Musings on Yankee Stadium
Maybe it was down to the 80+ degree heat in New York City. Or that it was a lazy Sunday afternoon, perfect for catching a ball game, featuring an old school franchise vs. the mega star current champs. Perhaps it was the guy sitting next to me on the train was wearing shades and a headscarf, rubbing the inside of his groin, blowing on what appeared to me a mid-90’s rave whistle, but yesterday’s trip to Yankee Stadium was surreal, remarkable and slightly poetic, in equal measure. Rather like my stag night. Except this time, my day didn’t end up with me handcuffed to a lamp post. At least, I don’t think it did.
The All New Yankee Stadium. It’s Wembley + Vegas + The Rolling Stones x Golden Era baseball reinforced with the imposing ghosts of Yankee heroes from bygone eras including DiMaggio, Berra and of course, Ruth.
I was prepared for it, or so I thought, but the scale of the place is remarkable. And though I anticipated that everything would be so boxfresh, and slick, and shiny, I was genuinely surprised about how, well, authentic, it all felt. Sure, the architecture is in many respects deliberately retro, and touches like Jeter’s named intro being a recording from legendary Yankees announcer Bob Sheppard evoke vintage ball, but it’s a testament to the designers and the Yankees fans that this park just works, right off the bat. No pun intended.
The scale is immense of course, but the 19,041 food or drink options mostly work - with the odd Food Court type mall experience - and there are details everywhere that bring the wandering mind back to ball. Commentary boomed out of the front of the stadium means that those fans who are not able to get a ticket or too hammered to go in can listen on benches. The open plan set up of much of the stadium works well too, so you can queue for beers/dogs/burgers/bucket bong hits (in the bleachers) and feel near to the action, like it’s just going on behind you. Which of course, it is.
And while the Yankees suffer from that Man United/Dallas Cowboys/Real Madrid “Most of your fans are fairweather glory hunters” syndrome, you got a real feeling of genuine, literate supporters all around. Plus those too totalled to clap. Which always adds to the ambiance, I find.
In short, I loved it. Am sure some purist Yankee fans may read this and scoff - which I can understand the attachment that comes with an original stadium as I can’t conceive West Ham not playing at Upton Park - and it’s hard for me to admit as a dyed in the wool Cubs fan, but I am green with envy. OK, pale grey, with some green tinges. Again, much like I was after my stag night.
BEST BIT: A tie between Mariano Rivera appearing to Enter Sandman, causing some remarkable air guitar and Jeter’s “Sheppard” Intro
WORST BITS : After Jeter’s 2 run hit which turned the game, they played The Vengaboys : The Vengaboys Are Coming. All of it. People danced. With no discernible sense of irony.
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