The New Yankee Stadium

The new Yankee Stadium is scheduled to open for the 2009 baseball season.  It is being built directly across the street from the current stadium in the Bronx.  The new ballpark’s estimated cost is $1.3 billion, becoming the most expensive ballpark built in the United States.

The building will consist of two structures.  The exterior wall will resemble the original Yankee Stadium before its 1975 renovations, with the interior being totally modern with all the modern amenities based on Oriole Park in Baltimore.  There will be 1 million square feet of retail space, which the Yankee’s management is calling the “Great Hall.”  

The stadium will seat 51,000 fans, less then the current 57,000 seats now available.  This doesn’t include box seating.  The stadium will be situated differently, with the seating facing outward in a bowl, versus the current tier seating.  This would bring fans lower to the field, but further back.

The Monument Park will be moved to the new stadium.  It will be located in center field under a restaurant. This monument area dedicated the Yankees' great players and managers consist of five free standing monuments, retired numbers of famous players and plagues.

During construction of the new stadium, a worker who is a big Boston Red Sox fan buried a David Ortiz jersey under the visitor’s dugout as a curse to the Yankees.  It was found out by the owners and taken out of the stadium.  It was later auctioned on eBay for $175,000, with the monies going to the Jimmy Fund, a charity associated with the Red Sox.

The New York fans and management are excited about the new stadium.  There is hope for continued success of the Yankee baseball team.