As of today, the Yankees shockingly are not on pace for 4 million fans in attendance in their brand new stadium. The official attendance for today's game was only 48,271. We're unsure why it was so low, but perhaps it is because the Yankees haven't put standing room only tickets for sale yet. Or maybe too many people bought tickets just to flip them, and were unable to dump them in time.
Regardless of the reasons, the capacity of the stadium is supposed to be somewhere in the 52,000 range. Today, on a highly publicized opening of the most expensive stadium ever, the Yankees couldn't even draw 50,000. For comparison's sake, the Yankees had 55,112 fans come through the gates one year ago, after a rainout forced opening day to be moved to the next night.
This must be pretty disheartening for the team. There are some cold nights to come in the rest of April. Is it possible that the attendance will not even crack 40,000 for some of those games? For a team that has been easily drawing 4 million fans the past few years, this definitely comes as a bit of a surprise. Was anyone listening to the John Sterling on the radio? Did he mention the lower than expected attendance? How about the YES broadcast crew?
We checked last night, and Ticketmaster was completely sold out of tickets. Did the Yankees have to remove more seats than they initially let on due to obstructions? Is the capacity of the new stadium actually only 48,000 without standing room? Unfortunately we don't have the answers, but perhaps a mainstream news source will do some more digging. Keep an eye on the papers tomorrow.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
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Andrew Fletcher 60p · 832 weeks ago
Chris · 832 weeks ago
Not Enough Seating · 832 weeks ago
According to the AP, the crowd of 48,271 was indeed a sellout. I thought at most there was 2,000 standing room and at least over 50,000 was actually seating - apparently it's more like 4,000 standing room. The media should really stop using the 52,235 figure after this - it is completely misleading. The reality is, $1.5 billion dollars later and we have a stadium whose capacity is reduced by a whopping 8,000.
According to wikipedia's list of MLB stadiums, this puts the Yankees under teams like Baltimore and Arizona, both of which drew more on their opening days. I know this issue pales in comparison to the team's performance on the field, but I find it just as embarrassing. I for one love the new stadium, but the Yankees really dropped the ball on lowering the capacity so drastically.
StadiumInsider 72p · 832 weeks ago
kevin · 832 weeks ago
Lisa Swan · 832 weeks ago
And there were still tickets available - albeit the high-priced ones - on Ticketmaster this morning.
Too bad they couldn't put the West Point cadets in some of the unsold fancy seats instead of relegating them to the obstructed view seats in the bleachers today.
PinstripePrincess · 832 weeks ago
Jon Levin · 832 weeks ago
Lucci · 832 weeks ago
BPALM 28p · 832 weeks ago
Ballyard 73 · 832 weeks ago
There were even standing up in the last rows of the grandstand. I'm looking at the wide angle photos I took today and checking every section and I can't find empty seats across the entire length of the stadium. From the left field all the way to the right field side...packed ! (Yes, there may have been some scattered empty seats in the "Legends: area, but I could'nt find them.) The bleachers were also jammed, especially when boomer held court and had the aisles lined with autograph seekers and picture takers.
I did notice some crowd thinning around the 5th inning probably because people were walking around, or maybe went home, who knows ? But they all showed up.
Even Citi-Field did'nt sell all their Expensive seats
The crowd involvement also was fine. Up to the 6th, this was a close game, it was like pitchers dual which are typically quiet. Let's be fair, there was not a lot to cheer about. Even Michael Kay did point out the crowd cheering at 2 strikes for Sabathia and when Ranson made that great play, the crowd erupted. There's other examples , I can't think of, I'm tired it's been a long but very fund day) When the action called for it, the crowd responded.
The "we want Swisher" was a riot, that was loud and stadium wide.
HorseRun · 832 weeks ago
the stadium is a beautiful creation ........and that is about all i liked about it
the bad...
1. the ticket prices will kill this stadium and kill any home field advantage this old, boring team needs
2. it was quiet ! way too quiet....there was no spark
3. there is a very cool breeze that you feel on your back and neck all day , i believe becaue of the open concourse , it makes a draft that by the end of the game makes it uncomfortable when in the shade
4. so people in the Legends Seats , actually throwing there all they can eat free food over to people in the field level seats...this free food delivered to your seat is a very bad idea
HorseRun · 832 weeks ago
5. there was a loud obnoxious commercial for some stupid game every 1/2 inning, you couldnt even talk to your friend in between innings
6. the girl in between innings voices is worse tan nails on a chalkboard....this is not a minor league stadium THIS IS YANKEE STADIUM , please get rid of her NOW
7. the bathroom flow , as usual , is awful.....the parking lots flow , getting out, as usual , was awful....isnt their an engineer in the state of NY , who can figure this out !!!
8. i didnt notice all this extra legroom . i heard all winter about....the seats seems almost as cramped as the old stadium and i miss the BOXES as rows of 20 seats are a pain in the ass
9. the stading room idea does nnot work for me.....it makes the concourse too busy and i hate the feeling of people always being on my shoulder looking right over my back
10. there is a art gallery selling paintings .....are you kidding me !
11. everything seems to be trying to sell me something i dont want or need at a baseball game....its information overload.....and i feel used and dirty after leaving that place today
HorseRun · 832 weeks ago
Summary .......THE BEST LOOKING GIRL WITH AN IQ OF 70.........GRADE D+
Lisa Swan · 832 weeks ago
Translation - they didn't sell out. Citi Field didn't sell out Opening Day, either.
kevin · 832 weeks ago
It was opening day! Comp tickets dont count toward paid attendance. The Yankees comp many friends and family for this type event. Just walking around I kept seeing Turner construction company people who I'm sure were given hundred of comp tickets.
Comps dont count towards paid attendance
mtrico 37p · 832 weeks ago