2010 Yankee Stadium Comments & Discussion

[GordonGecko]

Great game today, even if it should have been a blowout. Here's a few notable things for me:

- Good to see the boss at the game, hope he's doing alright

- Nice ovation (including from me) for Matsui during the ring ceremony and lineup call. But I don't get the cheering when he came up at bat, I was the only guy in my section booing him batting for the other team!

- Player announcements now say the player number twice. I don't like it, and it sounds bad when each player calls it out on the scoreboard at the beginning of the game

- Is it just me or are there a ton more in-game seat upgrade contests this year? I counted at least half a dozen, they must have a lot of no-shows in the field seats

- New championship flags on the top are kind of lame. Very small and wimpy, they can do better than that!

[superyan]

Do you think the Champion Flags are there for the season or just the first home stand? I hope they bring the old flags back.

[yanksandfriars]

I like the fact they have the flags there - but they need to have a different look - maybe a dark blue background? I like the WS flags better than the division standings.

[superyan]

I thought it was kind of lame that we didn't see them raise the WS flag. I remember when they used to have people raise it as part of the ceremony.

[__starr69]

- Player announcements now say the player number twice. I don't like it, and it sounds bad when each player calls it out on the scoreboard at the beginning of the game

I thought this was very cheesy.

Do you think the Champion Flags are there for the season or just the first home stand? I hope they bring the old flags back.

I guess just the first homestand (or possibly just OD, being ring day). As the season goes on (the second homestand starts on April 30th) and the standings become less fluid, it will be a lot easier to change the flags than in the first two weeks of the season when division standings can totally rearrange each day.

[Tino's Girl]

I noticed that the security guards were a lot more friendly and less Nazi. Also right by Main 212 they have a new "Chicken and Rice" stand. There was no line and smelled really good so I tried it. It was delicious and only $10 for a very nice portion. It's like a chicken tinga with yellow rice w/ peas and other veggies mixed in and spicy. Very good. And the Lobels was like butter today - AMAZING.

[YankeesAce4Life]

- Player announcements now say the player number twice. I don't like it, and it sounds bad when each player calls it out on the scoreboard at the beginning of the game

Just a reminder, this is how Bob Sheppard did the lineups and walk ups.

[__starr69]

Just a reminder, this is how Bob Sheppard did the lineups and walk ups.

The players make it sound cheesy.

[NYYRules#1]

Saying the numbers twice is something Olden does to honor Sheppard, who obviously said the number twice when announcing the batter, and also often said the number twice when announcing the lineup (curiously enough, he seemed to be a bit inconsistent on this, sometimes even switching the format half-way through a lineup). I like it personally - Olden basically uses the same format as Sheppard, just with (obviously) a very different voice.

The scoreboards seem to display much more information in a more logical manner. That was something which annoyed me greatly last year - you have these gigantic video boards, probably more video board space to work with than any other ballpark, and yet you show minimal information in an insanely inefficient manner. I haven't been able to see the layout of the scoreboard for myself yet, but it has to be an improvement. I did notice that every out-of-town score was posted at the same time. That means this is the first time since 1973 that you can see every out of town score at once at Yankee Stadium. Very good upgrade.

Also like the dark blue background for the retired numbers/world championship displays in the outfield. Looks a lot better and a lot more classy than it did last year, and it really stands out. Also should work to avoid the problem of championships constantly falling off/being stolen last year.

I've been hoping the Yankees would put up championship flags on the flagpoles above the frieze, so that was really nice to see. Hopefully they have those up in the early season, and then switch between the standings and the championship flags throughout the course of the season. No need for a set pattern, though having the championship flags up for Opening Day, Old Timers Day, the playoffs, major series, etc., would be nice.

[YankeesAce4Life]

The players make it sound cheesy.

Yeah, I just saw that GG said that at the beginning of the game, the players do that. Cheesy yes, but it's what Bob Sheppard did.

[steveatrich]

I couldn't believe how cheap looking the Championship Banner looked.

[__starr69]

Yeah, I just saw that GG said that at the beginning of the game, the players do that. Cheesy yes, but it's what Bob Sheppard did.

Bob Sheppard made it poetic.
The players each calling their own names is cheesy.

[StingrayJG]

Great game today, even if it should have been a blowout. Here's a few notable things for me:

- Good to see the boss at the game, hope he's doing alright. Agreed. Glad he got a great warm ovation when shown on the big screen.

- Nice ovation (including from me) for Matsui during the ring ceremony and lineup call. But I don't get the cheering when he came up at bat, I was the only guy in my section booing him batting for the other team! I did not boo Matsui at all at any time. I cheered for him every time up until when he came to bat the first time. Then I cheered but just before his first pitch I yelled out, "ok that's it, now we must hate you." and got a little chuckle from those around who could hear it. The rest of the game I did not cheer him but didn't boo either. I don't hate him but he's officially an opponent now. I gave him his props and I moved on.

- Player announcements now say the player number twice. I don't like it, and it sounds bad when each player calls it out on the scoreboard at the beginning of the game. Neither of these bothered me. This is just personal preferences I guess.

- Is it just me or are there a ton more in-game seat upgrade contests this year? I counted at least half a dozen, they must have a lot of no-shows in the field seats. I noticed these as well. I'm guessing that whoever sponsors the upgrade, they might have those seats as season tickets? Either that or the Yankees were just looking to plug some holes. Several of the upgrades were from grandstand into section 129 and I was in 130. I didn't see any empty seats in my general area but obviously these were until they were given away.

- New championship flags on the top are kind of lame. Very small and wimpy, they can do better than that! I agree that, while it was nice to see them, something about them was "unimpressive." I know what you mean here.

The championship years on the wall beyond the RF bleachers got repainted. Last year they were blue years on a white background, and now the background is blue and the years are in white. Similar scheme with retired numbers above LF bleachers. Blue background there now as well. I hope this wasn't done because people were graffiti-ing out there and the blue hides it better. I think it looks pretty good the new way anyway.

One of my wife's observations was that it seemed like they were playing more classic-rock genre type music in between innings and for everything they do during the game, as opposed to more rap, hip-hop type stuff in the past. I picked up on it too after she brought it up. Not sure if deliberate or just coincidence.

The out of town scoreboard was much less "graphicy" so they now can display every game at once instead of having to scroll though a few at a time. There's room for all of them to be seen at once now. I don't know if they changed that mid-season last year and maybe I didn't notice, but I noticed it immediately today. I know that today there was a light game schedule but you can still tell there is now room for all games even on a full night.

[Tino's Girl]

I know this was unpopular around here but I really enjoyed the voice of Sheppard's apprentice who did some games in 2008. He really had the voice the befits a team like the Yankees, very majestic like his mentor Sheppard.

[bigjf]

I know this was unpopular around here but I really enjoyed the voice of Sheppard's apprentice who did some games in 2008. He really had the voice the befits a team like the Yankees, very majestic like his mentor Sheppard.

I think he tried too hard to be Sheppard. It sounded too much like an imitation. Sheppard's retired, and I'm just fine with the current guy. As long as we don't do something like screaming players' names or being even more ear-raping and having random kids in there doing the announcements like the Rays.

[Tino's Girl]

I think he tried too hard to be Sheppard. It sounded too much like an imitation. Sheppard's retired, and I'm just fine with the current guy. As long as we don't do something like screaming players' names or being even more ear-raping and having random kids in there doing the announcements like the Rays.

I hear you but it just doesn't feel right. The new guy sounds like the announcer for the Staten Island Yankees. I'd rather have the apprentice trained by the master.

[njyankeesfan]

The garage parking fee went from $19 to $23! Who here got a 20%+ raise this year, raise your hands....

[NYYRules#1]

The "new guy" (Paul Olden) is actually the PA announcer for the Super Bowl in most years. Also did work for the Tampa Bay Rays for some time (I believe he's originally from Tampa). I think he also has a lot of experience as a broadcaster. Far from "minor league".

Sheppard's substitute, Jim Hall, actually wasn't much of an apprentice at all - he was Sheppard's substitute announcer for 40-something years, and is well into his 60's. He did intentionally try to sound like Sheppard, and I believe he was also a speech professor, like Sheppard. I'm not sure if that was his actual voice or not though.

Still, I think Olden is pretty good. Not the best, but he has a nice announcing style and obviously has kept many of Sheppard's traditions intact, which is important. I think having an "imitation" of Sheppard after he passes would be pretty stupid and hokey - it was time to go with someone who would have the same style as Sheppard, but not the same voice. Plus, who knows if Hall even wanted to take on the job full-time at his age?

[rock]

NYY Steak now has a concession area next to the garlic fries on the field level, selling a sandwich for $15, probably similar to Lobel's. I think this replaced the Cuban sandwich and nachos place.

[Tino's Girl]

The "new guy" (Paul Olden) is actually the PA announcer for the Super Bowl in most years. Also did PA work for the Tampa Bay Rays for some time (I believe he's originally from Tampa).

Sheppard's substitute, Jim Hall, actually wasn't much of an apprentice at all - he was Sheppard's substitute announcer for 40-something years, and is well into his 60's. He did intentionally try to sound like Sheppard, and I believe he was also a speech professor, like Sheppard. I'm not sure if that was his actual voice or not though.

Still, I think Olden is pretty good. Not the best, but he has a nice announcing style and obviously has kept many of Sheppard's traditions intact, which is important. I think having an "imitation" of Sheppard after he passes would be pretty stupid and hokey - it was time to go with someone who would have the same style as Sheppard, but not the same voice. Plus, who knows if Hall even wanted to take on the job full-time at his age?

Yes, I actually knew that Jim Hall was a mature gentleman. I use the term apprentice only to reflect that Sheppard did train him. I much prefer his style to that of Olden, who seem just very generic, with nothing particularly special about his announcing style.

[WTrain44]

I know this was unpopular around here but I really enjoyed the voice of Sheppard's apprentice who did some games in 2008. He really had the voice the befits a team like the Yankees, very majestic like his mentor Sheppard.

I agree. Jim Hall wasn't an imitating hack, he was Sheppard's protege, trained by the master himself.

[Tino's Girl]

I agree. Jim Hall wasn't an imitating hack, he was Sheppard's protégé, trained by the master himself.

Thank you. Protégé is a much more appropriate term. And I think Sheppard would have approved of Jim Hall taking his place.

[DMattingly85MVP]

The garage parking fee went from $19 to $23! Who here got a 20%+ raise this year, raise your hands....

I wonder what the ceiling for parking fees will be, like will we ever see $50 to park for games? coming sooner than you think with it going up $4 every season, bunch of BS

[ThaKoolAidKid]

One of my wife's observations was that it seemed like they were playing more classic-rock genre type music in between innings and for everything they do during the game, as opposed to more rap, hip-hop type stuff in the past. I picked up on it too after she brought it up. Not sure if deliberate or just coincidence.

You think the Boss would stand for having rap play in his stadium? They won't play it while he's in the house. I bet you that changes quick in the next few games though.

[GordonGecko]

Yeah, also forgot to mention about the out of town scoreboard now fits a lot more scores on it instead of just 4 like last year.

Also there's a weird roped off section behind the jim beane suites, I don't get why the Yankees think JB holders would want to hang out there

And how can I forget, everyone on the train gasped as the ruins of OYS appeared suddenly, people were in shock...

[StingrayJG]

I wonder what the ceiling for parking fees will be, like will we ever see $50 to park for games? coming sooner than you think with it going up $4 every season, bunch of BS

According to this story:

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/ba..._spot_wil.html

which ran back in Jan 2008, we're actually ahead of the curve right now.

Scary.

[ThaKoolAidKid]

Edit: Wow, I was way off. Nevermind.

[dadrumma]

just a few picture updates from new things around the stadium I thought some people might wanna see. i think theyre all new things but feel free to correct me if im wrong.

outside the stadium


place to put your food on the terrace level


coming soon


spotted high up in the great hall


DKNY and I think the fedex ads are new


closer shot of the numbers


new out of town board arrangement. i wonder if they can fit all the games on it at once now


dont remember seeing this one last season


pretty sure this ad is new too


right in front of the JBS lounge. i dont know for sure if its exclusive for JBS ticket holders or not, but it was a pain to navigate around during game time.

[SteveFlack]

NYY Steak now has a concession area next to the garlic fries on the field level, selling a sandwich for $15, probably similar to Lobel's. I think this replaced the Cuban sandwich and nachos place.

I got in the stadium a little after 11, and walked past it on the way to seeing the five minutes of Yankee batting practice we were allowed to see. As we walked past it, a concession worker came up with a plate of free sandwiches. He couldn't even finish saying "FREE SAMPLES", before the entire plate was empty.

I did get one of the samples, good, a little salty, but doesn't compare to the Lobels, which was delish.

Also, I was really confused by the roped off section in front of the Jim Beam suite. There was nobody guarding it, or policing who was in it, and it has a view of absolutely nothing.

Did anyone find the speed pitch children's area they were supposed to be opening?

[ZYanksRule]

Yeah, let's rope off the concourse right behind the plate. Smart move, fellas.

[ymike673]

My thoughts on the opener.

Pros,

Loved what they did with the scoreboards. Finally all the out-of-town scores displayed at the same time. Also both lineups displayed.

Ring ceremony was great and the way the Yankees treated Matsui was first class all the way.

Cons,

Small championship banners displayed on the roof instead of the real ones.
Yes I know the banners from 50-70 years ago are too fragile but what about the ones from the 90's. How about exact copies of the earlier banners.

No raising of the 2009 WS flag.

In the past former Yankees greats would raise the flag. Why was this ceremony skipped?

Isen't it time to quit the YMCA?

[SteveFlack]

Loved what they did with the scoreboards. Finally all the out-of-town scores displayed at the same time. Also both lineups displayed.

I disagree. I think there's too much dead space on the new design. I'm fine with a rotating scoreboard, that's how it was at the old place.

No raising of the 2009 WS flag.

In the past former Yankees greats would raise the flag. Why was this ceremony skipped?

I figured this out. At the old place, the flag pole was located on the field. So walking VIPS over to it to raise the flag was easy. Now, the flag pole is located on the concourse behind the left field bleachers. Walking VIPS to it, and keeping the crowd away would have been a security headache. Still, no reason not to have Yankee Stadium staff do it. Maybe it was a timing issue.

Isen't it time to quit the YMCA?

No.

[ymike673]

I disagree. I think there's too much dead space on the new design. I'm fine with a rotating scoreboard, that's how it was at the old place.




I figured this out. At the old place, the flag pole was located on the field. So walking VIPS over to it to raise the flag was easy. Now, the flag pole is located on the concourse behind the left field bleachers. Walking VIPS to it, and keeping the crowd away would have been a security headache. Still, no reason not to have Yankee Stadium staff do it. Maybe it was a timing issue.



No.

That was not dead space on the scoreboard. Only about half the normal amount of games were scheduled. There is now room for all the day's games to be displayed at the same time. Like is done in every other major league park.

[SteveFlack]

That was not dead space on the scoreboard. Only about half the normal amount of games were scheduled. There is now room for all the day's games to be displayed at the same time. Like is done in every other major league park.

Fair enough, I'll make a more educated judgement based on a normal gameday. But I really did like it last year.

[yankeesrule]

Fair enough, I'll make a more educated judgement based on a normal gameday. But I really did like it last year.

I hated the out of town scoreboard last year, and actually the one at RYS also.. The rotating boards made it too hard to follow another game while keeping track of the Yankee game.

For example, once the Yankees clinched the east last year, I cared as much about what the Twins and Tigers were doing as I did about the Yankee game, but when i would look up at the OOT board, it would always be up to Atlanta or something. I would then have to either stare at the board until the game came up or watch the Yankee game and hope not to miss the Minn and Det game again. It was just annoying!

This year, finally no more of that :-)

[superyan]

Isen't it time to quit the YMCA?

I remember being at Opening Day in 1996 when they first did it in the snow. I thought it was the coolest thing ever.

As they were doing it, they put the most unmotivated grounds crew guy on the scoreboard... who was probably cursing those guys in 1996. I think it's time to stop it.

[Yanks4eva1]

I noticed that the security guards were a lot more friendly and less Nazi. Also right by Main 212 they have a new "Chicken and Rice" stand. There was no line and smelled really good so I tried it. It was delicious and only $10 for a very nice portion. It's like a chicken tinga with yellow rice w/ peas and other veggies mixed in and spicy. Very good. And the Lobels was like butter today - AMAZING.

Thanks for the info on the chicken and rice - right up my alley!

Also noticed that the pillars around the stadium were bare last year and now have current Yankees players painted on them - I even saw one of Granderson on the main level.

I also like the fact of seeing how many balls and strikes the pitchers throw - that is new on the scoreboard this year as well.

I like the announcer's voice - melodic, professional - he'll be fine.

I liked the flags around the stadium, but thought they should be in blue with a white font - more classy and distinctive in blue.

[mp10562]

missed the peppers w/ the sausage hero.

maybee george won't allow peppers while he's in the stadium.

[BRNXBMRS]

The flags were nice touch over the stadium, but the 09 flag looks like a generic p.o.s, the next time the flags come out is for OTD. The smell of garlic was all over the place, $10 beers. THe bathrooms in NYS are amazing, not one line and I didnt miss an entire inning. I like that there is a blue background where the retired #'s are. Monument cave really needs to be fixed. With OYS almost gone there really wasnt any wind at all blowing through the concourses.

[Ram Man]

THe bathrooms in NYS are amazing

Really? Amazing bathrooms? I'm amazed that any bathroom would be called amazing.

[jlevin]

The garage parking fee went from $19 to $23! Who here got a 20%+ raise this year, raise your hands....

Seriously! When I got to the parking lot and they said $23. I asked the woman, is this just for today because it's more of a "special event." And she said, no it's the new price and that the Yankees didn't set the price.

The parking costs more than my ticket per game now.

Low class... that's all I have to say.

I think they only raised in $2 from 2008 to 2009.

[delv]

A few questions:

Do the water fountains behind the bleachers work yet?

Concerning the banners w/ the players faces ouside the stadium... who did they replace Matsui, Damon, and Wang with? I saw one of dadrumma's pics showed Swisher.

[dadrumma]

A few questions:

Do the water fountains behind the bleachers work yet?

Concerning the banners w/ the players faces ouside the stadium... who did they replace Matsui, Damon, and Wang with? I saw one of dadrumma's pics showed Swisher.

Well Granderson has one. I dont know if Swisher had one last year but he does now as well.

[NYYDragoon]

I hope they fix the radar gun. And fire whoever failed miserably at keeping the pitch count.

[delv]

Well Granderson has one. I dont know if Swisher had one last year but he does now as well.

Yeah, Swisher didn't before. And I figure Cano has to be up there at this point, yeah?

[RayG]

I noticed the line score on the the Video Ribbon just to the third base side of Home plate. I think that because people in the bleachers can't see the main scoreboard or the manual ones, they put this in. It's not there between innings, only during play. I liked it. It basically was a narrow version of a scoreboard. Each inning, H, R, E, at bat etc...

[BRNXBMRS]

Really? Amazing bathrooms? I'm amazed that any bathroom would be called amazing.

Comparing from the bathrooms across the street where you'd miss an inning and have to pee in the sink, the new ones are amazing.

[GordonGecko]

Comparing from the bathrooms across the street where you'd miss an inning and have to pee in the sink, the new ones are amazing.

So, you were that guy...

[dadrumma]

I noticed the line score on the the Video Ribbon just to the third base side of Home plate. I think that because people in the bleachers can't see the main scoreboard or the manual ones, they put this in. It's not there between innings, only during play. I liked it. It basically was a narrow version of a scoreboard. Each inning, H, R, E, at bat etc...

They def had it last year. It was a late in the season addition I know because I remember seeing it during the World Series and thinking it was a good idea.

Another thing which I meant to take a picture of is in the terrace section, for the sections with the added rows, the wire mesh fences blocking the views of home plate were changed to plexiglass. This one guy was thrilled was about it cause he complained and complained.

[RayG]

[quote=dadrumma]They def had it last year. It was a late in the season addition I know because I remember seeing it during the World Series and thinking it was a good idea.
[quote]

Okay- my normal seats are upstairs in 413 and don't always see that part, but we were down in 107 and saw it yesterday. And I thought it was a good idea as well.