The new "Yankee Stadium" (and I'm mixed about it having that name) opened up this past weekend with a four-game series with the Cleveland Indians, which they split two games a piece. This new $1.5 billion state-of-the-art baseball haven combines relics to the old Yankee Stadium before it was renovated in the mid-70s with brand new amenities. Such throwbacks include the exterior of the stadium replicating the old ballpark, and the frieze facade that encircles the park from just beyond the foulpoles to behind home plate. It also has about a half a million square feet, a booming sound system, and highest resolution scoreboard monitor in the world.
It also shows the ugly side of baseball, the side disguised in wealth and royalty. All that glitters is not gold because the camera panned in on many empty seats-even unoccupied box seats near the infield and home plate. The Steinbrenners hiked up the prices of the new comfortable-looking seats (and you were able to see a ton of them due to the lack of a sellout crowd) in the stadium excessively to the point where former season's ticket holders simply could not afford to keep their seats. George Steinbrenner always knew how to draw a crowd, except in the late 80s and early 90s when the team sucked and was the doormat in the A.L. East. Perhaps his sons Hank and Hal, and also team president Randy Levine should take a supply-and-demand lesson from the old man.
According to Wikipedia (I am a Rhodes Scholar when it comes to Wikipedia), the new stadium has a seating capacity of 52,325 including standing room (down from 56,866 in the post-renovation era version of The House That Ruth Built). The Yanks' attendances, respectively, during the opening series is as follows: 48,271 (not even within 4,000 on the inaugural game), 45,101 for the first Yankee win there, 45,167 during Wang's implosion, and 43,068 during the Sunday afternoon series finale matinee game. They failed to break the standard 50,000 mark they would break all the time at the old building (and to think they'd break 70,000 on occasion before they renovated that one). During the championship years, they'd average 56-57 thousand spectators on their feet as fans in attendance would feel the stadium shake.
Aside from that, Chien-Ming Wang's performances thus far have been awful. During his first three starts, he is 0-3, with an ERA of 34.50. He has given up 23 hits, surrendered 23 earned runs, and has struck out a meager two batters while walking six. He has also failed to go beyond the fourth inning this season and hasn't even made it passed the second in his last two starts. This is a guy who was their ace pitcher the last few years, leading the American League in total wins in 2006-07 with 38 total victories (19 each season). He has demonstrated an inability to get hitters out, as evidenced by the 14-run frame the Indians put up in their half on the second inning on Saturday's game. This is an issue they need to address soon, as his next scheduled start is this Friday at Fenway. Ron Guidry retired before his time... can he come back???
The new stadium is also a launching pad for home runs. The Yankees and Indians combined for an astonishing 20 home runs, setting the record for the opening series of a new ballpark (and A-Rod isn't even back yet!). Baseballs are scientifically proven to fly further and carry longer during the hot days of summer, but this is April. There are many theories that people have been talking about concerning the jacked up home run totals of this weekend and the two exhibition games against the Cubs. The most notable theory is the wind tunnels created by the opening of the upper deck to allow for winds off the Harlem River to affect ball trajectory. It might not be the case when the old stadium is torn down, but it's certainly exciting to watch because it lets the Yankees live up to their Bronx Bombers nickname even moreso. Much to pitchers' dismay, this stadium is getting the same offensive reaction as Coors' Field (the rare mile-high air) and the Ballpark in Arlington (hot and steamy 100+ degree Texas days on a regular basis).
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