The New Cathedral of Baseball
Well, this is hard for a Mets fan to say, but here goes. The new Yankee Stadium is the fitting Cathedral to the religion of Baseball. The Yankees have a long and storied history of success with 26 World Championships and a wing of players in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The one thing that the Yankees know is how to celebrate their history and tradition.
When you walk up to the new stadium, you get the cathedral feeling as you take in the sheer magnitude of the stadium and its imposing structure. Once you walk-in, there is never any doubt whose house it is. Pictures documenting the franchise surround the interior stating from the Great Hall and all around the concession stands. Of course, the storied Monument Park is resident in centerfield. The line starts 3 hours and closed 1 1/2 hours prior to game time and the day we were there, the line rose through all three decks.
A new addition is a museum that I didn’t get the chance to visit this time, but I’m sure there’s a lot to tell in there. That line also wrapped around the ramps between levels.
Of course, the return of the facade around the stadium brings back memories of the pre-renovation Yankee Stadium. Younger fans only have seen the facade in the outfield, however, this definitely returns to majestry of the original stadium.
It’s true that the stadium is new and that negligible history has been made there (short of giving up 14 runs in an inning) but throughout the stadium there are efforts to recollect and pay homage to the players that created a large part of baseball history merely a block away.
I can’t say for sure, but the video screen sure seems to be the largest I have ever seen. The video is incredible. Any attempt to go over the top with any aspect of the stadium has not been missed.
I would recommend that any true baseball fan, Yankee fan, Yankee agnostic or even Yankee haters take the opportunity to visit this new venue. It is completely unlike any other that I have visited. Given the Yankee mystique, history and prominent role in baseball history, this stadium completely fits the team.
The Mets could have taken some pointers from the Yankees in how to celebrate their history. You’d never find a tribute to the Brooklyn Dodgers or New York Giants or the New York Mets for that matter at Yankee Stadium. They get it!