On September 20th I went to Yankee Stadium to watch the Yankees take on the Orioles in the next to last game in Yankee Stadium. This is a recount of my weekend.

On the 19th, after a half day at work, I went to Charlotte-Douglas International Airport to catch a US Air flight up to the Westchester County Airport (HPN) in White Plains, NY. My best friend and college roommate, Mike, lives in Stamford, CT. I got there early and had a couple of beers and some chili at the Fox Sports bar in Terminal E. While there I nearly ran into former UNC player, Brad Daugherty (the only UNC player that I actually like), and saw Clemson coach Oliver Purnell hurrying to catch his flight. My flight was canceled b/c their was a mechanical problem with the plane. I went to the special services desk and got a flight to LaGuardia that was about to leave. They told me that I had 5 minutes to run pretty much from one side of the airport to the other (CLT is a big airport for those that have never been there) if I had any chance of catching it. I run like crazy in and around people and make it to the gate. They haven't even started boarding yet, and I ended up running and getting out of breath for nothing.

I get to LGA and my friend picks me up. We go to his place in Stamford, meet our other friend from college, Jeff, who flew in from Arkansas and was already at the house, and begin drinking with his buddies. A couple of beers, slices of pizza, and hours later, my friends girlfriend, Jen, shows up and we catch a cab to downtown Stamford and continue drinking. The two bars we go to are cool, but the second was better, b/c it didn't have crappy cover bands that have no musical talent trying to woo and impress drunk girls with their renditions of old Journey songs. I can tell that everyone around, me with the exception of my college buddies, where the types of people that had parents with plenty of money that sent them to overpriced liberal arts schools in New England, and now still get money from mommy and daddy.

Saturday morning arrives. We go to a local deli to get some sandwiches, and stop in a beverage joint and grab a 12 pack of Coors Light cans. Mike, Jeff, Jen, and I eat the sandwiches and then catch the commuter train into the city. It's now around 11 o'clock and we are drinking on the train. There is a family sitting across the aisle and I can tell that they are irritated by our early morning drunkenness and debauchery. We get off at the 125th street stop and follow the other Yankee fans to the subway station a block away to catch the train to the Bronx and the Yankee Stadium stop. On the train there is some crazy preacher that sounds like he's originally from a country in the Caribbean. Everyone is irritated by him, but tolerate his preachings. We get off and bam, there is the new stadium less than 100 ft from us. It is magnificent. Across the front YANKEE STADIUM is carved in and highlighted by paint that looks to have real gold mixed in. Across the street is the old stadium. We go to the famous Billy's bar which sits across the street from the old stadium. It is filled with Yankee fans, metal is blasting, chandeliers are oddly hanging from the ceiling, the beer is relatively cheap for NYC, and the ECU vs. State game is on all of the big screens. I am happy. We have a couple of beers there, then head to the game. We get to our seats right when the National Anthem starts.

Our seats are positioned behind 1st base, 3 rows up, and a few feet from the foul pole. We can't really see the jumbotron b/c it is poorly placed and the right field portion of the upper deck is in the way. The game is a defensive show with neither team able to breakthrough and drive in runs. I buy a round of beers for everyone from one of the guys roaming the stands. Bud Light is the only thing sold in the stadium. Four 16 oz. Bud Lights are $9.50. I later go and get a beer from the concourse. I get about 20 oz. for $8.50. I tell the lady at the concession stand that I am from North Carolina and went to NC State. She beams with excitement b/c she has family from Apex and one of them went to State. A little kid, no older than 7, sits at the front row of the section beside us. He is hilarious and jumps up and yells at the umps during what he thinks are bad calls, and poor play by the players. I tell my friends that that is what I want my kids to be like. The 7th inning stretch includes everyone standing and singing "God Bless America" and "Take Me Out To The Ballgame". We get to the 9th inning with no score. Up until now the crowd has been occasionally loud, but mainly has been relaxed. Metallica's "Enter Sandman" begins blasting over the speakers. Everyone is standing and hollering. Mariano Rivera, one of the greatest closers in Yankee and MLB history comes jogging out. The crowd is unbelievable and is very loud now. Everyone continues to stand while Rivera works his magic. The bottom of the 9th comes. Everyone is apprehensive. The Yankees load the bases. A base hit gets through and a runner comes in. The crowd explodes and is one of the loudest I have heard (next to CU's Death Valley, VT's Lane Stadium, Carter-Finley, RBC Center, and Reynolds Coliseum).

I am a huge Frank Sinatra fan, and I am so glad that I get to hear his version of "New York, New York", rather than Liza Minnelli's version (for those that don't know the Yankees tradition after games is to play Frank's version after a win and Liza's version after a loss). Everyone is celebrating and taking pictures. Cops line up around the field making sure no one goes on the field. There are a ton of cops in the stands too making sure no one steals anything from the stadium. An announcement is made that if you are caught stealing anything from the stadium you will be prosecuted to the fullest. My brother calls me and tells me State beat ECU in overtime. I am jubilant, and my friends go nuts after I tell them State won. We go to the lower level and take more pictures before the cops tell us and everyone else there to leave. They have no sense of the history and importance of this place. As we are leaving we see a ton of people outside chiseling away pieces of the stadium.

We go to Manhattan and visit two of my buddies' friends drinking at both places. The first place has stuck up people, but at least they have a Seinfeld DVD playing. The only people talking to us are the girl my friend knows and this awesome guy that went to Tulane. He must have picked up on the Southern hospitality while he was down there for college. We leave and eat at a restaurant called Chirping Chicken that seemingly is run by nothing but a huge Puerto Rican family. A cute, short Puerto Rican chick that works there flirts with me. She takes the time out to smile and wave at me as I leave even though they are very busy. We stop in a 7-11 before going to the second friends place. He has the movie Dazed and Confused on the TV. We decide to not go with him to a party and just go back to Stamford. We continue drinking on the commuter train. We get back in time for SNL. We have pretty much been drinking for 12 hours and are very tired. Someone mentions going out to the bars in Stamford as a possibility, but we are way too tired.

On Sunday we didn't do much but went to the South Street Seaport area, where I saw Jerricho Cotchery walking around. Then went to Battery Park and Bowling Green to rub the charging bull's balls for good luck. My friend from Arkansas left out that night, while I left out on Monday morning.

Yankee Stadium is a special place. It has this aura to it. You step in and realize that a lot of special things have happened there. It can get very loud and has a great atmosphere. That said, it does need to be replaced. As mentioned there are seats that can't see the jumbotron. Also I had to stand up to be able to look over the edge of the upper deck whenever a ball was hit into the corner of right field. The concrete stands are worn and noticeably weathered. The concourses were small and were badly in need of paint and updating. The bathrooms though were adequately sized. The new stadium is gorgeous. I do wish there had been a way though to have renovated the old stadium and make it work, but I think building the new stadium was probably the right way to go about it. Overall it was a great experience though.

9/28/2008 7:31:51 PM

F**K THE YANKEES! Blow that bitch up!

9/28/2008 7:40:29 PM

Concourse




The new stadium can be seen over left field.


Foul pole and my obstructed view of the jumbotron


The funny kid



My friends acting stupid (I don't know why the picture came out so bright looking)






Tunnel connecting the concourse and the stands (I took it while walking which is why it's a little blurry)







The new stadium's front from the subway stop

9/28/2008 7:40:59 PM

too many words to read

9/28/2008 7:50:47 PM

fuck it, let it burn

9/28/2008 7:51:05 PM

What sucked though is I had a guy wearing a UNC shirt sitting in front of us. I don't think he went there. I yelled out "Carolina sucks" and "Tar Heels suck" a few times, but I guess he was too stupid to realize I was trying to mess with him. A few people looked at me funny.

[Edited on September 28, 2008 at 7:54 PM. Reason : ]

9/28/2008 7:53:47 PM

This was stupid as hell.

9/28/2008 8:04:04 PM

Quote :

"What sucked though is I had a guy wearing a UNC shirt sitting in front of us. I don't think he went there. I yelled out "Carolina sucks" and "Tar Heels suck" a few times, but I guess he was too stupid to realize I was trying to mess with him. A few people looked at me funny. "

I bet they were stupid too. Tell us less about how you were acting like a complete douche and more about that puerto rican's tits!!!

9/28/2008 8:04:36 PM

Seriously though what are the chances that me a State alum, ends up having some douche with a UNC shirt sit in front of me at a Yankees game.

Actually I wasn't acting like a douche, I was trying to get him to engage me in some good natured ribbing. If he had actually gone there he would have probably turned around laughed and had a conversation about the state and ACC basketball.

[Edited on September 28, 2008 at 8:18 PM. Reason : ]

9/28/2008 8:07:26 PM

Not in NYC.

9/28/2008 8:15:47 PM

what the fuck is this, a page from your diary?

get this shit into chit chat, where it belongs.



holy fuck TWW is turning into a clusterfuck of annoying topics/posts

9/28/2008 8:22:21 PM

Quote :

"My flight was canceled b/c their was a mechanical problem with the plane."

what are the chances that you know the difference between they're, there, and their. fucking state alum.

jk, fuck NY and I didn't really read any of this

9/28/2008 8:22:21 PM

that chick with you has nice boobies.

post more pics of them

9/28/2008 8:27:00 PM

^^ I know what the difference is between they're, their, and there. I was typing too fast to notice that I typed the wrong word. So sue me.

Yeah Jen did have some nice tits. I'd say they were D cups. Plus she was really cool too, and not stuck up like a lot of the people from that part of the country. Too bad she's dating my friend and lives in Connecticut.

I posted this b/c I thought some people would enjoy reading about my experience. You don't have to read it if you don't want to, and you don't have to post about how you don't want to read it also. I'd actually like to hear some other people's stories about their trips to stadiums. I kind of want to go to a Cardinals game.

[Edited on September 28, 2008 at 8:39 PM. Reason : ]

9/28/2008 8:36:18 PM

bro, the shit about Yankee stadium and the pictures is fine but that's like 3 sentences

Quote :

"We go to Manhattan and visit two of my buddies' friends drinking at both places. The first place has stuck up people, but at least they have a Seinfeld DVD playing."

I mean, who would want to read this, really

9/28/2008 8:43:39 PM

lol he has his own reality thread

9/28/2008 8:47:36 PM

I got carried away with talking about the whole weekend, especially mentioning me having to jump out of the way of Brad Daugherty (who's kind of fat now), Oliver Purnell almost running across the airport, and Jerricho Cotchery walking around the South Street Seaport area. No one was bothering him, and I was probably the only person there that recognized him. He wasn't dressed real flashy or had a bunch of bling on, which made me respect him more. You could tell that he hasn't let being in the NFL go to his head. He's still the same guy that played at State and broke Torry Holt's career reception record.

9/28/2008 8:52:35 PM

^^^ are you kidding me? what about THIS part???

Quote :

"We leave and eat at a restaurant called Chirping Chicken that seemingly is run by nothing but a huge Puerto Rican family. A cute, short Puerto Rican chick that works there flirts with me. She takes the time out to smile and wave at me as I leave even though they are very busy. "

[Edited on September 28, 2008 at 9:06 PM. Reason : .]

9/28/2008 9:03:06 PM

She was a really nice looking Puerto Rican chick, even though she was short. I loved her accent too. I wish I was living in NYC b/c I would have definitely gotten her number and tried to hit it.

9/28/2008 9:04:57 PM

was the guy from tulane short with thinning hair

9/28/2008 9:25:19 PM

No. He was probably 6'1" and had a full head of hair from what I could tell. He had a hat on iirc. Again I drank for almost 12 hours straight with exception to the times that we were eating at the chicken place and taking a cab/subway from one place to another.

9/28/2008 9:33:27 PM

haha, i'm totally friends with jeff harke

9/28/2008 9:37:54 PM

I wonder if I've ever met you then.

9/28/2008 9:43:09 PM

there is a chance, but i am almost always wasted whenever we hang out with him, ha

9/28/2008 9:44:49 PM

Well me too, haha.

9/28/2008 9:45:55 PM

total bullshit that they are gonna tear that place down. it's be like tearing down the Lincoln memorial. Just wrong.

9/29/2008 1:02:45 AM

Quote :

"Chirping Chicken"

9/29/2008 1:18:38 AM

I'm pretty sure this is the one that we went to.

9/29/2008 8:04:15 AM

Quote :

"Bud Light is the only thing sold in the stadium"

I've gone to the stadium almost 20 times in the last two years and thats not true. (dunno if they changed it for the last game, seems weird).

I think there's a few Chirping Chickens in NYC. There was one near me in Astoria, thats for sure.

Yankee Stadium will definitely be missed. I'm pissed I wasn't able to go to any games after early May.

And fuck you haters. I fucking HATE the Red Sox but if they tore down Fenway I'd be sad. If you're a true baseball fan you can't ignore the significance of that hallowed place.

9/29/2008 10:24:51 AM

Yeah there was definitely more than one beer on sale when I went two weeks ago. They were all in the $8-$9 range, but that's another issue altogether.

9/29/2008 10:32:06 AM

Hmm...maybe it was just where I was at. All I saw was Bud Light sold in the upper deck and I did walk around half of it. I was kind of mad too, b/c I don't really care for Bud Light. I mean I'll drink it, but I'd rather have Coors Light if I have to have some watered down American light beer. I like IPAs and Guinness much more.

9/29/2008 10:38:22 AM

Last time I was at a game I was sitting in a section where the vendors in the stands ONLY sold Budweiser. I fucking hate Budweiser. Still drank that shit though, b/c beers were on my business colleague who was expensing it all

9/29/2008 11:09:46 AM

I was at the final game on the 21st.

Insane.

9/29/2008 2:46:24 PM

Bring in the demo crew! Blow that bitch up!

9/30/2008 12:49:52 PM

no way am i reading all that and i hate the yankees

9/30/2008 4:14:13 PM

^ you're missing out.

it's all very interesting and relevant to sports and Yankee Stadium

9/30/2008 5:30:02 PM

i had a lot of fun there too about 2 months ago...these were our seats




and they lost to the Royals....baha

(the only pic i have i think. go panthers.)

[Edited on September 30, 2008 at 8:57 PM. Reason : .]

9/30/2008 8:57:13 PM

I've always wanted to go there, I don't like the Yankees but it seems like a fun place to see a game. I did get to see Fenway and the Red Sox play a night game this summer though.

The bleacher bar in Left field under the Green Monster is fucking awesome... Definitely check it out if you're down there.





[Edited on September 30, 2008 at 10:33 PM. Reason : .]

9/30/2008 10:30:59 PM

^^ Did you think the concourse was small too?

[Edited on September 30, 2008 at 10:31 PM. Reason : ^^]

9/30/2008 10:31:08 PM

the concourse was ridiiiculously small and narrow. and i just couldnt get myself to pay that kind of money for a beer.

grand central station has $2 24ouncers though!!!

10/1/2008 9:45:59 PM

Quote :

"I did get to see Fenway and the Red Sox play a night game this summer though."

at first I read it like it was Fenway vs. Red Sox

10/1/2008 10:12:41 PM

^^well thats not going to change with the new stadium. You pay a premium to watch them play. They can get away with it.

10/1/2008 11:21:45 PM

My trip to Shea Stadium:


On Aug. 5th I went to Shea. The Mets won. Beers were $9.50. Heilman almost blew the game. The end.







(Beltran giving the carl face midgame)

We missed our train, so we missed the Yankees game (and it was Old Timers day), but fuck that piece of shit.

[Edited on October 2, 2008 at 2:22 AM. Reason : ..]

10/2/2008 2:20:59 AM

lol right, b/c Shea isn't a bigger piece of shit than Yankee stadium. Get that Flushing crap outta here

10/2/2008 7:35:59 AM

I tried to start a "SHEA IS SHIT" chant. A few people joined in, but mostly people either laughed or just gave me a thumbs up. It's right there near LaGuardia with planes flying in.

10/2/2008 8:40:26 AM

so i got a nice little tour of Yankees stadium and by nice i mean...well just look at the pictures
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=37674643&l=f1c0d&id=11804244

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=37674644&l=e7621&id=11804244
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=37674645&l=67fe5&id=11804244
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=37674646&l=32d7e&id=11804244
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=37674649&l=1b53a&id=11804244
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=37674650&l=b4de2&id=11804244
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=37674651&l=458bf&id=11804244
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=37674655&l=b3d03&id=11804244
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=37674659&l=aa8e7&id=11804244
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=37674660&l=f33fe&id=11804244
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=37674661&l=38b91&id=11804244
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=37674662&l=dcf2f&id=11804244[/image]



all in all it was a nice place, im not a yankees fan but have learned to like them because of this special trip we got

we also saw the locker room but cameras werent allowed in there not even by us

so that sucked, but it was nice...we got to see a lot of the actual players stuff even try on a little of it

[Edited on October 15, 2008 at 7:10 PM. Reason : f it, i dont wanna go in and add each image, thanks a lot facebook...just look at the links]

10/15/2008 7:07:07 PM

Nice pics. I wish I would have been able to go down and see Monument Park. What did you think of the concourses and the structure?

10/15/2008 8:19:00 PM

is that a combover?

10/15/2008 11:08:15 PM

we didnt get to see much of the concourse, didnt really want to although we got a fairly detailed history of it and how it has been transformed and what not, so that was interesting

but overall the facilities were really nice, i could see why they are updating though...its got that old feel to it

10/15/2008 11:12:19 PM

Quote :

"Heilman almost blew the game."

lol. I DON'T BELIEVE YOU!

So are they planning on fixing up the shit area around Yankee Stadium? Or are they just putting a $1.2B stadium in the middle of a shithole.

At least around CitiField they have already began the eminent domain process to get rid of all the chop shops and build this residential/commercial area:



It's gonna be awesome. Bars/restaurants and nice apartments/condos/parks...

Quote :

"What did you think of the concourses and the structure?"

The Yankee Stadium concourses are some of the worst in baseball. No open air and not nearly wide enough for a stadium that seats 56,000. They BADLY needed to upgrade...

Quote :

"well thats not going to change with the new stadium. You pay a premium to watch them play. They can get away with it."

The actual organizations don't set the concession prices fwiw. MLB and the concession company (Aramark at Shea) do...

[Edited on October 15, 2008 at 11:16 PM. Reason : x]

10/15/2008 11:13:18 PM