police officers. If that's not a home run, what is?

Again, if people want to claim that there were questionable (perhaps illegal) practices involved in this all, that may be true. Of course, the fact that this happens on nearly all major construction projects holds true as well. In the end, sneaking around regulations or laws in order to benefit nearly all parties involved (short term or long term) means it's economically smart. It may be wrong, and the ends don't justfy the means, but people seem to conveniently ignore the facts when it suits their purpose.

The Bronx lost some parkland for a while. But the area is gaining some considerable benefits that many want to ignore.

[IPO]

Again, keep repeating it, and maybe it will be the truth. You fail to take into account what the stadium means to the surrounding area. Regardless of the amount of business that it will take away from these mom and pop local businesses (mom and pop my @#$), there are still four million people passing through the neighborhood over the course of a season. In addition, there are how many jobs created between security, stadium workers, etc..

I don't have to repeat it because it is painfully true in every direction and you are off topic, you don't get two stadiums or one and a 1/3 or the right to take parkland from a community that has been shut out since 2006 with no end to getting their land back in sight before 2011 earliest.

As to your point:
Jobs created? More like eliminated in a lower capacity ballpark that shuts out
most avg fans. Less capacity, less need for security, stadium workers ect.
US Celluar Convicted Felon II takes from the neighborhood and puts everything in King George III's pockets before he runs to City Council crying poverty with the other face of Randy Levine and then gives that money to a 300lb baseball player.


You complain about the tax breaks the stadium will get, but you neglect county sales tax that is added on to every single purchase made in that building.

Just like it would be in all the restaurants and businesses that the four million fans were going to before and after games already. Instead they now pay x10 for everything but air in King George III's castle.


In addition, you fail to recognize the fact that if the stadium were gone and nothing but parkland existed there, parkland doesn't generate revenue - tax or otherwise. It provides no jobs, no tourist flow, and no incentive to spruce up the area around it.

You fail to recognize that area is for parkland lost, not everything can be for baseball fans or generating revenue for King George III or NYC.


The Bronx lost some parkland for a while. But the area is gaining some considerable benefits that many want to ignore.

A while is a year, this will go on at least five years because real Yankee Stadium still stands until 2010. The only considerable benefits you want is more for baseball fans and nothing for residents outside King George III's corporate ballpark which is now it's own neighborhood.

[Pinstripes]

As to your point:
Jobs created? More like eliminated in a lower capacity ballpark that shuts out
most avg fans. Less capacity, less need for security, stadium workers ect. Capacity is only slightly reduced, and games will sell out almost every day. The total throughput in terms of fans will be roughly the same when all told (over 4 million). Additionally, you're talking about shutting out "most avg fans" (why, I don't know, since the cheapest tickets are still cheap), but that's a good thing... more "rich" guests means more money spent at the stadium which translates into more tax revenue.

US Celluar Convicted Felon IIWhat does the owner of the Yankees or the field's supposed resemblance to Cellular Field have anything to do with the economic facts at hand? Convicted fellon or not, ballpark design aside, those things have no factor whatsoever in the FACTS that you are ignoring.


Just like it would be in all the restaurants and businesses that the four million fans were going to before and after games already. Instead they now pay x10 for everything but air in King George III's castle. And that's 10x more sales tax revenue that must go directly to Bronx county. You're welcome. And were that many fans really eating in the Bronx? Seriously? Are there any quality restaurants next to the stadium that people would choose to eat at vs. just going home?

You fail to recognize that area is for parkland lost, not everything can be for baseball fans or generating revenue for King George III or NYC.Once again, YOU fail to recognize or admit that parkland doesn't create jobs, parkland doesn't generate tax revenue, parkland doesn't encourage the city to spruce up the area.

A while is a year, this will go on at least five years because real Yankee Stadium still stands until 2010. The only considerable benefits you want is more for baseball fans and nothing for residents outside King George III's corporate ballpark which is now it's own neighborhood.And once again, all of this crap about calling people names, making fun of CC Sabathia's weight, or the visual design of the field have NO impact whatsoever on the facts that you are still grossly ignoring.

Everything in city life is a tradeoff. People know that by living in a city there are positives and negatives. If the Yankees just packed up and left the Bronx, the community would be in such outrage that they wouldn't give a flying you know what that they had some extra parkland. Parkland is useless if your parents don't have a job and can't afford to buy you cleats, or if you're likely to get mugged on the way there.

Go ahead, man. Keep ignoring all the positives and continue your straw man argument that makes fun of Steinbrenner and the visual look of the new Stadium, rather than stating actual facts. Arguements from people who simply call people names are rarely taken seriously, and you make yourself sound incredibly unintelligent with the way you use those names. If you have a genuine, legitimate case to make, express yourself intelligently and using FACTS, not by acting like an irate Yankee hater who calls people names.

[IPO]

Capacity is only slightly reduced, and games will sell out almost every day. The total throughput in terms of fans will be roughly the same when all told (over 4 million). Additionally, you're talking about shutting out "most avg fans" (why, I don't know, since the cheapest tickets are still cheap), but that's a good thing... more "rich" guests means more money spent at the stadium which translates into more tax revenue.


I could debate with you all night on the finances but we already have a financial thread. Keep on topic which is the land, take the financial discussion there if you want and I'll be glad to keep going on it.

I will call the convicted felon x2 what he is and the ballpark we paid for what I want. Enough people think it's US Celluar and that's my choice.

Capacity
Once again, YOU fail to recognize or admit that parkland doesn't create jobs, parkland doesn't generate tax revenue, parkland doesn't encourage the city to spruce up the area.

That area is not about finances or baseball fans, it's about people getting back parkland that is supposed to be there because of this agreement who are going without for five years. You are very good at telling the residents too bad about your parkland but the Yankee fans want even more now.

There is no tradeoff, compromise or anything on that, the parkland is part of the deal that condemned the real Yankee Stadium to full demolition and nothing else.

You want to change it, the steakhouse ballpark has to be demolished in full and that land given back to the public, give back all the money for the new metro link while your at it around that parkland that's no longer needed.

Obviously the only thing you care about is what's good for the Yankees and the hell with the people that live there and had to put up with this and continue do nothing but lose huge in this deal.

You can have the marker where home plate is like every other dead and demolished ballpark, that's it.

[Pinstripes]

Obviously the only thing you care about is what's good for the Yankees and the hell with the people that live there and had to put up with this and continue do nothing but lose huge in this deal.And obviously you're ignoring me and putting words in my mouth, because that's not what I'm claiming.

Again, if the alternative were the Yankees not being allowed to build a new stadium in the Bronx, and therefore having to move elsewhere, would the neighborhood be better off? The parkland would then be plentiful, but what about the negative aspects of the Yankee departure from the Bronx?

And even if they stayed, let's say they chose to do a two-year refurbishment of the stadium itself. How would these poor, poor mom and pops survive for two years with exactly zero people visiting the stadium vs. 8 million people over the next two years?

The world and this country isn't just about parkland, especially in our cities. You don't want to lose it, but for a short period of time, if the tradeoff is the loss of significant jobs, let alone the potential loss of literally tens of millions per year in local tax revenue, then sometimes things like that are a necessary, and ultimately a net benefit to the community. Just ask the child of a jobless parent if they'd rather have another little field or if they'd rather their mom or dad could put food on the table.

I don't think anyone in here is claiming we save the entire stadium. In fact, many people including myself simply would like to see a piece of it survive. A protion that takes away NONE of the parkland, but only serves as further incentive for people to explore the area, adding to the appeal of the entire area.

And finally, don't lecture me on being off topic. You are the one that brought finances into the discussion in the first place with all this talk about the bonds and the greedy Yankees when it wasn't even relevant to the discussion nor to the poster who you were replying to.

[IPO]

And obviously you're ignoring me and putting words in my mouth, because that's not what I'm claiming.

Your telling us about people getting mugged and the neighborhood, you sound just King George III for decades trying to bully his way out of real yankee stadium as he blamed the neighborhood for everything.


Again, if the alternative were the Yankees not being allowed to build a new stadium in the Bronx, and therefore having to move elsewhere, would the neighborhood be better off? The parkland would then be plentiful, but what about the negative aspects of the Yankee departure from the Bronx?


The alternative was they were not going anywhere ever, he made too much money and lost all his leverage.

Oh that's right, the convicted felon x2 who comically threatened to move away from a ballpark less than ten years after it was remodeled that is in excellent condition to this day and did not need to be replaced at all and would have been laughed out of NYC if he tried. That balloon popped around 1996 forever.


And even if they stayed, let's say they chose to do a two-year refurbishment of the stadium itself. How would these poor, poor mom and pops survive for two years with exactly zero people visiting the stadium vs. 8 million people over the next two years?

Yankee Stadium did not require a two year refurbishment or any major refurbishment unless King George was being accused by some again of creating falling beams again like many wrote about in 1998. Funny in Boston or Chicago no one needs a two year refurbishment.


I don't think anyone in here is claiming we save the entire stadium. In fact, many people including myself simply would like to see a piece of it survive. A protion that takes away NONE of the parkland, but only serves as further incentive for people to explore the area, adding to the appeal of the entire area.

That piece you want no longer belongs to baseball fans at all, it's not yours to give or take but a communities.


And finally, don't lecture me on being off topic. You are the one that brought finances into the discussion in the first place with all this talk about the bonds and the greedy Yankees when it wasn't even relevant to the discussion nor to the poster who you were replying to.

Here's what I wrote, you took one small part and made it all about financing.

Maybe we should put a rest to any notion that the Yankee fan deserves anything and that those people in that neighborhood deserve everything and a lot more after what was taken from them after going without for years. You had your chance to save Yankee Stadium, King George got his streakhouse and his grate hall on our dime and now you want baseball to be part of the parkland to that belongs to the taxpayers who paid the bonds for that monument to a convicted felon.

You deserve nothing, lobby to have the steakhouse stadium torn down and move back to the only Yankee Stadium if you want the property saved.


Then you went mostly into a financial discussion.

Do you know what a bond is? Do you realize the beneficial income to the neighborhood that Yankee Stadium provides far outweighs the financial hit the neighborhood takes for issuance of the tax free bonds (which, by the way, will be paid back in full)?

[DGDGBD]

I also spent some time tonight looking for it and struck out. Went on both the Economic Dev't Corp. and NYC Parks Dept. websites and couldn't find it. It's hidden in plain sight, no doubt!

DGDGBD, please advise. It would be useful.

Regards,
Mark

Sorry guys, I went back and looked but can't find the link now. It wasn't an agency or gov't site. I'll keep trying.

[applenut]

As to your point:
Jobs created? More like eliminated in a lower capacity ballpark that shuts out
most avg fans. Less capacity, less need for security, stadium workers ect.

Man, you really don't have a grasp of the facts.

There are more than twice the amount of workers at New Yankee Stadium, and they are better positions with longer hours and better benefits.

there were 1250 concession stand workers at RYS..... there are now 2500... just an example.

It is very stupid for you to suggest there are less workers at the new stadium.... the increase in staff is incredible.... more bartenders, concession stands, food carts, security, hostesses, waitresses, busboys, field operations, ushers... you name it, there was a massive hiring increase.

[SparkyL]

Sorry guys, I went back and looked but can't find the link now. It wasn't an agency or gov't site. I'll keep trying.

Thanks.

How did you find it in the first place? Google search, some other tool?

Anyway, might it have been on the landscape architect's site?

http://www.tbany.com/projects_cat.php?categoryid=4

[IPO]

Man, you really don't have a grasp of the facts.

There are more than twice the amount of workers at New Yankee Stadium, and they are better positions with longer hours and better benefits.

there were 1250 concession stand workers at RYS..... there are now 2500... just an example.

It is very stupid for you to suggest there are less workers at the new stadium.... the increase in staff is incredible.... more bartenders, concession stands, food carts, security, hostesses, waitresses, busboys, field operations, ushers... you name it, there was a massive hiring increase.

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/bronx/2008/09/15/2008-09-15_yanks_beaned_taxpayers_stadium_report_sa-3.html
ALBANY -The new Yankee stadium got up to $850 million in taxpayer investments but will create just 15 permanent jobs, a scathing new report charges.

http://momandpopnyc.blogspot.com/2008/07/bobble-head-bloomberg-at-yankee-stadium.html

And what about all of those jobs? In another report GJNY wrote: "Subsidizing this stadium is a costly and inefficient strategy for creating jobs. Even by the city’s account, many of the “permanent jobs” created by this project will be seasonal and low-wage. Compared to other uses of the money, it is difficult to justify spending and foregoing hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue for poorly compensated jobs such as ticket takers, ushers, vendors,restaurant workers, and parking lot attendants. Jobs such as these would not effectively address thealarmingly high rates of poverty and unemployment in the stadium’s South Bronx community – the U.S. Congressional district with the nation’s highest rate of poverty. The surrounding community has been excluded from the planning process. Despite the massive sizeof this project, little or no effort was made to include community residents in its development. This topdown approach has created resentment among many residents, park advocates, and transportation groups. Public officials have taken great pains to expedite the public review and subsidy allocation processes while obscuring the deal from local residents. As a result, many residents believe the new stadium would not address the long standing needs and concerns of their community."

And let's not forget, Mayor Mike, how this deal-along with the Gateway Mall-makes a mockery of all of your sustainable development malarkey. As Good Jobs points out: "It was June 2005, and residents of the South Bronx enjoyed the return of summer while playing in their cherished Macombs Dam and Mullaly Parks. They had no idea that in these waning days of the legislative session in Albany city and state representatives were stealthily preparing to introduce "emergency" legislation in Albany that would seize the parks."

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/14/nyregion/14about.html?n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/People/T/Thompson,%20William%20C.%20Jr.
The city is proud of the deal, officials say, because it will create “1,000 permanent new jobs.” If you scratch into the official filings, it turns out that there are actually only 22 new full-time jobs expected. The rest are seasonal positions — valuable, certainly, but only if they really exist.

And what if the team doesn’t create 1,000 new jobs? Does the city have any mechanism to hold the team accountable, to get back some of its investment?
Asked about this on Tuesday, Mr. Lombino, the spokesman for development corporation, said there is none.

[NYFan1stYankFan2nd]

found this on the net...maybe they plan to leave a portion of the back outside wall of the bleachers?
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc129/dhruth/misc/HeritageField010509.jpg

There's absolutely NOTHING in that plan diagram that contextualizes what stood in the place of those three baseball diamonds - NOTHING!

It seems beyond the shadow of a doubt, and beyond anything to do with money, that the City - at least - wants a clean break from the Yankee Stadium of the past 85.6 years. Period.

There's plenty of spare change to realize some of the preservation concepts posted here by B-F participants. The City simply does not want to do it.

That's my shake on the matter.

[IPO]

There's absolutely NOTHING in that plan diagram that contextualizes what stood in the place of those three baseball diamonds - NOTHING!

It seems beyond the shadow of a doubt, and beyond anything to do with money, that the City - at least - wants a clean break from the Yankee Stadium of the past 85.6 years. Period.

There's plenty of spare change to realize some of the preservation concepts posted here by B-F participants. The City simply does not want to do it.

That's my shake on the matter.

Your very good spending a neighborhoods spare change for what's best serves the Yankee interest and not those citizens who have suffered and continue to pay for this mess.

[kobathecat]

It could be better, but it could also be far, far worse.

Ebbetts Field: Ebbetts Field Apartments high rise crime infested tenements

Polo Grounds: high rise crime infested tenements

Shea Stadium: Parking lot.

Original Yankee Stadium: Park containing baseball fields and probable future site of Yankee Stadium 3 in 50-75 years, not that I will live to see it.

[stadiumbuilder]

The problem with this battle is in dealing with government. If the fate of the stadium lay in the hands of a private-for-profit concern (the Yankees), we would have leverage, I.E., if we don't get what we want, we withhold our support for your product. Businesses are kept honest because they want to remain profitable. We have no leverage with New York City or NY state because no one can be held accountable. Government has a monopoly and is run by politicians who are rarely held responsible for even the worst of their mistakes. Even if there were one or two people who we could point the finger of blame at, there's still no recourse. If the original YS disappears completely, who are we going to blame, Bloomberg? Schumer ("h" is silent), The Bronx borough president? Bush? NY parks commission? Baseball owners decided at some point they wanted public money, which as we've found out through recent experiences enables the politicians to feel they have the right to call the shots. The Yankees sold out part of their interests in the team when they partnered with the city. Blame them. You can't blame the politicians, they just did what they do best, which is look out for their own self interests. Maybe if you offer to name the park after schumer you'll get his attention. This is an unfortunate situation they've put some of us veteran fans in. I wish you guys luck, your hearts are in the right place, but I don't have the slightest idea what direction would be effective.

[Paul W]

why not encourage playing the game?
making the footprint of the oys a monument instead of making space for kids to play and enjoy the game is a waste of valuable parkland.
my dad played there, he was signed by yankees and got an education that he would not have been able to afford if not for playing the game.
rod carew was discovered by twins scout herb stein there (mccombs dam pk.).
my parents worked in the front office there, but even they would agree that a monument superceding playing fields is wrong.
playing the game there will make the site living monument.

[stadiumbuilder]

No suggested monuments take up significant space. Gate 2 into the park and a playing field on the original footprint. The new field(s) are going to have stands and saving a bit of the original lower stand to serve one of the new playing fields isn't going to ruin anybody's good time. Getting it done is the hard part.

[Paul W]

it's always the hard part...

[NYFan1stYankFan2nd]

Your very good spending a neighborhoods spare change for what's best serves the Yankee interest and not those citizens who have suffered and continue to pay for this mess.

Are you suggesting I care/feel little for the concerns of those Bronxites living within, ohhh, 1 quarter mile radius of the pitcher's mound at OYS?

Because I certainly do. I'm just trying to balance those interests with the desires of those, including your's truly, who want to preserve something, even the outline, of an athletic facility which is probably the most steeped in history of any built since 1900.

Preserving Gate 2, or, preserving even 1/3rd of the Field Level Seating bowl and the diamond exactly where everyone from Jackson to Jeter played on, or, creating an outline of the original Osborne structure with a two-three-foot limstone wall with a series of planter boxes, or any other such ideas other B-F participants might have aren't going to impinge all that dearly on the need to restore park space consumed by the construction of NYS(which IMO was unnecessary in the first place - the NYS is simpy a giant Vice-grip intended to squeeze every last freakin' DIME out of the NYY franchise!! - so we wouldn't be having this conversation today)

I think a lot of locals in that neighborhood would love to be able to roll their kids in their strollers to the exact point where that homeplate was and face them obliquely toward that Court House, so they could enjoy the same view many a Yankee and Visiting batter experienced "back in the day".

This in no way requires preservation of the ENTIRE ORIGINAL PART OF THE EXTERIOR WALL of OYS, or the Upper Deck, or the entire Bleachers.

Come on, people, let's bring some BALANCE into these proposals.

[IPO]

I'm just trying to balance those interests with the desires of those, including your's truly, who want to preserve something, even the outline, of an athletic facility which is probably the most steeped in history of any built since 1900.

This is not about balance, that property should have nothing to do with the Yankees or baseball in any way, any longer. It's designated entirely for the community. Every single square foot top to bottom.

The only balance Yankee fans want is to have something more for baseball, I'm sorry the only Yankee Stadium is coming down but that ship has sailed unless he can be forced back there and his steakhouse we built for him is demolished entirely.

[SparkyL]

Pinstripe . . .

. . . any chance you could apply your photoshop magic to these two pics and show how the preserved Gate 2 would look with the new parkland?

:pray:

Thanks . .

[trucky941]

I am not a Yankee fan but a Mets fan but i feel preserving this landmark is a very important issue here in NY. This is what they did in Detroit for the old Tiger stadium. Baseball leauges around the area could use the facility. Maybe high schools could use it as local championships or even for state championships. What kid wouldn't want to play in such a historical ballpark in a championship game.

[RichardLillard1]

Hello all,

To anyone and everyone reading this; if you are interested in helping in any way that you can, or are interested in knowing what can be done to help, please PM me at your earliest discretion.

I would appreciate from any of you and I look forward to hearing from you if you are interested. Plans are being thought up right now, and we need all of the help we can get if anything is to be done.

I know there are some of you that will despise our very attempts, but please take the following into consideration... you cannot fault us for trying to do what is right in our eyes. Yes chances came and went, but there is still a chance to do something about it and while that chance is present, we intend to do all we can.

So if, for ANY reason you want to help, please, PM me and we can talk further. If you are nervous about it or anything, please let me know. We just want everyone's help to do all we can.

I'll end this plea with the images below. Being from Phoenix, Arizona it is a bit hard to see something as meaningful as The House That Ruth Built and it is perhaps for that reason that it means so much to me that something be saved. However, on November 3rd, 2008 - after the final baseball season for Yankee Stadium came to an end, I saw it for the first time in my (so far) young life. I'll never know what the roar of fans sounded like and what watching the ball sail over the fence looked like here, but I have these few memories. I would like there to be at least something left the next time I go to 161st St and River Ave.

Below is my reaction to seeing one of the gates that is now destroyed being open and being able to see inside and also my. initial reaction after walking through the tunnel the first time


Richard


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a286/RichardLillard1/New%20York%20Trip/DSC00333.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a286/RichardLillard1/New%20York%20Trip/DSC00339.jpg


*This post is a duplicate that is being posted in both the Yankee Stadium Demolition thread as well as the Saving Yankee Stadium thread.

[SparkyL]

I am not a Yankee fan but a Mets fan but i feel preserving this landmark is a very important issue here in NY. This is what they did in Detroit for the old Tiger stadium. Baseball leauges around the area could use the facility. Maybe high schools could use it as local championships or even for state championships. What kid wouldn't want to play in such a historical ballpark in a championship game.

Interestingly,that was basically the original plan - but the people of the neighborhood were the ones who rejected it. They want 3 fields rather than one.

[IPO]

I am not a Yankee fan but a Mets fan but i feel preserving this landmark is a very important issue here in NY. This is what they did in Detroit for the old Tiger stadium. Baseball leauges around the area could use the facility. Maybe high schools could use it as local championships or even for state championships. What kid wouldn't want to play in such a historical ballpark in a championship game.

And what about the kids who just want to go play in a park and have gone without since 2005 to get their parkland back? It's not a landmark, it's a massively remodeled stadium from 1976.

I feel bad for some of you, the convicted felon wanted his steakhouse, you did not fight him to save your stadium which did not need to be replaced at all, you don't get any part of the old one now at that neighborhood's expense.

Go lobby to tear down the steakhouse and move back home and you got my support.

[donut726]

And what about the kids who just want to go play in a park and have gone without since 2005 to get their parkland back? It's not a landmark, it's a massively remodeled stadium from 1976.

I feel bad for some of you, the convicted felon wanted his steakhouse, you did not fight him to save your stadium which did not need to be replaced at all, you don't get any part of the old one now at that neighborhood's expense.

Go lobby to tear down the steakhouse and move back home and you got my support.

actually, a large part of the structure still standing is original from when the stadium was first opened. I don't understand why they can't preserve at least a portion of the exterior facade, which can nicely mirror the new stadium across the street, and it wouldn't take up much footprint at all.

[IPO]

actually, a large part of the structure still standing is original from when the stadium was first opened. I don't understand why they can't preserve at least a portion of the exterior facade, which can nicely mirror the new stadium across the street, and it wouldn't take up much footprint at all.

Why should anything that takes up one square foot at those people's expense for one minute longer than it takes to replace that parkland. How about the convicted felon give back Babe Ruth plaza and part of the grate hall for a free year round indoor park for kids to play in or a school?

That would be a nice mirror for the parkland too.

[scooterfan]

I want to preserve a piece of Yankee Stadium, but instead of building a park on the sacred site I feel the city should force the Yankees to build a 4 story fitness center on the site, free of charge for all Bronx residents. The city should make the Yankees foot the bill for construction and upkeep.

The land that the stadium sits on is home to the poorest congressional district in America, and it houses some of America's sickest children because the air quality is so bad. A multi-purpose gym/fitness center would be great for the community.

[scooterfan]

IPO, I don't blame this entirely on George. He had a lot of bean counters whispering in his ear. Guys like Levine and Trost. If George were well he would be totally embarrassed at the spectacle known as the destruction of Yankee Stadium.

That argument that Yankee Stadium was totally destroyed I don't agree with. The renovation was beautifully done and it preserved the architectural integrity of the original design and what we lost with the frieze we gained when it circled the outfield.

[IPO]

IPO, I don't blame this entirely on George. He had a lot of bean counters whispering in his ear. Guys like Levine and Trost. If George were well he would be totally embarrassed at the spectacle known as the destruction of Yankee Stadium.

He's been looking for an out on Yankee Stadium since Randy Levine was in grade school. By the mid-80's and earlier he wanted a brand new ballpark and held the city hostage for years not paying rent or fighting them for every penny like a bully and anyone who has followed his yankee career as owner knows he's never been well with his antics.


That argument that Yankee Stadium was totally destroyed I don't agree with. The renovation was beautifully done and it preserved the architectural integrity of the original design and what we lost with the frieze we gained when it circled the outfield.

I'm well aware the renovation did not destroy the stadium completely but aside from the shell, and the decks with the bleacher base it's virtually unrecognizable from the pre 76 version. During the renovation the frieze was chopped up like garbage and discarded so more rows could be added to the upper deck which is why you lost your frieze and in that era no one said a word about preserving anything.

Just like everyone slept through this nightmare to approve building a completely unnecessary 1.5 billion dollar monument on our dime to a convicted felon's wallet.

Like I wrote before I feel bad for Yankee fans who love the old park and want some part of it to stay, but after what's transpired and what that team has been given that community has lost far too much to a selfish, greedy baseball team that spends 500m dollars on ballplayers and then goes to the City council with a straight face demands more tax-payer funded bonds.

One of those stadiums has to go in full, every single inch. I perfer it be the convicted felon's new steakhouse.

[shaneslatts]

Hello all,

To anyone and everyone reading this; if you are interested in helping in any way that you can, or are interested in knowing what can be done to help, please PM me at your earliest discretion.

I would appreciate from any of you and I look forward to hearing from you if you are interested. Plans are being thought up right now, and we need all of the help we can get if anything is to be done.

I know there are some of you that will despise our very attempts, but please take the following into consideration... you cannot fault us for trying to do what is right in our eyes. Yes chances came and went, but there is still a chance to do something about it and while that chance is present, we intend to do all we can.

So if, for ANY reason you want to help, please, PM me and we can talk further. If you are nervous about it or anything, please let me know. We just want everyone's help to do all we can.

I'll end this plea with the images below. Being from Phoenix, Arizona it is a bit hard to see something as meaningful as The House That Ruth Built and it is perhaps for that reason that it means so much to me that something be saved. However, on November 3rd, 2008 - after the final baseball season for Yankee Stadium came to an end, I saw it for the first time in my (so far) young life. I'll never know what the roar of fans sounded like and what watching the ball sail over the fence looked like here, but I have these few memories. I would like there to be at least something left the next time I go to 161st St and River Ave.

Below is my reaction to seeing one of the gates that is now destroyed being open and being able to see inside and also my. initial reaction after walking through the tunnel the first time


Richard


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a286/RichardLillard1/New%20York%20Trip/DSC00333.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a286/RichardLillard1/New%20York%20Trip/DSC00339.jpg


*This post is a duplicate that is being posted in both the Yankee Stadium Demolition thread as well as the Saving Yankee Stadium thread.

Wow, a picture says a thousand words, dosent it?
There was a sense of awe when you entered Yankee Stadium. Were there 'better' parks? Yup. Were they Yankee Stadium? Nope.
Dont get me wrong. NYS is a very nice replica of the real YS. Its all quite nice. And sure, I will go to the new place.
Looking at Richards reaction, its easy to remember how I felt when I first walked in there in 1973. And now, maybe its time to wake up to what we are losing, and to at the very least, protest about it while this Old Lady is still here.
If its only a few of us trying to save a part of her for future generations, so be it.
I will not sit by idly while she is turned into rubbel and not say a word.
Maybe one day, to those of you who dont care, your kids will be thankful that they will be able to walk inside, look at her old walls and maybe a few stands and have the same look on their faces as Richard. And they will say to themselves, or to their fathers "THIS is where it all happened'. They wont just look at a field and have to guess where things were.
Thats why preservation is important. Its not about just some old men who"want to save their youth". Its about the future, and your kids future. Its about allowing our children and grand children to have, on their faces the same look of awe that Richard had when he saw the old girl, up close and personal for himself.

[yankees650B]

i still think they could preserve dugout to dugout as well as a few other aspects of the stadium and still offer the public parkland at the same time.

[SparkyL]

i still think they could preserve dugout to dugout as well as a few other aspects of the stadium and still offer the public parkland at the same time.

That would be nice.

The problem is that the field is below street level (15-20 feet?) and they need to fill that in to add the 2 other fields.

[stadiumbuilder]

The field as built in 1922-3 was 5 ft below street level. The renovation took it down another 5. They can just cut several rows off the front of the lower stands to bring it up to grade. The demo company and the city probably see this issue as a headache they don't want. Saving parts makes the deconstruction more surgical in nature, consuming time and money. Of course the renditions shown on BF make sense but I don't think the people calling the shots are fans. We care, they don't. If you can find a way to make them care, then you're in business.

[yankees650B]

That is true, but it could almost work well because once the stadium is demolished it would make a natural bowl around the original field that slopes down toward the field level. people could then sit on the grass and have a picnic or watch a game going on.

[SparkyL]

That is true, but it could almost work well because once the stadium is demolished it would make a natural bowl around the original field that slopes down toward the field level. people could then sit on the grass and have a picnic or watch a game going on.

But again, they want 3 fields and not 2. Looking at the new (and more detailed renderings of the planned park - to make all 3 fields fit they extend out to the perimeter of the property - making any type of indentation unworkable.

[yankees650B]

this is a little more accurate. the dugouts were much farther towards home plate.

[SparkyL]

this is a little more accurate. the dugouts were much farther towards home plate.

Hmm - not bad.

Question - assuming everything is to scale - are the other 2 fields up to regulation size? There would also need to be a slope - probably with a retaining wall, between the old field and the 2 new ones (which is not a bad thing) - but that should be shown.

What you may want to try doing is take the Concept Study image (since it looks like those fields are the right size) and then apply your design to that. Even if you have to print in in color, cut and paste (for real :)) and scan it.

[yankees650B]

the two smaller fields are pretty close to little league regulation, the larger field on top of the old bleachers is roughly the size of a middle school level field and the real field could be used from high school level through college and even the major league. i also thought it would be cool to have picture of the old stadium mounted on the two retaining walls.

[DGDGBD]

this is a little more accurate. the dugouts were much farther towards home plate.

The field you have on the top left may not fit because there is an access structure for the elevated subway tracks there.

[yankees650B]

i just think that if tiger fans where able to influence whoever they needed to to get a portion of tiger stadium preserved why would Yankee stadium the true cathedral of baseball, probably the most important structure in new york. i cant believe the latest plans call for it;s complete destruction. it's unfortunate that some parkland was taken away but there must be another solution that would both preserve the structure in some way and provide parkland.

[DGDGBD]

i just think that if tiger fans where able to influence whoever they needed to to get a portion of tiger stadium preserved why would Yankee stadium the true cathedral of baseball, probably the most important structure in new york. i cant believe the latest plans call for it;s complete destruction. it's unfortunate that some parkland was taken away but there must be another solution that would both preserve the structure in some way and provide parkland.

IMO, leaving a portion of the bleachers would be the perfect solution. It wouldn't be a high maintenance remnant or require a lot of engineering to accommodate. Since they are bringing the field back to street level, a bleacher remnant would not stick up as high as it does now. It could also used for spectators of the big field. That seems to be a relatively realistic goal to accomplish rather than a plan to leave a portion of the main stadium. That's not going to happen because it would be a high maintenance remnant, require 24 hour security, require a lot of engineering design work, and take up a lot of space. A remnant of a portion of the field level stands is less onerous, but will still take up a lot of space and will not work with raising the field level.

[Captain Cold Nose]

Randy Levine is that you or someone else on the convicted felon's payroll? Why don't you just demolish the entire South Bronx for Yankee baseball and go eminent domain on every building or acre of property.

Is it possible for you to just post on the subject matter at hand and not try to pick a fight because you disagree with the people trying to speak positively about the new stadium? For someone who complains as much as you do about not following the rules, you sure do like to disrupt things.

[Captain Cold Nose]

Ignore is a good feature but pleasde levae it at that, and leave well enough alone.

[IPO]

Ignore is a good feature but pleasde levae it at that, and leave well enough alone.

I am not off topic in writing nothing should be on that land that is Yankee-related and YS should not be saved.

I put up the history of Macombs Dam Park and what's happened to make my point and got flamed for it, the community thinks it's a big negative too.

[SparkyL]

I not off topic in writing nothing should be on that land that is Yankee-related and YS should not be saved.

I put up the history of Macombs Dam Park and what's happened to make my point and got flamed for it, the community thinks it's a big negative too.

IPO - I will try this one time and be done. We all get you anger over what the Yankees and Steinbrenner did by leaving a historic stadium and using a park in one of the poorest neighorhood to build a new (and expensive) one.

We get it.

But - we Yankees fans, who are also fans of OYS/RYS, simply want something meaningful to remain. Something that will have zero impact on the park facilities.

Have a lasting piece of YS is in no way us supporting NYS, or dissing the people in the neighborhood.

Thinking any other way is "cutting off your nose to spite your face" and those of us who want to preserve something refuse to be think like that.

[SparkyL]

i just think that if tiger fans where able to influence whoever they needed to to get a portion of tiger stadium preserved why would Yankee stadium the true cathedral of baseball, probably the most important structure in new york. i cant believe the latest plans call for it;s complete destruction. it's unfortunate that some parkland was taken away but there must be another solution that would both preserve the structure in some way and provide parkland.

Here's why:

1) RYS is right across the street from NYS. Tiger Stadium is not near Comerica. If it was, the Tigers would have wanted it gone pronto, as well.

2) Detroit was under no legal obligation to replace parkland.

3) Tiger Stadium's neighborhood is full of empty lots, so replacing it with something else wasn't (and still isn't) "valuable."

4) Sadly, there is a very active, organized and prominent "Save Tiger Stadium," who started even before the decision to build a new park. Most Yankee fans don't care. I remember reading that the Yankees always dreaded the fan backlash and were suprised by the eventual lack of any.

[frank72]

Here's why:

1) RYS is right across the street from NYS. Tiger Stadium is not near Comerica. If it was, the Tigers would have wanted it gone pronto, as well.

2) Detroit was under no legal obligation to replace parkland.

3) Tiger Stadium's neighborhood is full of empty lots, so replacing it with something else wasn't (and still isn't) "valuable."

4) Sadly, there is a very active, organized and prominent "Save Tiger Stadium," who started even before the decision to build a new park. Most Yankee fans don't care. I remember reading that the Yankees always dreaded the fan backlash and were suprised by the eventual lack of any.

I think the lack of a backlash is at least partly due to the commonly held belief that the only thing left from the original stadium is the superstructure and beams. I consider myself a student of Yankee history and I never realized how much of the original stadium is actually still there until I read about it here on Baseball Fever. People need to know that the original concrete outer facade is original (although it was coated with something during the renovation) and is worthy of preservation.

[shaneslatts]

I think the lack of a backlash is at least partly due to the commonly held belief that the only thing left from the original stadium is the superstructure and beams. I consider myself a student of Yankee history and I never realized how much of the original stadium is actually still there until I read about it here on Baseball Fever. People need to know that the original concrete outer facade is original (although it was coated with something during the renovation) and is worthy of preservation.

Exactly.
I'm constantly amazed at folks who believe that Yankee Stadium was totaly demolished in 1974-1975.
Old Yankee Stadium is very much there, and it's not hidden in anyway.Most folks that I know understand that they will have to give away all of the renovated sections of YS, and most of the original as well in oder to save SOME of the original.To almost everone, that has neve been an issue. The issue is desstroying all of YS, including the 1923 original outer walls, the Lou Gerig room, in short, all of it, with MAYBE a bronz plaque remaining

[IPO]

IPO - I will try this one time and be done. We all get you anger over what the Yankees and Steinbrenner did by leaving a historic stadium and using a park in one of the poorest neighorhood to build a new (and expensive) one.

We get it.

But - we Yankees fans, who are also fans of OYS/RYS, simply want something meaningful to remain. Something that will have zero impact on the park facilities.

Have a lasting piece of YS is in no way us supporting NYS, or dissing the people in the neighborhood.

Thinking any other way is "cutting off your nose to spite your face" and those of us who want to preserve something refuse to be think like that.

I will also try this one time and be done, this really has nothing to do with the convicted felon's steakhouse unless you can get it torn down and the only real stadium reopened, I only wish all of you were awake when it's fate was determined.

And you always WANT SOMETHING AT THE NEIGHBORHOODS EXPENSE.

None of you thought of McCoombs Dam Park (built before YS) and what that area meant to generations of people who WANT SOMETHING BACK and get nothing but parkland on top of parking garages that are closed 81 days in summer for Yankee baseball and still you want more that absolutely will have impact.

All in the name of Yankee fans wanting something more for themselves.

[SparkyL]

I will also try this one time and be done, this really has nothing to do with the convicted felon's steakhouse unless you can get it torn down and the only real stadium reopened, I only wish all of you were awake when it's fate was determined.

And you always WANT SOMETHING AT THE NEIGHBORHOODS EXPENSE.

None of you thought of McCoombs Dam Park (built before YS) and what that area meant to generations of people who WANT SOMETHING BACK and get nothing but parkland on top of parking garages that are closed 81 days in summer for Yankee baseball and still you want more that absolutely will have impact.

All in the name of Yankee fans wanting something more for themselves.

OK - now I see where you are coming from and you are flat out wrong. You are making the sweeping accusation that Yankees fans, by and large, wanted a NYS, wanted to screw the neighborhood out of their parkland - that we are co-conspirators with the Yankee organization. And because of this "sin," we have no right to ask for a drop of anything "Yankee" on the site of OYS.

Hanging on my wall is a letter that I received from then Bronx Boro President Ferrer thanking me for my support of his Yankee Stadium renovation plan back in 1998. That support was in the form of a detail response to his proposal sent to the Yankees, NYC officials and media.

I've continued to send letters to support a R-RYS to the Yankees and NYC officials. So now that what's done is done - I want something to remember YS on that site.

[IPO]

OK - now I see where you are coming from and you are flat out wrong. You are making the sweeping accusation that Yankees fans, by and large, wanted a NYS, wanted to screw the neighborhood out of their parkland - that we are co-conspirators with the Yankee organization. And because of this "sin," we have no right to ask for a drop of anything "Yankee" on the site of OYS.

Unfortunately you do not see where I am coming from at all and completely wrong.

I never wrote yankee fans wanted a New Yankee Stadium or any of them are co-conspirators with a convicted felon who made a back room deal to decide the parks fate and that means they are not entitled to ask for anything or anyone has sinned.

All I maintain is more of you should have stepped up to at least try and prevent what happened or seen it coming because he was going for this in one way or another since around 1985 or even earlier, because it happened does not make it your fault either.

Having written that.....

What about the rights of generations of people who spent their lives in McCoombs Dam Park which was built before YS and did not get anything to remember that special area for them? If they did not get anything why should they go without even more for you?

Most of you are great at only telling me you want something to remember YS on that site for you.

What about those people who have nothing to remember their park?

[Mike Wagner]

Dear IPO,
I've been reading your posts, along with the other posts. I knew you sounded angry, but couldn't figure out why. Now I know (if not, correct me). I take it you live near Macombs Dam Park. So, you and other residents lost out when the new Yankee Stadium came onto the scene. I can't blame you for being mad. I'm sure I would be, too, given that the Yankees are rich and can do what they want, while the residents near the Park lost their recreational area, most likely without any say in the matter. For that, I'm sorry that happened.

I'm 53 years old, and went to both the pre-renovated and renovated Stadium.
I didn't want a new Stadium, but, who am I? I have no power, money, or influence. So, I'm like you. What's done is done. I will ALWAYS be a Yankee fan. I grew up in West Hemplstead, but have lived in Texas since 1990. But, I'll ALWAYS be a New Yorker!!!

Just out of curiosity, what sort of remembrance were you thinking of with regard to McCombs Dam Park? A plaque, or what? Since I'm not up there, is any of the Park left?

You want the same thing as we do. You want a portion of the Park for a remembrance, and we want a portion of Yankee Stadium for our remembrance. Same thing.

Also, to my understanding, years ago, I'm positive I read that some walls of Yankee Stadium would be left standing in the design of the new parkland. That's why nobody said anything. We were led to believe that part of Yankee Stadium would still be with us. The plans changed on us.


And, for everyone on this thread...let's think out of the box. In addition to the old Yankee Stadium site, is there also another site within a couple of blocks that can also be used for a park or recreational area? Or any condemned buildings in the area that will come down anyway?

-Mike Wagner

[IPO]

Dear IPO,
I've been reading your posts, along with the other posts. I knew you sounded angry, but couldn't figure out why. Now I know (if not, correct me). I take it you live near Macombs Dam Park. So, you and other residents lost out when the new Yankee Stadium came onto the scene. I can't blame you for being mad. I'm sure I would be, too, given that the Yankees are rich and can do what they want, while the residents near the Park lost their recreational area, most likely without any say in the matter. For that, I'm sorry that happened.

I'm 53 years old, and went to both the pre-renovated and renovated Stadium.

I didn't want a new Stadium, but, who am I? I have no power, money, or influence. So, I'm like you. What's done is done. I will ALWAYS be a Yankee fan. I grew up in West Hemplstead, but have lived in Texas since 1990. But, I'll ALWAYS be a New Yorker!!!

Just out of curiosity, what sort of remembrance were you thinking of with regard to McCombs Dam Park? A plaque, or what? Since I'm not up there, is any of the Park left?

You want the same thing as we do. You want a portion of the Park for a remembrance, and we want a portion of Yankee Stadium for our remembrance. Same thing.

Mike, there is no one person at BF I respect more than you and your book efforts the last two years on the renovation, there was a time not long ago I would be completely in your corner on this along with many of these posters.

It would be the easy thing for me to be on your side who wants something for myself to remember, but it's not the right side any longer.

I love Yankee Stadium as much as you do and think it's stands for something special but after seeing what those people lost which was just as special to them as Yankee Stadium is to you and NOT being a Bronx resident the New York Yankees and every one of their fans now deserves exactly what those people got when they lost what they had for generations without one single thought for their parkland or their neighborhood.

Which is absolutely nothing.

I now think Yankee fans should feel exactly what those people feel who lost something special to them lost without any regard for them at all.

Every single thing associated with the only Yankee Stadium should be completely eradicated with the same cold disregard with what was special to generations of Bronx residents who were on that land decades before there was a Yankee Stadium.

Those people and that community have paid enough, outside the box would be let Steinbrenner pay entirely to find some condemned buildings if he wants to create his own footprint to old Yankee Stadium and move the remains to that location on his dime which will never happen.

Those people paid enough, they paid a lot, the land the only Yankee Stadium sits on now belongs to them.

Thanks.

[Mike Wagner]

Dear IPO,
Thank you for your kind words about me and my book. I understand and respect what you say. And, I agree with your point of view. Just as you have yours, we have ours.

I've always felt the community should benefit from the razing of Yankee Stadium. I also feel that the Stadium is so interwoven in the fabric of American History (and my personal love of the Stadium), that a part of it should remain. That would be only right.

Some years ago I went to Philadelphia for my first and only time. I was very excited, as I wanted to visit Benjamin Franklin's home. I was very disappointed when all I saw was a metal outline of where his home stood. And, that's more than is planned for Yankee Stadium. To have nothing there will be a big disappointment to current and future generations. We've all had times when we looked so forward to something, then found out it wasn't there any longer. It's always a sad time when you plan to visit somewhere and it no longer exists, or you can't go due to renovations, or something else.

I wish the people in the South Bronx would be able to have a say as to what they would like in the park, as they will be the ones to enjoy it. It should be tailored to their needs and likes.

I know you disagree with us wanting to save a portion of the Stadium, and I understand why. You have your side, and we have ours. All I can do is tell you I respect your point of view. You have reasonable points, and so do we.
I do wish the new Macombs Dam Park (If that will be the name) will be better than the old one. That would most certainly, I would think, help take the sting out of things.

-Mike

[scooterfan]

I remember watching the news on WPIX one night in the late 80s and for the first time I heard that Steinbrenner would one day want to move to the Meadowlands. I was shocked, but never thought anything so preposterous would happen.

For the next few years there were occasional murmurs about the Yankees going to the Meadowlands but it was just talk. Then the $hit hit the fan in 1993 when the yankees got good again yet only drew 2.4 million. Steinbrenner started complaining about poor attendance, and he and other Yankee executives used Sterling and Kay to start denigrating Yankee Stadium, complaining about the traffic and parking around the stadium, and start lavishing effusive praise on the new ballparks.

Then 9-11 hit and I thought Yankee Stadium would stand for many years because with the loss of tax revenue from the destruction of all those offices I never thought the city would be so irresponsible to partially in a round about way help fund new baseball stadiums, but a corporate guy like Bloomberg allowed the completion of two new baseball stadiums even before the new World Trade Center got off the ground. Mind boggling.

[IPO]

Dear IPO,
Thank you for your kind words about me and my book. I understand and respect what you say. And, I agree with your point of view. Just as you have yours, we have ours.

I've always felt the community should benefit from the razing of Yankee Stadium. I also feel that the Stadium is so interwoven in the fabric of American History (and my personal love of the Stadium), that a part of it should remain. That would be only right.

Some years ago I went to Philadelphia for my first and only time. I was very excited, as I wanted to visit Benjamin Franklin's home. I was very disappointed when all I saw was a metal outline of where his home stood. And, that's more than is planned for Yankee Stadium. To have nothing there will be a big disappointment to current and future generations. We've all had times when we looked so forward to something, then found out it wasn't there any longer. It's always a sad time when you plan to visit somewhere and it no longer exists, or you can't go due to renovations, or something else.

I wish the people in the South Bronx would be able to have a say as to what they would like in the park, as they will be the ones to enjoy it. It should be tailored to their needs and likes.

I know you disagree with us wanting to save a portion of the Stadium, and I understand why. You have your side, and we have ours. All I can do is tell you I respect your point of view. You have reasonable points, and so do we.
I do wish the new Macombs Dam Park (If that will be the name) will be better than the old one. That would most certainly, I would think, help take the sting out of things.

-Mike

Mike, I agree with you all the way and like I wrote love Yankee Stadium as much as you do, but I now think there is a great deal more to be learned from Yankee fans feeling the exact same disappointment and loss those residents now feel for what they lost which meant so much to them.

This way what did happen will never be permitted to happen again at the expense of some greedy person's ego. I know that's painful and a very tough life lesson but in this instance it's exactly the right lesson.

I know a lot of Yankee fans don't see that or refuse to see past the logo on the hat, I absolutely have no doubt your the rare exception who does (or who will get there as I did at some point) and as valuable as every brick or pile of dirt was to you on those grounds during the renovation is to experience what those people lost.

One other thing, does losing the original stadium for the new one take the sting out of losing the old one for you? I bet for you the answer will be never.

Welcome to their world.

Thanks.

[kobathecat]

Mike, there is no one person at BF I respect more than you and your book efforts the last two years on the renovation, there was a time not long ago I would be completely in your corner on this along with many of these posters.

It would be the easy thing for me to be on your side who wants something for myself to remember, but it's not the right side any longer.

I love Yankee Stadium as much as you do and think it's stands for something special but after seeing what those people lost which was just as special to them as Yankee Stadium is to you and NOT being a Bronx resident the New York Yankees and every one of their fans now deserves exactly what those people got when they lost what they had for generations without one single thought for their parkland or their neighborhood.

Which is absolutely nothing.

I now think Yankee fans should feel exactly what those people feel who lost something special to them lost without any regard for them at all.

Every single thing associated with the only Yankee Stadium should be completely eradicated with the same cold disregard with what was special to generations of Bronx residents who were on that land decades before there was a Yankee Stadium.

Those people and that community have paid enough, outside the box would be let Steinbrenner pay entirely to find some condemned buildings if he wants to create his own footprint to old Yankee Stadium and move the remains to that location on his dime which will never happen.

Those people paid enough, they paid a lot, the land the only Yankee Stadium sits on now belongs to them.

Thanks.


Aren't we a spiteful little *******, aren't we? May your home be the site of a future Wal-Mart, or better yet a Gaseteria station.

[Mike Wagner]

Dear IPO,

You'll always have that greedy person with the ego who will keep on doing the same thing. I don't like it, but it's been happening since the beginning of history. This won't be the last time. It will only end when people are extinct from the planet.

Does losing the old Stadium to the new one take the sting out of it for me?

I've seen posts and photos of the new Stadium. The positive reviews and great photos have taken the sting out of it. I love the pre-renovated Yankee Stadium much more than the post-renovated one, so while I knew I was at Yankee Stadium, it wasn't the same. Also, friends who have gone to the new Yankee Stadium say they love it. That's very encouraging. So, I do look forward to going there.

To have nothing of the old Stadium left will keep the sting in. To have part of it saved will take away a lot of the sting, as we will have a place to pay our respects. And, Yankee Stadium does deserve that at the very least.

I do hope the new Macombs Dam Park will be MUCH improved over the old one. I would think so, as everything will be new, and, I would think, with the latest and greatest technology, etc. It could be much worse. The city could plan on something instead of a park, such as parking lots or more buildings.

We all have to roll with the punches. It doesn't mean we have to like it, but to roll with them means you'll feel like Rocky Balboa in the 3rd round instead of the 14th. We love Rocky because he has heart. So does Yankee Stadium.

-Mike

[SparkyL]

Mike, I agree with you all the way and like I wrote love Yankee Stadium as much as you do, but I now think there is a great deal more to be learned from Yankee fans feeling the exact same disappointment and loss those residents now feel for what they lost which meant so much to them.

This way what did happen will never be permitted to happen again at the expense of some greedy person's ego. I know that's painful and a very tough life lesson but in this instance it's exactly the right lesson.

I know a lot of Yankee fans don't see that or refuse to see past the logo on the hat, I absolutely have no doubt your the rare exception who does (or who will get there as I did at some point) and as valuable as every brick or pile of dirt was to you on those grounds during the renovation is to experience what those people lost.

One other thing, does losing the original stadium for the new one take the sting out of losing the old one for you? I bet for you the answer will be never.

Welcome to their world.

Thanks.

IPO - I am not sure who is supposed to learn a lesson, us, the Yankees, Politicians?

In any case I am not sure why you feel that Yankees fans need to feel pain or be punished. Is that an eye-for-an-eye type of thing? Because if it is, it's the wrong other eye. The Yankee organization is to "blame," not us.

[04golf]

Then 9-11 hit and I thought Yankee Stadium would stand for many years because with the loss of tax revenue from the destruction of all those offices I never thought the city would be so irresponsible to partially in a round about way help fund new baseball stadiums, but a corporate guy like Bloomberg allowed the completion of two new baseball stadiums even before the new World Trade Center got off the ground. Mind boggling.

I posted about this exact topic in one of the YS threads here on the board. Its pitiful that NYC can build and demolish 2 stadiums in a 2-3yr span yet the WTC site is still a hole in the ground almost 8yrs later. After 9/11 I think alot of americans wanted the WTC rebuilt with two exact towers but a bit taller to show we could overcome. The WTC site is privately owned and the developers are planning on building the freedom tower (or now renamed 1WTC). A few weeks ago the developers asked NYC for $2Billion I believe, the developers said they dont have the money to build. NYC responded we dont have any money to give. This is just showing how bad of an economic time in NYC is right now. But Bloomberg can help fund two stadiums because well entertainment is important in america. Also companies are worried about leasing space in the freedom tower because they think its a target for terror. And remember the ecomony is soo bad right now, companies are going under, thousands are losing their jobs, there really might not be a need for more office space in lower manhattan for a long time to come. I think at this point they should make it a park and have the foot prints of the WTC as a memorial. A wall with everyones name who died on 9/11.

The Yankees and Mets got lucky, they were able to get the money before the economy hit the fan. If they were to ask for the same money right now they prob wouldnt get it. Right now in NYC teachers are losing jobs, fire stations are closing (I believe there was no 2008 class), police officers are taking cuts, mta is shutting down services. There needs to be priority in NYC and this country. Firefighters, police, teachers, public trans should be more important than entertainment. And this entertainment is all about squeezing the most money it can from the average joe. I dont like bloomberg, never have. I think he caters to the rich and could give a rats @$$ about the the average folk. He openly states we will be ticketing more to gain revenue because were in debt.

The money should have been spent otherwise. I think if the Yankees have $450million for 3 players they can pay for their own stadium IMO. The WTC is privately owned but if NYC can help out the Yankees and Mets they should have helped rebuild the WTC first.

[Mike Wagner]

Dear SparkyL,

You make a great point that I didn't even think of. I didn't ask the Yankees to build a new Stadium or build it on McCombs Dam Park. Actually, it seems that we're in the same predicament as IPO. We didn't ask for anything to happen to either place, but things have happened thanks to the Yankees and City of New York. Just as IPO had no say so, neither did we. At least we are now trying to have some say so.

-Mike Wagner

[scooterfan]

Actually Tiger Stadium is real close to Comerica, about a mile away. You're right, if Tiger Stadium stood next to Comerica the Tigers would've demanded Tiger Stadium's destruction because most fans would rather have watched a game at the old stadium than the modern cookie-cutter.

I was in Detroit a few years ago passing through town and I asked the Tigers if anyone could let me into Tiger Stadium. It was February. They said no, but they could let me see Comerica. I was like, who cares about Comerica. I wanted to see Tiger Stadium. Part of history. I drove by, and seeing those big old light towers was like going back in time, back to the 40s. It was a great site.

Yankee fans are being punished with the team Cashman has been putting out on the field the last several years. This team is old and over-paid and I'm expecting another embarrassing October. And as for the Bronx, a lot of Bronx residents really don't care about yankee stadium. Sad, but true. For years Yankee executives called Bronx residents "monkeys." That wasn't exactly a smart marketing strategy to boost attendance during the 80s. No wonder why the Mets out-drew the Yankees throughout most of the 80s into the early 90s.

The Yankee ownership is disgraceful. Remember the half-hearted "We Care" signs on the basketbal and handball courts. Yeah, sure. For years no one seemed to care about Yankee greed because they were winning, and furthermore George seemed to mellow a bit and how could you not love a jolly old man who cried every October when he was given his World Series trophy, but now that the playoff drought is increasing look for some much needed criticism to start exploding. I can see spending a couple thousand to see Jordan, Bird, Magic or the Babe play, but Edwar Ramirez and Chien Ming Wang, give me A break!!!!!!

[babalou]

so true. there are die hard Yankee fans in the Bronx, but the team is a seasonal thing and there are people who have to live in the area all year round. So at this point (after 2+ years of construction, NYS, new mall, Metro North station) people just don't care about OYS because the city (and the team) does whatever and the community is an after thought.

Even to "real" fans, the team feels just as corporate as the front office and they can only ride Jeter's charm for so long until he's gone for good.

Bottom line is that the city cares about money and a poor community isn't generating much of it. The team cares about money as well and they know they can attract the big spenders from Jersey, Connecticut and upstate. Those people (some of a them) look at the surrounding community of both stadiums as a joke.

As big of a Yankees fan as I am, the team talks about preserving history, but sends RYS/OYS off to the scrap pile without even getting in the city's ear about some plan of preservation, but can beg (along with the Mets) for hundreds of millions in tax free bonds to keep business booming.


Actually Tiger Stadium is real close to Comerica, about a mile away. You're right, if Tiger Stadium stood next to Comerica the Tigers would've demanded Tiger Stadium's destruction because most fans would rather have watched a game at the old stadium than the modern cookie-cutter.

I was in Detroit a few years ago passing through town and I asked the Tigers if anyone could let me into Tiger Stadium. It was February. They said no, but they could let me see Comerica. I was like, who cares about Comerica. I wanted to see Tiger Stadium. Part of history. I drove by, and seeing those big old light towers was like going back in time, back to the 40s. It was a great site.

Yankee fans are being punished with the team Cashman has been putting out on the field the last several years. This team is old and over-paid and I'm expecting another embarrassing October. And as for the Bronx, a lot of Bronx residents really don't care about yankee stadium. Sad, but true. For years Yankee executives called Bronx residents "monkeys." That wasn't exactly a smart marketing strategy to boost attendance during the 80s. No wonder why the Mets out-drew the Yankees throughout most of the 80s into the early 90s.

The Yankee ownership is disgraceful. Remember the half-hearted "We Care" signs on the basketbal and handball courts. Yeah, sure. For years no one seemed to care about Yankee greed because they were winning, and furthermore George seemed to mellow a bit and how could you not love a jolly old man who cried every October when he was given his World Series trophy, but now that the playoff drought is increasing look for some much needed criticism to start exploding. I can see spending a couple thousand to see Jordan, Bird, Magic or the Babe play, but Edwar Ramirez and Chien Ming Wang, give me A break!!!!!!

[Kaplanski]

Here are some renderings of one idea for preserving gate 2. I have no agenda around whether it's good for the neighborhood or not. That's for the residents and the City to decide.

This is just a conceptual exercise.

Note also that I didn't have the time to adapt the gate 2 area from the pre-renovation version that I had to what's currently there. I did take advantage of the wing wall that was probably demolished to put the escalator tower up - also mirrored it on the other side - for structural stability (it's a seven story structure after all).

I also incorporated the facade elements (pre-renovation to stand in for the existing fiberglass ones) to try and offset the mass of the entry portal standing alone.

Rick

[Mattingly85MVP]

Here are some renderings of one idea for preserving gate 2. I have no agenda around whether it's good for the neighborhood or not. That's for the residents and the City to decide.

This is just a conceptual exercise.

Note also that I didn't have the time to adapt the gate 2 area from the pre-renovation version that I had to what's currently there. I did take advantage of the wing wall that was probably demolished to put the escalator tower up - also mirrored it on the other side - for structural stability (it's a seven story structure after all).

I also incorporated the facade elements (pre-renovation to stand in for the existing fiberglass ones) to try and offset the mass of the entry portal standing alone.

Rick

Wow, great concept...and it wouldn't take up that much park space...I think this is a winner right here...GET IT DONE NYC PARKS DEPT.

[stadiumbuilder]

We still don't know if this version of the frieze is fiberglas or concrete. It would be much easier to accomplish Mr. Kaplanski's version if they're the former. Concrete pieces that large will need a lot of support. I still find it hard to believe they're only saving 5 pieces from scrap, that seems like lousy decision making.

[Paul W]

Wow, great concept...and it wouldn't take up that much park space...I think this is a winner right here...GET IT DONE NYC PARKS DEPT.

who's gonna pay to make it and upkeep when other city parks are wanting for funds?

[SparkyL]

who's gonna pay to make it and upkeep when other city parks are wanting for funds?

I gather you're not on board with this . . .

[Mattingly85MVP]

who's gonna pay to make it and upkeep when other city parks are wanting for funds?

They have no problem putting money into these projects...why not preserve some NYC history..if anything they could put some of the money from selling stadium memorabilia like seats and stuff and probably completely finance it

[Mattingly85MVP]

I still find it hard to believe they're only saving 5 pieces from scrap, that seems like lousy decision making.

Where did you read that? are they going to chop up the rest of the pieces and sell them?

[Mike Wagner]

Dear Kaplanski,

You've done it again!!!! Very nice job. Sort of reminds me of the Washington Monument in D.C. Also, I would think something like a bronze plaque giving the history of Yankee Stadium, as well as separate plaques of Babe, Lou, Joe, Mickey, and some others would add a nice touch. Additionally, a plaque explaining Macombs Dam Park would be in order, as that's an important part of the history.

Some people might say, "Why not just plaques and leave it at that?"

Plaques by themselves really offer no depth or feeling. We've all seen a marker of plaque by itself in historical areas, and there's not much that can be gained by that, except to know about a little bit of history. It's quickly forgotten. But, once you have at least a part of the actual building that people can see and feel, they'll have a much greater appreciation of what happened at such an historical spot. The impression is much greater, and will be remembered far more than a plaque, and nothing else.

Also, for all that Yankee Stadium has meant to baseball, and American History, it deserves more than to just be wiped off the face of the earth forever. People took great pride in all the pennant and World Series wins. People LOVE Babe, Lou, Joe, Mickey, Roger, Whitey, Thurman, Reggie, and the rest of our heroes, and what pride and joy they brought to New York.

To just erase every bit of this beloved ballpark is shameful to the City of New York and the New York Yankees. Apparently, both just think of the almighty dollar, and the hell with something that has helped make New York proud for many years.

The Yankees can shell out a zillion dollars for players who don't hold a candle to the Babe, Lou, or Mickey. Yet, they, and New York City won't respect their proud past by respecting the home that was the celebration of so many great events in the history of the Yankees, New York, and the United States.

As I said, I WILL ALWAYS BE A YANKEE in my heart and soul. But, I must admit, most of my heart is with the Yankees of yesteryear. Why? Because they gave a damn about their fans. Yes, they spend a ton of money on talent. But, talent alone doesn't cut it. You also have to have heart. It looks like today's Yankee organization gives a damn only about money, money, money. If I am wrong, please correct me.

-Michael Wagner

[stadiumbuilder]

Hey Mattingly85, how ya doing. Here's the post from Yanks Rule in the demo thread:I just got back from the yankee game, and at RYS, the guy heading deconstruction was there. He's actually excited to take down the place.

I found out the following

They are Taking down white part behind the bleachers this week

The actual Demo starts in june and takes a year!

Everything done by hand cause of subway- no wrecking ball like shea

All Concrete is being recycled

5 pieces of frieze are being sold, rest being destroyed

National geographic will be following and filming it like they did the orange bowl. They already started filming.

EDIT: forgot to add they are also raising the field to ground level for the park. I guess that's why the original plan to keep the infield field seats was scrapped. Unbelievable

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last edited by YanksRule; 04-04-2009 at 01:50 PM.

[Mike Wagner]

Dear Paul W,

I would think if a museum was put on part of the property, proceeds could then be used solely for upkeep at Heritage Park and other NYC parks. You would think that with the Yankees selling about 4 million seats for the year, that easily at least a few hundred thousand people would visit the museum.
At, say, $10. a head, that would add up. I'm trying to be conservative on the minimum of people visiting. And, that wouldn't include souvenirs.
-Mike Wagner

-Mike Wagner

[stadiumbuilder]

...not to mention any park that ends up there will require maintenance. The more old yankee concrete there is, the less grass and trees, which means less maintenance. They could save lots of money and lower taxes for everybody, which I know they've been itchin' to do anyway.

[Astros]

I'm all for placing something to commemorate the Yankee Stadium site. Placing the frieze on granite and it extends like a fence down a sidewalk, keeping a part of the Gate 2 wall....I'm all for it. However, I think any type of project like that has to take into consideration Monument Park inside the new stadium. Those are the plaques that have been held so special all these years and even though they are not on the original stadium site anymore, they still hold the history of the franchise and anything placed at Heritage Park should only enhance that and not take away from wanting to go see those older plaques. It would be kind of cool to place some plaques detailing the history of the stadium along with something commemorating the all-time Yankee Stadium team. Plaques could be placed along a sidewalk with the frieze honoring this team. The flag pole with the Gehrig bat should remain in place too. And yes, this all does cost money to upkeep so something has to be put into place fast regarding funds.

[Astros]

Dear Paul W,

I would think if a museum was put on part of the property, proceeds could then be used solely for upkeep at Heritage Park and other NYC parks. You would think that with the Yankees selling about 4 million seats for the year, that easily at least a few hundred thousand people would visit the museum.
At, say, $10. a head, that would add up. I'm trying to be conservative on the minimum of people visiting. And, that wouldn't include souvenirs.
-Mike Wagner

-Mike Wagner

If the Yankees had not placed a museum in the new place then that could work. However I think the Yankees would not want anything to detract from the museum they already charge admission for with stadium tours.

[Mike Wagner]

Dear Friends,

In my earlier diatribe, I failed to mention that another big reason the Yankees &/or the City of New York should have a fitting monument to Yankee Stadium is that if one is not present, it WILL come back to haunt them. Generations will ask why not a shred of this grand, historic ballpark was left for the ages.

For the sake and welfare of the New York Yankees and New York City for the future, they had better show proper respect for the past. If not, it will come back to haunt them.

-Mike Wagner

[Swoboda4]

Here are some renderings of one idea for preserving gate 2. I have no agenda around whether it's good for the neighborhood or not. That's for the residents and the City to decide.

This is just a conceptual exercise.

Note also that I didn't have the time to adapt the gate 2 area from the pre-renovation version that I had to what's currently there. I did take advantage of the wing wall that was probably demolished to put the escalator tower up - also mirrored it on the other side - for structural stability (it's a seven story structure after all).

I also incorporated the facade elements (pre-renovation to stand in for the existing fiberglass ones) to try and offset the mass of the entry portal standing alone.

Rick

Hey Kaplanski, I saw this awhile ago, but haven't taken the time to compliment you again. Great job! I wonder if you would have the time to render this version I tried. I know it would never actually get done. It is too big, I suppose. But, I would be honored if you, as the master 3D artist, could take the time to render it properly. No rush, but I would be fascinated to see it. You could even pm it to me, if we don't want to take up posts. I understand if you don't have the time.

Cheers and thanks!

[Paul W]

Dear Paul W,
I would think if a museum was put on part of the property, proceeds could then be used solely for upkeep at Heritage Park and other NYC parks. You would think that with the Yankees selling about 4 million seats for the year, that easily at least a few hundred thousand people would visit the museum.
At, say, $10. a head, that would add up. I'm trying to be conservative on the minimum of people visiting. And, that wouldn't include souvenirs.
-Mike Wagner

They have no problem putting money into these projects...why not preserve some NYC history..if anything they could put some of the money from selling stadium memorabilia like seats and stuff and probably completely finance it

1. where would the "museum" be located?
2. will it take away from parkland?
3. who would run it? nyc parks? the team?
4. who will pay for construction & upkeep?
4. who will staff it?
5. how will the exhibits be acquired? the folks across the street aren't
gonna give up anything unless they get a cut. they have their own
museum.
6. would this be open year-round?
7. who pays to keep the parking open later (staffed/security) after games.
the parking structures do close within 1-2 hours after games.
8. what kind of perimiter would have to be established around the
"monument"? how much parkland would be used up by this?

as a "blue sky" idea it sounds good. but this will end up being another boondoggle involving the team and city bureaucracy. i'm all for useful landmarks preservation like gct.
again, as i've mentioned in a previous posting, making the maximum space available for use as parkland will benefit future generations as a living monument. i know that my dad played in macombs dam park (as well as rod carew and others went on to college & pro baseball) and baseball enabled him to afford a college education.

any markings of shea in the new parking lot should be paid for by the mets 100%.

btw - who is "they"?

[frank72]

From the newstadiuminsider blog. Perhaps The Babe's grand daughter might be inteested in lending her name to the effort to preserve a small piece of RYS?

For Linda Ruth Tosetti, the granddaughter of the great George Herman "Babe" Ruth, the nightmare began three years ago. It was a summer day in August 2006, and the Yankees had invited her and her husband to the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Yankee Stadium. Although it felt wrong that the ceremony was being held on the 58th anniversary of her grandfather's death, she politely obliged, recognizing that it was the right thing to do, being a direct descendant of the legendary Yankee. Unfortunately for Mrs. Tosetti, the day turned sour from the start. As Tosetti remembers it, shortly after the ceremony began, the Yankees announced, "on this anniversary of Babe Ruth's death let's say goodbye to the House That Ruth Built and hello to the House that George Steinbrenner Built."



Tosetti was shocked. "My husband Andy and I sat frozen, trying not to react with the hurt we felt that they would be that rude with us in the bleachers! It was so disrespectful to my grandfather. This was the day it became official that my grandfather's 'house' was coming down and the monuments were being moved. I am still trying to figure out why we were invited." It would be easy to assume that Tosetti's relationship with the Yankees would have deteriorated from there. Sadly, although she was the granddaughter of the greatest player in the history of the franchise, she never really had a relationship with the Yankees.

After Tosetti's mother, Dorothy died in 1989, her family lost contact with the Yankees until 2005. It wasn't for lack of trying - while the Yankees would always return the calls of Dorothy, the daughter of Babe Ruth, Tosetti's attempts at contact fell upon deaf ears. In 2005, long-time Yankees PR Director Rick Cerrone invited Tosetti to bring her sister to the stadium to see Monument Park for the first time. During this memorable trip that also involved a meet and greet with most of the players, Cerrone broke the news to Tosseti that the new Yankee Stadium was a done deal. "I was told then that a new stadium was being built, but that my grandfather's house and the monuments would stay," Tosetti remembers. In 2006, Cerrone's contract was not renewed by the team, and any rekindling of a relationship between Ruth's family and the Yankees faded into the background, until the Yankees were set to close the old stadium.

Linda Ruth Tosetti did make one final trip to "her grandfather's house," on the day before the final game at the old Yankee Stadium. Once again, the Yankees reached out to the ever-accessible Tosetti, this time inviting her to present an award to the current face of the Yankee franchise, Derek Jeter. Although the Yankees had ignored letters from Tosetti earlier in the season, requesting the opportunity to purchase All-Star Game and Old Timer's Day tickets, she agreed to come. "At first I was reluctant, but decided to do it to give Derek Jeter, who I admire an award, and for the fans that wanted me to go. I also wanted to say goodbye to my grandfather's house and wore black to mourn it's passing. I have heard nothing from the Yankees since then," Tosetti said by email. Tosetti also noted that she was invited by her grandfather's first team, the Boston Red Sox, when the All-Star Game was held at Fenway Park in 1999.

It would be easy to confuse Tosetti's frustration with an irrational sense of entitlement and selfishness. After all, how far down the lineage of the great Babe Ruth should the Yankees cater to their every request? Her cause, however, is apparent. Tosetti runs the website retirebabesnumber.com and she dedicates much of her time ensuring that her grandfather's legacy is properly honored. The ongoing cause for her website is to convince Major League Baseball to retire Babe Ruth's No. 3 throughout baseball. She doesn't want the number to be taken off of the field, she just wants it to be commemorated in every stadium, making sure that people throughout the ages will understand the Babe's importance to the game.

Destruction of the "House That Ruth Built" has commenced and Tosetti is currently spending time writing letters to the Steinbrenner family, trying to convince the Yankee franchise to erect a statue of Babe Ruth in the newly built Babe Ruth Plaza. Tosetti has done the heavy lifting - she already has an artist in place named Palmer Murphy, and a rendering of the proposed statue (see photograph below). Once again, Tosetti's requests to the Yankees have fallen on deaf ears.

Tosetti is getting more frustrated by the day at the Yankees disinterest in the statue. "The Steinbrenners have my grandfather's house slated for the wrecking ball this month, they built the New Stadium on top of Babe Ruth Memorial Field in Macombs [Dam] Park and there is not even a statue for him in the new Yankee home," she said. She also fully expects there to be a statue in George Steinbrenner's honor at the "House that George Built."

The Yankees haven't only hit the ignore button on Tosetti. The team has not returned phone calls or emails requesting comment for this story. It appears that the franchise has no interest in adding Palmer Murphy's larger-than-life sculpture to the plaza that is described in the 2009 Yankees media guide as "honoring the man proverbially credited with building the original House that Ruth Built. Through a series of storyboards displayed on light posts, the Babe’s life
story is recounted throughout the plaza." According to Murphy, the cost of the bronze sculpture has been quoted by various foundries at $90,000 - a drop in the bucket compared to the $1.6 billion that the new Yankee Stadium cost to build.

Statues in honor of legendary sports figures are commonplace in sports. Fans attending Bulls games at the United Center in Chicago are greeted by a statue of Michael Jordan. At Beaver Stadium on the campus of The Pennsylvania State University, a bronze version of living legend Joe Paterno stands watch. On Friday evening, prior to the home opener against the Yankees, the Kansas City Royals dedicated a statue to the late manager of their 1985 World Series team, Dick Howser.

Tosetti hopes that placing a statue of Babe Ruth in Babe Ruth Plaza will bring the area to life, giving fans a reason to stop and remember the great Yankee. She has not yet been to the new Yankee Stadium and does not plan to unless the Yankees invite her for the dedication of a statue in Babe Ruth's honor. Friends of Tosetti's who have been to the new stadium have told her that Babe Ruth Plaza seems like an afterthought. She is told that Fans are herded through a large crosswalk, hurried through the stairs of Babe Ruth Plaza and directed towards entrances to the "Great Hall" by MTA employees with megaphones. The Yankees tout the storyboards about Babe Ruth on the light posts surrounding the stadium, but in the frenzy to get people through the doors, little time is allotted for fans to enjoy them.

Early returns from fans attending the exhibition games at the new Yankee Stadium have been mostly negative. Most eloquently, Alex Belth of Yankee blog Bronx Banter described the scene as a mall featuring a baseball field. The authors of "Yanks Fan, Sox Fan" noted that the new Yankee Stadium is all about exclusion. Andrew Fletcher of "Scott Proctor's Arm" pointed out that Monument Park is hidden away in center field, in the shadow of the obstruction also known as The Mohegan Sun Sports Bar. Benjamin Kabak of "River Ave. Blues" provided a striking comparison of the upper deck in the old Yankee Stadium against the Grandstand in the new Yankee Stadium, illustrating how much farther away fans are from the action on the field.

While Tosetti is unable to provide a firsthand account of the new stadium, she is not surprised by what she has heard from others. "I knew that the new stadium would be cold. You can not pre-build tradition & the echo of the golden days," and adds "I'm sorry that the fans were fooled by the Yankee propaganda. It got them excited and looking forward to all the great things that the Yankees promised. I was afraid that the new stadium was being done for the glory of the owners, not the fans."

Although she is aware that baseball is much more of a business today than it was back when her grandfather played, Tosetti is still upset by the complete disconnect between fans and players at the new Yankee Stadium. A players-only underground parking garage has forever changed the player-fan relationship. As Tosetti describes it, "Gone are the days where you could get a glimpse of your favorite player as they walked into the stadium, waiting after the game to hopefully get an autograph. They are far from the fans now. I tell the young players coming up, you must get back to the basics. Look a kid in the eye and say 'How Ya doing Slugger' and they will create a lifetime memory!"

She also fondly looks back on newspaper clippings from the time when her grandfather played (see below)

As a youngster, she was told stories of fans running onto the field of play to secure an autograph from her grandfather, Babe Ruth. Even when multiple fans would follow, the Babe would continue to sign autographs during the game, according to Tosetti.

The business of modern baseball dictates that players are more investment than human being. With hundreds of millions of dollars at stake, teams can ill-afford to have fans approaching their valuable commodities. Accordingly, the stadiums of today are more of a commerce center than a venue for watching the sport of baseball. After spending $1.6 billion dollars on a new Stadium, the Yankees have the responsibility as a revenue-generating business to cater to the most affluent people, who will provide a valuable return on all of their investments.

Even in the early 1940's, Babe Ruth understood the business side of baseball, but had a slightly different take. As quoted in the Hartford Courant from September 25, 1941, Ruth said "don't misunderstand me. I'm not trying to pretend that we - the players - have any altruistic mission in life. Frankly, as you may have guessed, we play baseball for a living - it's our job. And yet, I do believe that we accomplish more than just our own selfish purpose." Only time will tell if in building the new Yankee Stadium, the Steinbrenner family misunderstood what made the Yankee franchise great, and failed to "accomplish more than just their selfish purpose."

As thousands of fans get ready to stream into the new stadium for the regular season games, Tosetti remains skeptical about the long term success of the "House That George Built." "I think George wants to be remembered like my grandfather is. In my opinion, George built his own stadium to hold his fans. But I feel my grandfather never asked for this admiration, he earned it. It is not something you can buy from the fans or demand. It is there because the fans felt that love and respect Babe had for them and the time he took with each one. That is how Babe Ruth earned his place in history with baseball being his vehicle. When all the memorials are dust, Babe Ruth will always be remembered, especially in the hearts of all baseball fans."

[SparkyL]

Wow - that is a very powerful article.

[stadiumbuilder]

I had the pleasure to meet and spend some time with Mrs. Tosetti back in February. She was warm and genuine and I didn't hear a word of complaint from her about anything that was going on between her and the Yankees, although it sounds like she had every right to complain. When we were done, she gave my 17 year old daughter a big hug, which was for her a major thrill that she made sure everybody heard about for weeks after! I told her she'd been hugged by baseball royalty; she agreed. The legend of Babe Ruth was felt in full by her that day despite the fact that she was born 43 years after the demise of The Babe. I'm sure Mrs. Tosetti would be a great advocate for the save -the -stadium effort, but like I've said in previous posts, the fate of the stadium is in the hands of people who don't care the way the fans care. At this point the Yankees don't own the land or the stadium and are out of the picture, whether that would matter or not I don't know.

[Lucas718]

Dear Friends,

In my earlier diatribe, I failed to mention that another big reason the Yankees &/or the City of New York should have a fitting monument to Yankee Stadium is that if one is not present, it WILL come back to haunt them. Generations will ask why not a shred of this grand, historic ballpark was left for the ages.

For the sake and welfare of the New York Yankees and New York City for the future, they had better show proper respect for the past. If not, it will come back to haunt them.

-Mike Wagner

Much like folks of my generation wonder why nothing of Ebbets Field, The Polo Grounds, Sportsmans Park, or Crosley Field was preserved.

Parts of Braves Field, League Park, and Tiger Stadium were preserved. It would be a darn shame if something wasn't done to save at least some of Yankee Stadium. No other ballpark has as much history or is as much a symbol of the game of baseball as Yankee Stadium.

[Paul W]

the offices and rf bleachers at braves field were "preserved" because the university wanted to use them as part of the campus football stadium and police dept. hq. otherwise they would have been removed like the grandstand.

[Mike Wagner]

Dear Paul W,

Every question you pose is very reasonable. I promise I'm not trying to side step any of these issues. We've seen a lot of great ideas on Baseball Fever.
Some are grandiose and some simple. I guess the best thing I can say is that if we had something to actually work with, then we can get down to the nuts and bolts of what to do. Since there is nothing solid to work with, yes these are pie in the sky ideas. But, they are all good ideas created with intelligence and the love of Yankee Stadium in mind. Our hearts and souls are in the right place.

I do know that at the least there should be portion of Yankee Stadium saved. It would not take up much space. Kaplanski created a wonderful design, for instance. Just as Babe, Lou, Mickey, and the glorious Yankee history has earned our love and respect, so has Yankee Stadium.

I think what galls us the most is that worthless, ugly places not really worth a flip are declared historically important, yet don't hold a candle to the history of Yankee Stadium. That's what comes from corruption and political agendas. We are trying to do what is morally right and not political. Who says it pays to be honest?

-Mike Wagner

[Mike Wagner]

Dear frank72,

What a sad commentary. This battle should not even be a battle. Yankee Stadium should automatically have some sort of historic designation, with a part of it standing. People should be able to visit a remnant of this sacred shrine.

As sad as it is when Ebbets Field and the Polo Grounds were torn down, historic preservation weren't as important in many respects as it is now. With Yankee Stadium, there should be no question and no fight. Everyone in their heart knows it more than deserves some sort of respectful monument, and not to be destroyed forever.

What kind of threat does the City &/or Yankees see from keeping a small part of Yankee Stadium up for fans to see? The city and Yankees will lose prestige and respect for completely tearing down the greatest vestige of the Yankee glory years. I don't want the city or Yankees to lose any respect or support from the fans or anyone who holds Yankee Stadium close to their heart.

The most beloved entertainers are the ones who know where their roots come from, and don't deny those roots. It keeps them grounded and endears them to their fans. Yankee Stadium is the same way. The Yankees and City should not forget their roots. They will regret it as time goes on. Save a part of Yankee Stadium for fans to pay tribute to. It will raise the prestige and respect of the Yankees and New York City. This I can promise. To do otherwise will damage these qualities. That I can also promise.

-Mike Wagner

[shaneslatts]

Dear frank72,

What a sad commentary. This battle should not even be a battle. Yankee Stadium should automatically have some sort of historic designation, with a part of it standing. People should be able to visit a remnant of this sacred shrine.

As sad as it is when Ebbets Field and the Polo Grounds were torn down, historic preservation weren't as important in many respects as it is now. With Yankee Stadium, there should be no question and no fight. Everyone in their heart knows it more than deserves some sort of respectful monument, and not to be destroyed forever.

What kind of threat does the City &/or Yankees see from keeping a small part of Yankee Stadium up for fans to see? The city and Yankees will lose prestige and respect for completely tearing down the greatest vestige of the Yankee glory years. I don't want the city or Yankees to lose any respect or support from the fans or anyone who holds Yankee Stadium close to their heart.

The most beloved entertainers are the ones who know where their roots come from, and don't deny those roots. It keeps them grounded and endears them to their fans. Yankee Stadium is the same way. The Yankees and City should not forget their roots. They will regret it as time goes on. Save a part of Yankee Stadium for fans to pay tribute to. It will raise the prestige and respect of the Yankees and New York City. This I can promise. To do otherwise will damage these qualities. That I can also promise.

-Mike Wagner

Mike
You are exactly correct . It is just astounding to me that the 1923(ok, and the 1920s and 30s additions) are in danger of demolition. I think we have reached a very dangerous area here. It now seems that monuments to our past carry much less meaning then they used to. Maybe it is due to our society having more of a throw away mentality.
Yankee Stadium IS the House that Ruth Built. To see it just totaly demolished with MAYBE a marker would be a crime.

[Kaplanski]

Here are some renderings based on an outline from the Parks and Recreation department of the City of New York.

The facade colonnade needed to be changed so as not to interfere with the playing fields.

Rick

[atdy17]

Here are some renderings based on an outline from the Parks and Recreation department of the City of New York.

The facade colonnade needed to be changed so as not to interfere with the playing fields.

Rick

That is a great plan the department of parks should fallow.

[Paul W]

how much will this co$t the taxayers?

[stadiumbuilder]

how much will this co$t the taxayers?
To those on the left coast? Nothing.

[Paul W]

what about nyc/nys taxpayers (of which i was one for 4+ decades)?

[stadiumbuilder]

Probably a small fraction of what they waste in a typical day. They're building a park there anyway, and the gate is already present. They'd have to move the frieze into place and support it. All NY parks require maintenance, so it's not like they wouldn't be there from time to time, shrine or no shrine. They can construct a fountain for people to throw their money into while they're wishing for a view of the old park. That'll help with the expense.

[McDodger]

how much will this co$t the taxayers?

Probably less than the cost of the appetizers at a typical Presidential inaugural ball.

[SparkyL]

how much will this co$t the taxayers?

Probably a small fraction of what they waste in a typical day. They're building a park there anyway, and the gate is already present. They'd have to move the frieze into place and support it. All NY parks require maintenance, so it's not like they wouldn't be there from time to time, shrine or no shrine. They can construct a fountain for people to throw their money into while they're wishing for a view of the old park. That'll help with the expense.

Paul, remember that this is "forever." The thinking is the $$ spent is worth it. And as stadiumbuilder states - they piss away more money than what this would cost.

[SparkyL]

Here are some renderings based on an outline from the Parks and Recreation department of the City of New York.

The facade colonnade needed to be changed so as not to interfere with the playing fields.

Rick

One word: WOW!!!

[Mattingly85MVP]

what about nyc/nys taxpayers (of which i was one for 4+ decades)?

probably nothing since it can finance itself with all the money from memorabilia sales the city and yankees will get after they strip the place down

[Mike Wagner]

Dear Kaplanski,

How totally inspiring!!!!! And, it wouldn't cost much to construct, especially since the gate is already built there. The friezes ARE Yankee Stadium. I think this would complement the new Stadium, as a nice transition from the old to the new. Simple, yet elegant.

Most Sincerely,
Mike Wagner

[NYFan1stYankFan2nd]

Mike
You are exactly correct . It is just astounding to me that the 1923(ok, and the 1920s and 30s additions) are in danger of demolition. I think we have reached a very dangerous area here. It now seems that monuments to our past carry much less meaning then they used to. Maybe it is due to our society having more of a throw away mentality.
Yankee Stadium IS the House that Ruth Built. To see it just totaly demolished with MAYBE a marker would be a crime.

It is equally sad, Wag- and Kap- that the City, and very likely their 26-ringed tenants, do not want any part of this and simply don't care. They have all the history & tradition they need with them across the street.

Tragic.

[hlamont]

I don't think the Yankees want anything "up-staging" the NEW stadium (especially something so CLOSE in proximity). They want those fans IN NYS...not across the street wandering down memory lane.

[RichardLillard1]

That's an AMAZING rendering! Something I definitely think that we should all be checking into proposing somehow!!


Richard

[Chris Jones]

You have a "private message."

[Mike Wagner]

Dear hlamont,

I understand what you are saying. What I don't understand is how they think it would upstage the NYS. People can't see a MLB game at the OYS. It would be really for viewing only. I would think it would heighten the anticipation of seeing what the NYS is like.

I have no doubt the NYS is a magnificent structure. But, the Yankees &/or city shouldn't be intimidated by having OYS across the street. It would show where we WERE, whereas the NYS would show where we ARE. I truly think the Yankees &/or NYC government will be very much diminished in the eyes of people for totally destroying a structure that has brought so much joy, honor, pride, and positive history to the team and the city.

There is NO EXCUSE not to leave a decent portion standing for people to honor and pay their respects to the sacred building that has housed so many baseball legends and moments in the national pastime, as well as American History.

-Mike Wagner

[ubinfl]

I don't think the Yankees want anything "up-staging" the NEW stadium (especially something so CLOSE in proximity). They want those fans IN NYS...not across the street wandering down memory lane.

My feeling is that The City of New York and the New York Yankee organization should be looking at this project as a bridge to the future and not as a distraction between the old and the new.

The baseball history that took place in the old building is one that needs to be memorialized ON LOCATION in addition to whatever may be planned for Cooperstown.

The Yankee players have their Joe DiMaggio quote to tap each time they step from the club house into the dugout and onto the field of play.

With the Heritage Gate 2 Project in place, the fans will then have their place to "tap" as they enter the New Yankee Stadium.

Wake up NYC. Baseball lore is calling.

Bill
Stuart, Florida

[elmer]

The Babe inaugurated "Some ball yard" with a home run into what
would be known as Ruthville.

This link Is a "Tribute to Yankee Stadium" by MURDERERS ROW
with Chris Risola on guitar, The first Cut.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLTr-roN4QM&feature=channel_page

Tune in Tuesday at 11am "Live From Mickey Mantle's". Mark Healey
and Bill Jenkinson talk about Original Yankee Stadium
http://gothamsportsradio.com/LMM-Show-Page.html

[elmer]

New York Times Apr. 18, 1923

[VAPYankees4]

Why are we trying to save that gate? Shouldn't we be trying to save Gate 4? I know it has that pod popping out of it but i'm sure they could restore it to what it used to be. Gate 4 was the original gate and it would still be visible from the major deagen.

[David Atkatz]

Why are we trying to save that gate? Shouldn't we be trying to save Gate 4? I know it has that pod popping out of it but i'm sure they could restore it to what it used to be. Gate 4 was the original gate and it would still be visible from the major deagen.

Gate 4 is gone--totally destroyed. Gate 2 is mostly original--all the terracotta decorative pieces are still there.

[NYFan1stYankFan2nd]

New York Times Apr. 18, 1923

And that's the ONLY opening of YankeeStadium that matters. :cry:

[hlamont]

:crossfingers:...the the Stadium is a "National Landmark" and should have SOME part of it remain for future generations. The Yankees need to make this happen. I could see fans "stopping by" with their kids as they make their way to the NEW stadium. The Yankees are all about doing things with class and dignity. It would be a shame to squander THIS opportunity to "do the right thing"...because once it's gone, it's GONE

[hlamont]

My feeling is that The City of New York and the New York Yankee organization should be looking at this project as a bridge to the future and not as a distraction between the old and the new.

The baseball history that took place in the old building is one that needs to be memorialized ON LOCATION in addition to whatever may be planned for Cooperstown.

The Yankee players have their Joe DiMaggio quote to tap each time they step from the club house into the dugout and onto the field of play.

With the Heritage Gate 2 Project in place, the fans will then have their place to "tap" as they enter the New Yankee Stadium.

Wake up NYC. Baseball lore is calling.

Bill
Stuart, Florida

I'm in COMPLETE agreement! --- Thanks for the post!

[hlamont]

Dear hlamont,

I understand what you are saying. What I don't understand is how they think it would upstage the NYS. People can't see a MLB game at the OYS. It would be really for viewing only. I would think it would heighten the anticipation of seeing what the NYS is like.

I have no doubt the NYS is a magnificent structure. But, the Yankees &/or city shouldn't be intimidated by having OYS across the street. It would show where we WERE, whereas the NYS would show where we ARE. I truly think the Yankees &/or NYC government will be very much diminished in the eyes of people for totally destroying a structure that has brought so much joy, honor, pride, and positive history to the team and the city.

There is NO EXCUSE not to leave a decent portion standing for people to honor and pay their respects to the sacred building that has housed so many baseball legends and moments in the national pastime, as well as American History.

-Mike Wagner

Dear Mr. Wagner,
I can't agree with you MORE! If you can see it...and I can see it...how come the Yankees can't see it. This seems like a "no-brainer".

[mackenzie]

My feeling is that The City of New York and the New York Yankee organization should be looking at this project as a bridge to the future and not as a distraction between the old and the new.

The baseball history that took place in the old building is one that needs to be memorialized ON LOCATION in addition to whatever may be planned for Cooperstown.

The Yankee players have their Joe DiMaggio quote to tap each time they step from the club house into the dugout and onto the field of play.

With the Heritage Gate 2 Project in place, the fans will then have their place to "tap" as they enter the New Yankee Stadium.

Wake up NYC. Baseball lore is calling.

Bill
Stuart, Florida

Well said. Gate 2 would serve as a bridge in time. A portal to remind us of this continuum, this thread, of great New York and Yankee baseball past and present.

And I think that you have established a new routine for me and maybe others. Tap old Gate 2 and enter through new Gate 6.

I don't know, UB. I'm beginning to think a closet Yankee fan lurks under that Mets logo of yours :).

[Strawman]

"The Yankees" - meaning the corporate entity controlled by the Steinbrenner family of Tampa, FL - do not care a wit about the history at the real YS.

True Yankees fans, and New York baseball fans who happen to actively root for the other team in town, really do care.

But it's just too damned late.

Tearing town the real Yankee Stadium is a massive social and anti-preservation crime on the scale of demolishing the old Pennsylvania Station and the failed attempt (thank God) to rip down Grand Central in the late 60s. Every person involved with live to regret it, and it will go down as a truly horrendous and distasteful chapter in the history of a great city.

Renovation/restoration of the House that Ruth Built vs. 1.5 billion faux stadium in parkland = seems like an easy choice now.

Yet the crime occurs...and the wrecking ball looms.

[StrawberryField]

the problem is guys that the yankees destroyed several baseball fields, and a basketball courts to build NYS , and as a resident of this neighborhood who used these fields, and remembers the promise to replace them that is all that should matter. Best way to honor Old Yankees Stadium is to have kids playing on fields where these Yankees legends played. I think the old ghost wouldn't mind seeing kids play their game.

[ubinfl]

Well said. Gate 2 would serve as a bridge in time. A portal to remind us of this continuum, this thread, of great New York and Yankee baseball past and present.

And I think that you have established a new routine for me and maybe others. Tap old Gate 2 and enter through new Gate 6.

I don't know, UB. I'm beginning to think a closet Yankee fan lurks under that Mets logo of yours :).

Ahhh UM try as you might but know that I am a Mets fan second only to being a fan of the game and its great history. Of which simply by chance the Yanks and their existence in Yankee Stadium have set the pace for all others to follow.

Let's go Mets! :baseball::baseball:

But build that damn gate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'll speak at you later.
UB

[elmer]

[QUOTE=elmer;1497962]The Babe inaugurated "Some ball yard" with a home run into what
would be known as Ruthville.

This link Is a "Tribute to Yankee Stadium" by MURDERERS ROW
with Chris Risola on guitar, The first Cut.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLTr-roN4QM&feature=channel_page

[applenut]

the problem is guys that the yankees destroyed several baseball fields, and a basketball courts to build NYS , and as a resident of this neighborhood who used these fields, and remembers the promise to replace them that is all that should matter. Best way to honor Old Yankees Stadium is to have kids playing on fields where these Yankees legends played. I think the old ghost wouldn't mind seeing kids play their game.

Imagine kids playing on the original major league quality field with elements of Yankee Stadium preserved.... that would be incredible... instead they are getting softball fields.

And quit bitching about the parkland, it is being replaced and then some.... you have no reason to complain.

[stadiumbuilder]

************IMPORTANT********** Everybody that's interested in helping to get a portion of the stadium preserved check out Elmer's message on this thread from yesterday morning. The save the stadium movement is gaining momentum. I talked to the people that have been working on this issue since day 1 and they really feel it's within reach now. The event at Foley's is 11:00 am to 1:00 pm Monday the 27th. There's going to be press there so those of you who have made drafts of what you think could be done on this site, here is your chance to get them seen by the right people. Mayor Bloomberg may actually be on the fence now regarding this issue and from what I understand, has the authority to get it done. NO PARKLAND NEEDS TO BE SACRIFICED, so you naysayers don't need to go down that road again. I've been talking with these people the better part of a year now, and this is the most confident they've sounded. I believe Monday may be the moment anybody who felt something should be preserved have been looking for. If you would like to get involved or are just interested in stopping over at Foley's to check it out, send me a PM and I can give you some more info.

[frank72]

************IMPORTANT********** Everybody that's interested in helping to get a portion of the stadium preserved check out Elmer's message on this thread from yesterday morning. The save the stadium movement is gaining momentum. I talked to the people that have been working on this issue since day 1 and they really feel it's within reach now. The event at Foley's is 11:00 am to 1:00 pm Monday the 27th. There's going to be press there so those of you who have made drafts of what you think could be done on this site, here is your chance to get them seen by the right people. Mayor Bloomberg may actually be on the fence now regarding this issue and from what I understand, has the authority to get it done. NO PARKLAND NEEDS TO BE SACRIFICED, so you naysayers don't need to go down that road again. I've been talking with these people the better part of a year now, and this is the most confident they've sounded. I believe Monday may be the moment anybody who felt something should be preserved have been looking for. If you would like to get involved or are just interested in stopping over at Foley's to check it out, send me a PM and I can give you some more info.


Thats great news. I'm glad to see that progress is being made. All of you that have been working so hard on this worthy project deserve the thanks of baseball and american history fans everywhere. My work schedule is tight but I will try to come by for an hour or so if possible.

[stadiumbuilder]

The main people involved in the original movement are not members of baseball fever, but they do monitor what's said on here and they feel a number of regular posters to this thread and others have much to contribute.

[Mike Wagner]

Dear stadiumbuilder,

What greaat news!!!! As you know, many reasonable plans of different scales and scopes have been put on Baseball Fever for this event. To save a part of Yankee Stadium of of respect and love for the sacred ballpark would be a positive situation for New York City, the New York Yankees, baseball fans, and all Americans, as Yankee Stadium has been an integral part of all our lives since it was built.

People with diagrams, plans, etc., should bring these plans to the Foley's event. I'll bet many of these have not been seen outside of Baseball Fever.
Many of these concepts are intelligently and reasonably thought out. They deserve to be looked at and considered.

Respectfully,
Mike Wagner

[The Monument]

NYC Mayor Bloomberg is on the John Gambling radio show every friday morning. He takes calls from listeners and this might be a chance to question him on the future of OYS. The show is on from 5:30-9:00 am. I believe that the Mayor comes on at 8:00. It's at 710 on the AM dial. I went to the WOR website in hopes of emailing Mr Gambling with a few questions for Mayor Bloomberg, but did not see any email contact info. The station's main phone # is 212-642-4500. I got an automated menu there and pressed 3, after which I got a voice mail. Maybe someone here can try calling the show on friday.

[Chris Jones]

Hello "Pinstripes"...you have a "private message."

[mackenzie]

All,

A few weeks ago, some BBF members had discussed working together and developing a proposal to save a portion of the old Yankee Stadium wall at Gate 2 along with establishing a website to help get the message out. We've now completed these two tasks. Now we're ready to go to the next step of contacting those people that could help move this idea forward.

The website is www.savetheyankeegate2.com. If you click the "Download" tab, the proposal document itself comes up, which you can print and save. If you click the link at the bottom of the "Contact" tab, a page is generated whereas emails can be sent to us.

This proposal was developed by SparkyL, Chris Jones, and me with some good input from Shaneslatts and RichardLillard1. SparkyL's earlier proposal document posted several weeks ago was used as a basis.

Thanks to Pinstripes and Kaplanski for contributing the renderings that depict so well what we've had in mind. A thank you, as well, to the other BBF members who have posted photos and have granted us permission to use them.

We plan to contact (if not done already) various entities such as the local community, NYC Parks Dept., media, and other prominent persons that may be interested. If anyone in interested in assisting in this contact process or has suggestions in this regard, let us know. In the meantime, please feel free to pass this website/proposal to anyone that you think might be helpful in this effort.

Regards,
Mark

[SparkyL]

To follow up regarding our proposal . . .

What really makes something news worthy is when the people who select stories to run feel that there is interest.

The best way for them to see interest is if a bunch of people (that's all the people on this site) contact them and say "Hey, check this out - it's really cool and I support it."

It won't take a whole lot of people. I was talking to a Senator's aid a while back and he said, "if we get 20 letters on an issue in a week or two, that's a lot and we take notice."

So, download and save the PDF proposal, print/mail or e-mail as an attachment.

Here's a list to get started, but feel free to send to others. Letters to the Editor of newspapers are great - make sure you include the website address with this.

And if you live in NY (especially the City and super especially if you live in the Bronx) please contact you representatives.

Thanks for everyone's support!!


abcnews support@abcnews.go.com
Al Franken frankenal@hotmail.com
Alan Colmes colmes@foxnews.com
Bill O'reilly oreilly@foxnews.com
brian williams@msnbc.com brian.williams@msnbc.com
Chris Matthews chris.matthews@msnbc.com
countdown msnbc countdown@msnbc.com
crossfire cnn crossfire@cnn.com
Dateline NBC Dateline@NBC.com
editorCharlotteObserver opinion@charlotteobserver.com
EditorGuardian editor@guardianunlimited.co.uk
EditorTheStar oped@thestar.ca
hardball hardball@msnbc.com
Imus@msnbc.com Imus@msnbc.com
Jim Hightower info@jimhightower.com
Joe Conason jconason@observer.com
Meet the press MTP@NBC.com
Michael Moore mmflint@aol.com
Michael Moore news@michaelmoore.com
msnbc news World@MSNBC.com
msnbc tv viewerservices@msnbc.com
newsweek Letters@newsweek.com
newsweekweb WebEditors@newsweek.com
nightly@nbc.com nightly@nbc.com
Paul Krugman krugman@nytimes.com
PBS newshour newshour@pbs.org
Sean Hannity hannity@foxnews.com
Today@NBC.com Today@NBC.com

ABC News
77 W. 66 St., New York, NY 10023
Phone: 212-456-7777
General e-mail: netaudr@abc.com
Nightline: nightline@abcnews.com
20/20: 2020@abc.com
http://abcnews.go.com/service/help/abccontact.html


CBS News
524 W. 57 St., New York, NY 10019
Phone: 212-975-4321
Fax: 212-975-1893
CBS Evening News with Dan Rather: evening@cbsnews.com
The Early Show: earlyshow@cbs.com
60 Minutes II: 60II@cbsnews.com
48 Hours: 48hours@cbsnews.com
Face The Nation: ftn@cbsnews.com
http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/feedback/fb_news_form.shtml


CNN
One CNN Center, Box 105366, Atlanta, GA 30303-5366
Phone: 404-827-1500
Fax: 404-827-1906
http://www.cnn.com/feedback/


Fox News Channel
1211 Ave. of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
Phone: (212) 301-3000
Fax: (212) 301-4229
comments@foxnews.com
Special Report with Brit Hume: Special@foxnews.com
FOX Report with Shepard Smith: Foxreport@foxnews.com
The O'Reilly Factor: Oreilly@foxnews.com
Hannity & Colmes: Hannity@foxnews.com, Colmes@foxnews.com
On the Record with Greta: Ontherecord@foxnews.com
http://www.foxnews.com/foxfan/contact.html


NBC
30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112
Phone: 212-664-4444
Fax: 212-664-4426 For breaking news, please call our news desk at (212) 664-2731. Press releases should be faxed to (212) 664-2994 or e-mailed to newstips@nbcnewyork.com.

NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw: nightly@nbc.com
NBC News' Today: today@nbc.com
Dateline NBC: dateline@nbc.com
http://www.msnbc.com/news/435157.asp?0bb=-m1#nbcMSNBC
One MSNBC Plaza
Secaucus, NJ 07094
Phone: (201) 583-5000
Fax: (201) 583-5453
world@msnbc.com
Hardball with Chris Matthews: hardball@msnbc.com
MSNBC Reports with Joe Scarborough: msnbcreports@msnbc.com
http://www.msnbc.com/news/435157.asp?0bb=-m1#nbc


CNBC
2200 Fletcher Ave.
Fort Lee, NJ 07024
Phone: (201) 585-2622
Fax: (201) 583-5453
info@cnbc.com
http://moneycentral.msn.com/Content/CNBCTV/TV_Info/email.asp

[frank72]

Great work on this effort! I am emailing all of these news outlets this morning.

[stadiumbuilder]

Mayor Bloomberg's office needs to hear from as many people as possible. This is a very important place to apply respectful but forceful pressure. There is still lots of time to get something done as long as they're not planning on started the demo in the Gate 2 area.

[ubinfl]

All,

A few weeks ago, some BBF members had discussed working together and developing a proposal to save a portion of the old Yankee Stadium wall at Gate 2 along with establishing a website to help get the message out. We've now completed these two tasks. Now we're ready to go to the next step of contacting those people that could help move this idea forward.

The website is www.savetheyankeegate2.com. If you click the "Download" tab, the proposal document itself comes up, which you can print and save. If you click the link at the bottom of the "Contact" tab, a page is generated whereas emails can be sent to us.

This proposal was developed by SparkyL, Chris Jones, and me with some good input from Shaneslatts and RichardLillard1. SparkyL's earlier proposal document posted several weeks ago was used as a basis.

Thanks to Pinstripes and Kaplanski for contributing the renderings that depict so well what we've had in mind. A thank you, as well, to the other BBF members who have posted photos and have granted us permission to use them.

We plan to contact (if not done already) various entities such as the local community, NYC Parks Dept., media, and other prominent persons that may be interested. If anyone in interested in assisting in this contact process or has suggestions in this regard, let us know. In the meantime, please feel free to pass this website/proposal to anyone that you think might be helpful in this effort.

Regards,
Mark

To Mark and all others involved on this proposal I say "great work!" It is important to any true fan of the game of baseball that some piece of this ballpark be memorialized in it['s original location.

Bill
Stuart, Florida

[ubinfl]

To follow up regarding our proposal . . .

What really makes something news worthy is when the people who select stories to run feel that there is interest.

The best way for them to see interest is if a bunch of people (that's all the people on this site) contact them and say "Hey, check this out - it's really cool and I support it."

It won't take a whole lot of people. I was talking to a Senator's aid a while back and he said, "if we get 20 letters on an issue in a week or two, that's a lot and we take notice."

So, download and save the PDF proposal, print/mail or e-mail as an attachment.

Here's a list to get started, but feel free to send to others. Letters to the Editor of newspapers are great - make sure you include the website address with this.

And if you live in NY (especially the City and super especially if you live in the Bronx) please contact you representatives.

Thanks for everyone's support!!


abcnews support@abcnews.go.com
Al Franken frankenal@hotmail.com
Alan Colmes colmes@foxnews.com
Bill O'reilly oreilly@foxnews.com
brian williams@msnbc.com brian.williams@msnbc.com
Chris Matthews chris.matthews@msnbc.com
countdown msnbc countdown@msnbc.com
crossfire cnn crossfire@cnn.com
Dateline NBC Dateline@NBC.com
editorCharlotteObserver opinion@charlotteobserver.com
EditorGuardian editor@guardianunlimited.co.uk
EditorTheStar oped@thestar.ca
hardball hardball@msnbc.com
Imus@msnbc.com Imus@msnbc.com
Jim Hightower info@jimhightower.com
Joe Conason jconason@observer.com
Meet the press MTP@NBC.com
Michael Moore mmflint@aol.com
Michael Moore news@michaelmoore.com
msnbc news World@MSNBC.com
msnbc tv viewerservices@msnbc.com
newsweek Letters@newsweek.com
newsweekweb WebEditors@newsweek.com
nightly@nbc.com nightly@nbc.com
Paul Krugman krugman@nytimes.com
PBS newshour newshour@pbs.org
Sean Hannity hannity@foxnews.com
Today@NBC.com Today@NBC.com

ABC News
77 W. 66 St., New York, NY 10023
Phone: 212-456-7777
General e-mail: netaudr@abc.com
Nightline: nightline@abcnews.com
20/20: 2020@abc.com
http://abcnews.go.com/service/help/abccontact.html


CBS News
524 W. 57 St., New York, NY 10019
Phone: 212-975-4321
Fax: 212-975-1893
CBS Evening News with Dan Rather: evening@cbsnews.com
The Early Show: earlyshow@cbs.com
60 Minutes II: 60II@cbsnews.com
48 Hours: 48hours@cbsnews.com
Face The Nation: ftn@cbsnews.com
http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/feedback/fb_news_form.shtml


CNN
One CNN Center, Box 105366, Atlanta, GA 30303-5366
Phone: 404-827-1500
Fax: 404-827-1906
http://www.cnn.com/feedback/


Fox News Channel
1211 Ave. of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
Phone: (212) 301-3000
Fax: (212) 301-4229
comments@foxnews.com
Special Report with Brit Hume: Special@foxnews.com
FOX Report with Shepard Smith: Foxreport@foxnews.com
The O'Reilly Factor: Oreilly@foxnews.com
Hannity & Colmes: Hannity@foxnews.com, Colmes@foxnews.com
On the Record with Greta: Ontherecord@foxnews.com
http://www.foxnews.com/foxfan/contact.html


NBC
30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112
Phone: 212-664-4444
Fax: 212-664-4426 For breaking news, please call our news desk at (212) 664-2731. Press releases should be faxed to (212) 664-2994 or e-mailed to newstips@nbcnewyork.com.

NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw: nightly@nbc.com
NBC News' Today: today@nbc.com
Dateline NBC: dateline@nbc.com
http://www.msnbc.com/news/435157.asp?0bb=-m1#nbcMSNBC
One MSNBC Plaza
Secaucus, NJ 07094
Phone: (201) 583-5000
Fax: (201) 583-5453
world@msnbc.com
Hardball with Chris Matthews: hardball@msnbc.com
MSNBC Reports with Joe Scarborough: msnbcreports@msnbc.com
http://www.msnbc.com/news/435157.asp?0bb=-m1#nbc


CNBC
2200 Fletcher Ave.
Fort Lee, NJ 07024
Phone: (201) 585-2622
Fax: (201) 583-5453
info@cnbc.com
http://moneycentral.msn.com/Content/CNBCTV/TV_Info/email.asp

Holy camoly this is quite a contact list!!!!

[Gary Dunaier]

Sounds like someone who needs to get one

I could use one... are there any good stores around here? :crazy

[Philtration]

If they do decide to leave even a part of the old Yankee Stadium standing it will probably have more fans in it than the new place does.

[Yankees 9782]

What happened to www.savetheyankeegate2.com? It's not working.

[mackenzie]

What happened to www.savetheyankeegate2.com? It's not working.

It seems to be OK now. Let us know if you still can't access it.

[jimmyjimjimz]

If they do decide to leave even a part of the old Yankee Stadium standing it will probably have more fans in it than the new place does.


I doubt that. It would be more of a tourist attraction to go to before/after the game, so it would probably have the same amount of people. Or maybe even less. Some people like to get there late and leave early.

[JC Daly]

I could use one... are there any good stores around here? :crazy

Maybe here? :laugh

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/Walter_Gropius_photo_MetLife_Building_fassade_New_ York_USA_2005-10-03.jpg/450px-Walter_Gropius_photo_MetLife_Building_fassade_New_ York_USA_2005-10-03.jpg

[ubinfl]

[QUOTE=Strawman;1498889]"The Yankees" - meaning the corporate entity controlled by the Steinbrenner family of Tampa, FL - do not care a wit about the history at the real YS.

True Yankees fans, and New York baseball fans who happen to actively root for the other team in town, really do care.

"But it's just too damned late."

I seem to recall some words of wisdon spoken by one short stumpy catcher wearing the number 8...ummm it goes something like this: "It aint over till it's over!"

Until they throw the first shovel on top of you dont give up for one split second.

Bill
Stuart Florida

[NYFan1stYankFan2nd]

Maybe here? :laugh

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/Walter_Gropius_photo_MetLife_Building_fassade_New_ York_USA_2005-10-03.jpg/450px-Walter_Gropius_photo_MetLife_Building_fassade_New_ York_USA_2005-10-03.jpg

Boy, that photo speaks volumes. It's gettin' so I can't tell if it's NYC or Stamford Connecticut!

And to think they *almost* flattened GCT with that project - which I still call the "PAN AM" btw. ;)

[mackenzie]

As previously mentioned here, this event will take place at Foley's (18 W 33rd St. in NY) starting at 11 AM on Monday, 4/27. Mark Healey will be broadcasting his “Baseball Digest LIVE” Internet Radio show from 11 AM to 1 PM. The links below provides information about the show.

http://baseballdigest.com/featured/2...live-the-babe/

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/station...ll-Digest-Live

I will be there and will discuss our "Save the Yankee Gate 2" proposal with Mark Healey for a few minutes, although the main theme of the show will be the tribute to Yankee Stadium's 86 years and performance of songs dedicated to the Babe. His granddaughter, Linda Trosetti will be there.

Looking forward to this event and hope to see some of you there.

Regards,
Mark

[Mike Wagner]

Dear Mark,

I know you will do a great job because your heart is it and you're fighting for a just cause. You know we're behind you, as are the Babe and other Yankees of the past.

Most Sincerely,
Mike Wagner

[Philtration]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/Walter_Gropius_photo_MetLife_Building_fassade_New_ York_USA_2005-10-03.jpg/450px-Walter_Gropius_photo_MetLife_Building_fassade_New_ York_USA_2005-10-03.jpg

Boy, that photo speaks volumes. It's gettin' so I can't tell if it's NYC or Stamford Connecticut!

And to think they *almost* flattened GCT with that project - which I still call the "PAN AM" btw. ;)


It is still strange to see that building without the PAN AM logo on it.
Damn.... I am getting old.

[ubinfl]

Dear Mark,

I know you will do a great job because your heart is it and you're fighting for a just cause. You know we're behind you, as are the Babe and other Yankees of the past.

Most Sincerely,
Mike Wagner

If you guys knew Mark like I know Mark, you would know that if anyone can get this done, Mark can!!! He IS the Quintessential Baseball Fan and loves the Yankee tradition like few others.

Go get em UM!!!!!!!!!!

Bill
Stuart, Florida

[SparkyL]

If you support this effort and want to help, the best thing that you can do is write a letter to Mayor Bloomberg and copy other NYC officials. While letters from anyone is welcome, letters from NYC residents will carry the most weight.

The following is a sample letter. Please feel free to copy and paste it into Word and then add your own twist (so all the letters don't look a like). Note, this form letter assumes that you will print the propoal document and mail it with the letter. If not, please take out the statement "in the attached document and" in the paragraph being with "Details of"

You can also write letters to the editor of you local papers and to the major news stations.




April 26, 2009



Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg
City Hall
New York, NY 10007



Dear Mayor Bloomberg,



I am writing to you in support of preserving a meaningful section of Yankee Stadium.

New York City has been home to great baseball teams, as well as famous ballparks and stadiums. Over the years, these old ballparks became part of the fabric of the City, reflecting their teams as well as the neighborhoods they were in. Fans identified with their home ballpark as much as the team that they rooted for.

Unfortunately, all of the old ballparks no longer exist. In each case, nothing of their former structures remains to give an essence of what used to be.

Yankee Stadium stands to meet the same fate – to be completely demolished, without any trace of its existence. While the other ballparks in New York were well known in this country, the original “House That Ruth Built” is arguably the most famous sporting facility in the world. Therefore, it deserves special treatment.

There is a worthwhile proposal that deserves serious consideration – to preserve the sole remaining entry gate along 161st Street. This gate is instantly recognizable as Yankee Stadium, would provide a dramatic gateway to the new parkland; and its location on the property’s perimeter will not impede on any of the planned recreational facilities.

Details of the plan can be found in the attached document and at www.savetheyankeegate2.com. I urge you to review this plan and to give it your full support.

Let’s not let the world’s most famous stadium vanish into oblivion. Let’s “Save the Gate”!



Sincerely,

Your name and full address here

Phone and e-mail are optional

CC: Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe

Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn

Earl D. Brown, Acting Bronx Borough President

Wilhelm Ronda, Director of Planning

[SparkyL]

Mark - can you post the "cc" addresses from the Word doc? I don't have that with me . . .

[mackenzie]

Mark - can you post the "cc" addresses from the Word doc? I don't have that with me . . .

Here they are and thanks to all for your help!

Regards,
Mark

Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe
The Arsenal
Central Park
830 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10065

Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn
224 West 30th St (Suite 1206)
New York, NY 10001.

Earl D. Brown,
Acting Bronx Borough President
851 Grand Concourse
Bronx NY 10451

Wilhelm Ronda
Director of Planning
851 Grand Concourse
Bronx NY 10451

[ubinfl]

As previously mentioned here, this event will take place at Foley's (18 W 33rd St. in NY) starting at 11 AM on Monday, 4/27. Mark Healey will be broadcasting his “Baseball Digest LIVE” Internet Radio show from 11 AM to 1 PM. The links below provides information about the show.

http://baseballdigest.com/featured/2...live-the-babe/

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/station...ll-Digest-Live

I will be there and will discuss our "Save the Yankee Gate 2" proposal with Mark Healey for a few minutes, although the main theme of the show will be the tribute to Yankee Stadium's 86 years and performance of songs dedicated to the Babe. His granddaughter, Linda Trosetti will be there.

Looking forward to this event and hope to see some of you there.

Regards,
Mark

This podcast is up on Mark Healy's site: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/stations/fantasysportschannel/Baseball-Digest-Live/2009/04/27/The-House-That-Ruth-Built

There are many technical problems but if you hang in there the podcast will play.

Bill
Stuart, Florida

[mackenzie]

This podcast is up on Mark Healy's site: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/stations/fantasysportschannel/Baseball-Digest-Live/2009/04/27/The-House-That-Ruth-Built

There are many technical problems but if you hang in there the podcast will play.

Bill
Stuart, Florida

I'm told that my section starts at 1:32 in. Mark Healy was having some tech gliches yesterday, but I know that some people were able to listen to it after the fact.

Regards,
Mark

[Yankees 9782]

Bryan Hoch (http://bombersbeat.mlblogs.com/archives/2009/04/fans_attempting_to_save_gate_2.html#_login) made mention of the plan today. I just email Peter Abraham and asked him if he'd mention it too.

[Anubis2051]

Bryan Hoch (http://bombersbeat.mlblogs.com/archives/2009/04/fans_attempting_to_save_gate_2.html#_login) made mention of the plan today. I just email Peter Abraham and asked him if he'd mention it too.

I emailed Paul Lukas over at UniWatch, he hasn't mentioned it yet though. Maybe if a few more emailed him? his email is uniwatch@earthlink.net

[Zion610]

Here they are and thanks to all for your help!

Regards,
Mark

Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe
The Arsenal
Central Park
830 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10065

Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn
224 West 30th St (Suite 1206)
New York, NY 10001.

Earl D. Brown,
Acting Bronx Borough President
851 Grand Concourse
Bronx NY 10451

Wilhelm Ronda
Director of Planning
851 Grand Concourse
Bronx NY 10451


Im trying to get the word out too... thats a awesome plan u have

[jimmyjimjimz]

"Get a life" is a stupid comment.

I'm a lifelong Mets fan and I fully support the (late, I'll admit) effort to save part of the real Yankee Stadium. It's NY baseball history at stake.

something I don't get on here is why do people call the old Yankee Stadium "the real Yankee Stadium" or "Real Yankee Stadium"? What do you think, the stadium accross the street (the current Yankee Stadium) isn't real? Is it a mirage or something? Like you just see it at least 81 days a year, and when it's not one of those 81 days, it dissapears? Or is it a movie set that they can put together and take apart really fast? What is it if it's not real? :crazy:waving:waving

[Yankees 9782]

I emailed Paul Lukas over at UniWatch, he hasn't mentioned it yet though. Maybe if a few more emailed him? his email is uniwatch@earthlink.net

Well Peter got back to me and gave me a big fat thanks but no thanks. Apparently he doesn't think the "structure can stand up on its own."

You can read all about it on tonight's game thread on my blog (http://slidingintohome.blogspot.com/2009/04/game-21-yankees-tigers.html) (sorry for the shameless plug).

[Celerino Sanchez]

something I don't get on here is why do people call the old Yankee Stadium "the real Yankee Stadium" or "Real Yankee Stadium"? What do you think, the stadium accross the street (the current Yankee Stadium) isn't real? Is it a mirage or something? Like you just see it at least 81 days a year, and when it's not one of those 81 days, it dissapears? Or is it a movie set that they can put together and take apart really fast? What is it if it's not real? :crazy:waving:waving

How do I set the option so JJJ's post don't show up ?

[LizrdKng67]

Well Peter got back to me and gave me a big fat thanks but no thanks. Apparently he doesn't think the "structure can stand up on its own."

You can read all about it on tonight's game thread on my blog (http://slidingintohome.blogspot.com/2009/04/game-21-yankees-tigers.html) (sorry for the shameless plug).

I think it can stand on it's own kind of like the big arch in Washington Square Park.

[NYFan1stYankFan2nd]

How do I set the option so JJJ's post don't show up ?


I would go to Favorites, and select another forum besides Baseball-Fever to correspond about baseball on. That way you would not have to read anything from JJJ or anyone else you can't stand! ;)

[jimmyjimjimz]

How do I set the option so JJJ's post don't show up ?

You DO ralize theyre saying a building that's real is not real. Which means it's not really there. Which means it's a mirage. Maybe if they actually thought about their words since there's 2 buildings called Yankee Stadium right now, and called it "Old Yankee Stadium" or "The Old Yankee Stadium", I wouldnt of posted what I posted earlier today.

[Mike Wagner]

Dear Friends,

I just went on youtube and stumbled across "Saying Goodbye To Ebbets Field." It shows footage of Ebbets Field being destroyed. Even though I'm a Yankee fan, this was a very sad, sobering day for baseball. The same for the Polo Grounds.

History should not be allowed to repeat itself. Especially when there is room for Gate 2. It would be a unique, proud part of the new Macombs Dam Park.
Utmost should be superb facilities for the people of the South Bronx to use.
Gate 2 should also have a place, as the two are intertwined. And, for the many proud moments Yankee Stadium has given us.

Besides sports history, remember that Yankee Stadium was chosen to hold memorial services after September 11th - another memorable moment is Yankee Stadium history. And, don't forget that Popes have held mass at the Stadium, as has Billy Graham.

There have been too many important American historical events - baseball and otherwise - to ignore the sacredness of Yankee Stadium.

I do know that the Polo Grounds and Ebbets Field were also very historical ballparks. I honestly don't know the non-baseball history of these two parks, but they also had many proud moments. I'll bet the people nearby would have liked some shred of these ballparks to pay homage to. They were also filled with great history. To not learn from past mistakes would be purely political, criminal and a total disgrace.

-Mike Wagner

[Gary Dunaier]

something I don't get on here is why do people call the old Yankee Stadium "the real Yankee Stadium" or "Real Yankee Stadium"? What do you think, the stadium accross the street (the current Yankee Stadium) isn't real? Is it a mirage or something? Like you just see it at least 81 days a year, and when it's not one of those 81 days, it dissapears? Or is it a movie set that they can put together and take apart really fast? What is it if it's not real? :crazy:waving:waving

Physically, of course, the new Yankee Stadium is very, very real, and you have every right to accept it as such. But baseball is just as much an emotional game as it is a game of balls and strikes - and it's in that sense that they consider the original Yankee Stadium to be the "real" one.

They consider it "real" because when they think of all of the great Yankee legends that have donned the pinstripes, from Babe Ruth to Lou Gehrig to Joe DiMaggio to Mickey Mantle to Horace Clarke :eek: to Don Mattingly, and when they reflect on all of the great moments from Gehrig's speech to Babe's farewell to Larsen's perfect game to Reggie's three homers to the "Pine Tar" game... they all took place in the stadium that was located on the southwest corner of River Avenue and 161st Street.

To these people, the stadium located on the northwest corner of River Avenue and 161st Street, the current facility, is "Yankee Stadium" in name only. In time, this stadium will foster great memories by players who may not yet have even been born. But as of right now, a mere two weeks after the first regular season game ever to be played there, its history and legacy is minimal. Derek Jeter is the greatest Yankee to have ever played in that stadium. The greatest moment ever to have taken place in that stadium was that game where Cleveland hit all those home runs.

That's why, to many fans, the original Yankee Stadium is the "real" Yankee Stadium.

[RichardLillard1]

Hey everyone, I know I haven't been as active lately, but I still want to keep the fire alive if I can.

How many of you would be interested in contributing towards a full page ad in the Times, Post or any other New York newspaper? Just because we all live in different parts of the country doesn't mean we can't contribute in some way.

If enough of you are interested, I will call and check into how much the ads would cost for different days and so on. PM me or post here to let me know.

Thanks!


Richard

[frank72]

Hey everyone, I know I haven't been as active lately, but I still want to keep the fire alive if I can.

How many of you would be interested in contributing towards a full page ad in the Times, Post or any other New York newspaper? Just because we all live in different parts of the country doesn't mean we can't contribute in some way.

If enough of you are interested, I will call and check into how much the ads would cost for different days and so on. PM me or post here to let me know.

Thanks!


Richard


Richard,
Count me in for $100.00 if you can raise enough interest.

[mackenzie]

Richard- I am IN, as well.

Regards,
Mark

[Mike Wagner]

Dear Richard,
So am I.

Gary - very well put.



-Mike Wagner

[SparkyL]

Hey everyone, I know I haven't been as active lately, but I still want to keep the fire alive if I can.

How many of you would be interested in contributing towards a full page ad in the Times, Post or any other New York newspaper? Just because we all live in different parts of the country doesn't mean we can't contribute in some way.

If enough of you are interested, I will call and check into how much the ads would cost for different days and so on. PM me or post here to let me know.

Thanks!


Richard

Count me too.

[Zion610]

Count me too.

I will contribute what i can!

[Chris Jones]

Hey Richard:

I'm with you too!

Chris

[RichardLillard1]

Thank you for all the interest so far, I will be going to set up an open bank account for this tomorrow. I will then email the account number to everyone so that the money can be contributed. I'll be calling the Post and the Times shortly if anyone is interested in helping with talking to the various papers, let me know.

Thanks!


Richard

[Lafferty Daniel]

Hey everyone, I know I haven't been as active lately, but I still want to keep the fire alive if I can.

How many of you would be interested in contributing towards a full page ad in the Times, Post or any other New York newspaper? Just because we all live in different parts of the country doesn't mean we can't contribute in some way.

If enough of you are interested, I will call and check into how much the ads would cost for different days and so on. PM me or post here to let me know.

Thanks!


Richard

Hi Richard,

Even though newspapers are hurting right now (especially the Post,) it's still very expensive for a full page ad.

I believe a 1/2 page weekday ad will cost about $20,000 in the Post, and $40,000 in the Times. These prices could go up or down depending on which section your ad would appear.

Good luck.

[RichardLillard1]

Do you have any other prices? How much would it cost for other various sized ads? Maybe we could do something with a few small ads in other spots.


Richard

[Lafferty Daniel]

Do you have any other prices? How much would it cost for other various sized ads? Maybe we could do something with a few small ads in other spots.


Richard

I'm not sure what inventory they have other than full & half page ads. Maybe they have smaller ads in their sports sections that would work for you.

You might want to get pricing for banner ads on various NY sports websites or blogs. It will likely be cheaper and you can have the ad stay up for more than a day.

[Captain Cold Nose]

How do I set the option so JJJ's post don't show up ?

Click on the User CP button above the actual posts. You'll find an option to Edit Ignore List. That way, you can stay on this site and not worry about whatever he posts that worry you. It's more preferable for us to not have to see any dusruptive or insulting posts toward other members.

That includes telling someone to get a life. No no, now. No no.

[Mike Wagner]

Dear Friends,
A "Letter To The Editor" to a newspaper is free, and will hopefully be published. Also, Sports Collectors Digest charges $69. for an ad in the back of their magazine. That's very affordable.
-Mike Wagner

[ChineseDemocracy]

You guys should think about going viral as well.

A MySpace page, FaceBook page, whatever is hot nowadays. Maybe a YouTube video. All these things are cheaper and perhaps more effective than going down the "traditional" route.

Dig?

[ubinfl]

You guys should think about going viral as well.

A MySpace page, FaceBook page, whatever is hot nowadays. Maybe a YouTube video. All these things are cheaper and perhaps more effective than going down the "traditional" route.

Dig?

I put a Facebook Group up a week or so ago. Been very busy so havent done much with it.

The name of the Facebook group is "Yankee Saving Gate 2 Project."

Cant hurt I suppose.

Bill
Stuart, Florida

[stadiumbuilder]

I don't know much about it but I'm hearing TWITTER is the fastest way to spread information these days. An expensive display ad, especially in The Times, probably isn't the way to go.

[mackenzie]

We've added a "News Links" page to the www.savetheyankeegate2.com website. It has a couple of articles including one that ran in last Sunday's Newark Star Ledger.

Regards,
Mark

[threeyoda]

Good, this is awesome! We're gaining some momentum here! The media is picking up on it. I just noticed River Ave Blues is now a YES Network blog. So if this gets to YES!

I'll start a Twitter tomorow.

I think someone should compile a list of all the comments from the savetheyankeegate2.com, facebook, and twitter. Then you could put the article from the newspaper in and send it to Steinbrener, Bloomberg, the Yankees, and anyone else who can help.

Maybe stand outside new Yankee Stadium on game days with flyers and a petition. Put flyers in Stan's, the Dugout Bar, and other stores on River Ave. See if the Hard Rock will let you leave a stack in there. Try the clubhouse shops in the city or some of the suburb sports stores.

So I'll make the twitter page tomorow, and if someone wants to make a page on myspace.

Maybe someone can make up a flyer and print a bunch out. If anyone is going to a game this coming homestand, you can go tho all the stores on River Ave.

Remember, the end of June is the planned begining of the end.

[RichardLillard1]

Hey everyone,

I've been kind of bed ridden these past couple days (caught the flu, it seems), but I did set up a Facebook and Twitter on Friday morning.

I haven't had a chance to update any of it though because I've been so sick.

Just thought I would let you all know. The email address tied to both of them is savetheyankeegate2(at)gmail(dot)com.


Richard

[The Monument]

Hey Rich, hope you feel better. I sent you a PM a week or two ago with contact info for Tony Morante.

[RichardLillard1]

I got that, I forgot to send a thank you though. This has all happened so quickly that I feel like I haven't had as much time on my hands as I'd like. :rolleyes:

He's a tough guy to get a hold of, but I'm not planning on giving up. Maybe as soon as I sound normal again and can talk without coughing I'll start up calling again. haha

Thanks again for the contact.


Richard

[mackenzie]

Here's a Yahoo Sports post that hit tonight (Monday).

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-yankeestadiumgate060109&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

[David Atkatz]

Richard, I don't know what good Tony Morante can--or will--do. He works for the Yankees--is quite loyal, in fact--and the Yankees want no part of Yankee Stadium to remain.

I spoke with him a number of years ago, just before the NYS announcement was made. He didn't seem upset at all by the impending loss.

[jimmyjimjimz]

Here's a Yahoo Sports post that hit tonight (Monday).

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-yankeestadiumgate060109&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

how come they never interviewed me for that article?

[CrazyMind2017]

how come they never interviewed me for that article?

It was a major oversight on their part.

[jimmyjimjimz]

It was a major oversight on their part.

I don't know if I mentioned this or not, but I went to High School with a guy on the City Council. This is his page:

http://council.nyc.gov/d32/html/members/home.shtml


He has an office in my neighborhood. Does anyone think I should go talk to him about this Save Gate 2 stuff? I'll go, but I'd rather someone come with me so that they can present it better. And yes, he does remember me, cause I saw him on the train one day. We were talking for like an hour and a half about how horrible it was at our school.

[threeyoda]

Here's a flyer I've been working on (I don't know how to post a screenshot):

I need the facebook, twitter, and myspace links from RichardLilliard1.

Thanks!

[mackenzie]

I don't know if I mentioned this or not, but I went to High School with a guy on the City Council. This is his page:

http://council.nyc.gov/d32/html/members/home.shtml


He has an office in my neighborhood. Does anyone think I should go talk to him about this Save Gate 2 stuff? I'll go, but I'd rather someone come with me so that they can present it better. And yes, he does remember me, cause I saw him on the train one day. We were talking for like an hour and a half about how horrible it was at our school.

jimmyjimjimz - I think it's definitely worth pursuing. I'll send you a PM.

Regards,
Mark

[mackenzie]

Here's a flyer I've been working on (It will only open on a PC, I don't know how to post a screenshot):

I need the facebook, twitter, and myspace links.

Thanks!

Hi threeyoda - The flyer looks excellent. Good job and thanks! Now we need to hire an airplane and unload about 8 million copies over the City.

Regarding facebook and twitter, I think that RichardLillard1 has set these up. Richard, maybe you could point threeyoda in the right direction?

Regards,
Mark

[toefer]

Here's a flyer I've been working on (It will only open on a PC, I don't know how to post a screenshot):

I need the facebook, twitter, and myspace links.

Thanks!

threeyoda, here's a screenshot. (By the way, I opened it on a Mac). :p

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/5384/savel.png

[threeyoda]

threeyoda, here's a screenshot. (By the way, I opened it on a Mac). :p

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/5384/savel.png

Oh, ok it does work on a Mac. Thanks for posting a screenshot!

By the way, I made an e-mail address that I included in the letter:
savetheyankeegate2@yahoo.com

[YankeeStadium1923]

Not a big deal, but I'd just like to point out that I made that rendering of gate 2 ;)

If anyone wants to send that to someone that you think could help, feel free.

*************

[monkeypants]

Here's a flyer I've been working on (I don't know how to post a screenshot):

I need the facebook, twitter, and myspace links from RichardLilliard1.

Thanks!

I think the URL is incorrect (see correct url below). You should correct that before sending out the flyer.

http://www.savetheyankeegate2.com/

[Zion610]

I hope that save gat 2 stuff pic up steam... i sent thelink to a bunch of media sites a few months ago when it first came up on the site... it makes almost too much sense..

[applenut]

Oh, ok it does work on a Mac. Thanks for posting a screenshot!

By the way, I made an e-mail address that I included in the letter:
savetheyankeegate2@yahoo.com

The Final Season logo is copyrighted.... not sure if it matters... but I wouldn't use it in your promotional material as we know the Yankees can be pricks.

[David Atkatz]

Can be pricks?

[CrazyMind2017]

I just noticed this on demolitionofyankeestadium.com

June 8, 2009

We were contacted today by Michele Lignore-Diaz who is the project manager of the redevelopment project. There will be a “Yankee Stadium Park Redevelopment Program Community Briefing” held on Wednesday June 24th at 6pm. The briefing will take place at 198 E. 161st Street on the 3rd floor.

This is open to the general public and there will be an overview of all stadium projects, including the old Yankee Stadium deconstruction. There will be a question and answer period at the end of the presentation.

http://www.demolitionofyankeestadium.com/2009/06/08/yankee-stadium-community-briefing-announcement/

That address I believe is about one block east of the concourse, on the same side of the street as the courthouse - same side as the Court Deli and Gate 2.

[YankeeStadium1923]

Hey CrazyMind...Just wanted to point out for you to edit the date

[CrazyMind2017]

good catch..... you can tell what year my mind is in

[YankeeStadium1923]

good catch..... you can tell what year my mind is in
I wish we were still in 2008....The "Final Season"

[ChineseDemocracy]

Give 'em hell.

[Zion610]

Somebody needs to get on a sports talk show and promote this.. i fear its not gonna get any steam

[RichardLillard1]

We've had a lot of steam so far, but if anyone can help in getting us more, we're all for it!

Look us up on the Newark Star Ledger, Yahoo Sports and Mark Costello on Mark Healey's show a couple months ago.


Richard

[baseballman1243]

Everyone should put this up as their status's on social networking sites (facebook, twitter, etc). I'm doing it.

[RichardLillard1]

We're also on Facebook and Twitter! Look up savetheyankeegate2(at)gmail(dot)com.


Richard

[RichardLillard1]

For anyone interested, please check out the video below, done by Rick Kaplan with his wonderful CAD talents and music by Tim Reid!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-Cwaj2Yxn8

We're all working up to June 30th. Save the Gate!!


Richard

[brooklyndodger14]

Beautiful job on the animation by Kaplanski.

It certainly gives substance to the idea of naming the area Heritage Field
by providing that visual, historical, and emotional link to the new ballpark
(which for the life of me, I can't quite bring myself to call "Yankee Stadium"
without some adjective in front of it like "Faux", "Ersatz", or "Pretend", but I digress...)
as opposed to not having ANY tangible remainder or reminder of the
original Stadium at all.

Is there any way that the animation can be downloaded and made into CD's
to possibly handout to the media and attendees of the rally, or send direct to the stations?


Dennis
BrooklynDodger14

[RichardLillard1]

For those of you following our cause, check this out!

Check out today's article in the New Haven Register!
http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2009/06/14/news/beach14.txt


Richard

[Yoda]

Here's a flyer I've been working on (I don't know how to post a screenshot):

I need the facebook, twitter, and myspace links from RichardLilliard1.

Thanks!

Who are you and why are you three of me?

[elmer]

The Old Timer Chant To Save

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOwgtFkfxOs