Was torn between using MPSIMS or The Game Room to “share”’ these “mundane” photos - but my interpretation of the latter’s “sports of all sorts” descriptor led to my dropping a few ‘insider’ photos of the new Yankee Stadium here.
Background: A partner of the company I’m employed at supplied the ground face CMUs from his Ulster County-based block plant for the new ‘House That Jeter Built’ - which is in the final stage of construction in the boogie-down Bronx. The Westchester County-based material yard I work in supplied the masonry sealants to one of the stadium’s countless contractors. After a couple months of curiosity, one of our salesman stopped by the site today. After passing thru security & the labor union gatekeepers, and a poorly conceived plan to bury a Mets’ Jersey in right field foiled, he graciously snapped off a few photos for the Yankee fans back here at the office.
With the ‘08 season in the dumper - and the “NY” in NYY literally evolving into an abbreviation for ‘next year’ - I figured I’d share a few images to brighten the mood of the handful of SDMB Yank fans out there. Barring several mid-air collisions of chartered AL team jets, we’re most definitely gonna miss this year’s post-season. Perhaps one of these photos will brighten your day, push the fact the team’s trailing 4-2 in Anaheim at this very moment, put this past season’s uncharacteristically poor memories behind you and get you ready for some ass-kickin’ come April 2009.[ol][li]Not Much Here, Folks: A high-tech trainer’s room adjacent to the locker & press rooms. It seems kinda weird, but those high-tech pools enable trainers / medical staff to observe players in the water while standing below the pool looking upward through a plexiglass bottom.[/li][li]Another Boring One: Inside the unfinished locker room. Supposedly, the player’s new digs have so much more space, A Rod will be comfortable squeeze his head in. Who knows, perhaps the first time Suzyn Waldman walks in, she’ll notice how huge it is.[/li][]Left Field: Great shot of the scoreboard / jumbotrons. As we’re all accustomed to, center field is blacked out - only without a Coca-Cola (or RC Cola) red neon installed (yet?).[]Take Two: Another left-field view including the infield. According to the contractor, the glass is going down in Mid-October (Reggie grass). Borrowed from Baltimore…As with Camden, all seats throughout the stadium are angled toward home plate. Note the trademark frieze. The opted to stick with (the more recent) white as opposed to the original copper.[]The Heated Dugout: I didn’t think to ask if there was the same size ductwork installed in the visitor’s dugout. - or if it’s a thick enough gauge to withstand a Paul O’Neill-like tantrum.[]The Short Porch in Right: Other than the different skyline & missing el train, you notice something very different? Hint: It looks like that feat Mickey Mantle almost pulled off will be delegated to the scrap bin of history.[/ol]Yanno, I kinda like it. Even with the company’s season tickets moving up to the loge, I have a feeling those $9 beers will be a tad easier to enjoy come Spring time.
