Giuliani planning new stadiums f/Mets & Yanks

Giuliani would like stadium deals before he leaves:

12/05/2001 - Updated 10:54 PM ET
By Timothy Williams, The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Even though New York City faces three successive years of budget deficits greater than $3.5 billion, Mayor Rudy Giuliani said Wednesday he wants to complete new stadium deals for the Mets and Yankees before he leaves office Dec. 31.

Giuliani did not give specific details about the negotiations, which are tentatively slated to be built next to the existing ballparks in Queens and the Bronx.

[snip]

[BuzzBuzzard]

There is no way the City can afford to build three statiums; two baseball and one for the 2012 Olympics/Jets. Ain't gonna happen.

[mainsr]

No idea what Giuliani's talking about here. New York has far more important things to think about than to use tax receipts to enrich two of baseball's wealthiest franchises.

[Skipper Steve]

It's pending Bloomberg's nod, but, I suspect that was bartered for in exchange for Rudy's endorsement.

I had heard that the teams would kick in 1/3 of the cost - - - which means they will most likely sell off naming rights to offset their costs.

I'll only be happy about that if we end up with MASSENGILL METS PARK.

[sweaver]

U.S.Steel Yankee Stadium would be historically apt.

[CubFan7125]

I read several articles on this & what I came away unsure of was whether the new mayor supported these plans or where the money was coming from. Rudy seemed to be saying that we have the money set aside & hidden & that's why it is not in the budget.

What is the real story here?

New stadiums have been on the table for awhile but not quite on the front burner recently.

What I'm trying to figure out is why Shea needs replacement, since it's only about 40 years old. Greater number of seats, outdated design? I've never figured this one out. Buzz, any ideas?

[sweaver]

Don't know if you've been there or not, but Shea is not a particularly nice park, and doesn't have many of the modern amenities. There's lots of parking though, so that may be why they keep the site, even though it's on the flight path.

40 years isn't bad for a ballpark. You hope for at least 30, 50 is good.

sweaver, I have a few buddies in Flushing and have seen it a few times, the Willets Pt. station on the #7. I've seen it from the flight paths taking off from LaGuardia but I'll need to check it out more. How does it compare to YS, out of curiousity, for the amenities you mention?

[Skipper Steve]

I've been to Shea maybe six or seven times in the last 26 years - - a few times to see the Yanks in 74-75 and a few company sponsored Met games in the last three years.

I've been to Yankee Stadium, gosh, I have no idea. I went to 15 games this year. I guess, in the last 28 years, I've probably been to a minimum of a 100 games there.

So, I know Yankee Stadium well - - and, while I'm in the far minority here, I feel a new Stadium is a good idea.

Shea is funny - - - I don't think it's so bad (in terms of serving it's purpose). It has no feel or flavor, to me - - it's sorta like those cookie-cutter ashtray parks of that era when they were popular. But, it terms of watching a game and being able to get in and out, I never had a problem in the few times I was there.

I do, however, have many Met fan friends that feel a new Stadium is a must as they view Shea as a tiolet.

Go figure?

Skip, I'll have to ask CSmooth, a major Mets fan (who called in sick after the 2000 WS) how he'd felt about Shea). I don't think I've ever asked any Mets fan about Shea so this may be a first time. Stay tuned.

[sweaver]

I've taken some heat for saying I didn't care for Yankee Stadium, because the only time I was there I sat way up in the upper deck. Couldn't see much history from there, but sure felt the bite of the expensive concessions.

[Goose]

The biggest problem with Shea is that in 75% of the seats you have to turn to your side to see the pitch!

But other than that, it really is an awful Stadium....you gotta be there to see it for yourself.....

[Skipper Steve]

Here's a clip from a post that I made in a Yankee forum on another site, last August:

I Don't Get The Stadium Thing

This is not the House That Ruth Built. That came down in 1974.

This is the House That Oscar Gamble Built - - he was the regular RF in 1976.

THIS Stadium has 25 years worth of history - - not 78 years.

Agreed, the SPOT is the same the last 78 years - - - but, to me, that's it. Everything else in that Stadium - down to each blade of grass - is no more than 25 years old. I had a Rolling Stones T-Shirt older than that - and, eventually, that had to go too.

Not one of those dents in the blue facing of the upper deck in RF came from the Iron Horse.

Yogi never fell into either of those dugouts chasing a pop-up.

Joe D never went over the wall to rob one from going into the black bleachers.

Mickey Mantle never nursed a hangover in today's clubhouse - as a player (maybe in a few OTDs ).

Don't get me wrong - we had some great memories in the last 25 years - - but, not enough to offset the chance to get an even better Stadium.

Last thought, if tradition was that important - - they'd still be playing in Washington Heights and leaving their gloves on the field at the change of each inning, there would be no DH, no Subway Series v. the Mets each year, and every Free Agent signing that they had in the last 27 years would have never happened (no Reggie, no Catfish, no Gossage, no Mussina, etc.).

To quote Sheryl Crow, sometimes a change will do you good.


Needless to say, I got many replies about stuff like aura and hallowed ground, etc. Didn't change my mind.

[Skipper Steve]

Originally posted by Goose
The biggest problem with Shea is that in 75% of the seats you have to turn to your side to see the pitch!

I still have a sore neck that I got in the 1997 ALDS v. the Indians - - sitting in YS, field level boxes(!) on the 1B side, closer to the OF.

The problem is not unique to Shea.