New York: Yankee Stadium

Overview

Amenities: The most important thing to remember about the current Yankee Stadium is that is is a 30 year old ballpark, not a classic. It was built on the site of a classic, but it is by no means the same ballpark, so I won't let it pass cheaply because it's old, because it's not. In 1976, when it opened, it was treated like the best new park out there by Yankee fans, and it is all right. The stands are angled so that most are pointing to home. The left field bleachers get to be pretty bad seats, but they don't make up much of the park. Concessions are average, and the concourses are small and disgusting. The scoreboard is decent, but continues to be eaten away by advertizing.

History: Original Yankee Stadium was built in 1923, under budget and under time by Osborn Engineering. By 1976, it needed a serious renovation, and it got that and more, as the park was virtually torn down and rebuilt. It was made into basically a whole new park. The monuments were moved, and the bridge-like facade was rebuilt over the outfield, as the view was destroyed. As for the history of the team that has played, here, need I even mention it? The most successful team in sports history- the hated Yankees.

Location: The Bronx really isn't a very nice place. It's away from the city, but accessible by subway. There isn't much around it of note but some coffee shops, but I dislike the whole area because it's New York.

Atmosphere: The Yankees sell an awful lot of tickets because they have been so successful, and the fans are energetic and loud. Although they aren't that high on the fan intelligence meter, they do come out in large numbers, and I give them credit for that.

Aesthetics: The exterior is about average, painted white. The interior is fairly nice, painted blue, a lighter blue than the Yankees' team colors. The field has a nice look, but what makes this place beautiful isn't what it actually contains, but what one can remember being here. It is the memory of players like Ruth, Gehrig, etc.

Worst seat

Bleacher Section 57: The Yankees did a nice job with the monument garden, but forcing fans to sit in the first row behind it is a little rough. Good luck seeing the strike zone.