Alex, I love that you mentioned Kirby's role in Spinal Tap, but not his work with Crystal in City Slickers or When Harry Met Sally, which all the big obits focus on. Of course Crystal was in Spinal Tap too (he was one of the mime waiters). RIP Bruno and RIP Yankee Stadium.

I remember when I was a kid staying up late to watch Letterman, and he had Bruno Kirby (whom I had never heard of) on. I loved the name, and the voice. He's always been a favorite of mine. RIP Bruno.

As for Yankee Stadium, Yankee Stadium is not a place. It's a state of consciousness. It's an astral plane. You can tear down a building, but you can never destroy Yankee Stadium. Yankee Stadium exists in all of us.

I am not a fan of "City Slickers" and thought why mention that one? And I purposely did not mention "When Harry Met Sally," which I think is a terrible, seudo-Woody Allen New York comedy. That movie gets under my skin every which way. "Modern Romance" isn't a great Bruno movie or even a great Albert Brooks movie but it is memorable for one sequence. Albert plays a movie editor and Bruno is his assistant. Albert breaks up with his girlfriend at the begining of the movie and then is all sorts of depressed. Bruno gives Albert a qualude and tells him to go home. The scene with Albert stoned on the 'lude is the highlight of the movie.

I love Bruno's small bit in "Spinal Tap," and man, he was simply perfectly cast as the young Clemenza (as just DeNiro was perfectly cast as the young Don Coreleone).

Bruno was one of my favorites. His dead-on performance in Good Morning Vietnam as the high strung programming director was fantastic. The back-and-forth between Kirby and Robin Williams was pure gold.

RIP Bruno Kirby.

The sad news re: Kirby and the Stadium are not completely unrelated.

Remember the scene in City Slickers when they're talking about their best day ever. Crystal's character describes to Kirby's and Daniel Stern's characters his first visit to Yankee Stadium with his father.

Mime is money Cliff.

"Are you reading "Yes, I Can" by Sammy Davis, Jr.? You know what the title of that book should be? "Yes, I Can if Frank Sinatra says it's o.k." Cause Frank calls the shots for all those guys."

Classic.

One of Kirby's best films is "The Freshman" with Matthew Broderick and the great Brando who pays homage to his Don Corleone character in "The Godfather." A very enjoyable comedy. Worth seeking out.

RIP, Bruno. I am unashamed to say that I loved both "City Slickers" and "When Harry Met Sally."

I just saw clips of the ground breaking on Yes Network's Web site. George is still seems as cantankerous as ever as he complained about the heat, but at least he kept it short. Bud is just annoying. Ugh. At least, the Yankees get to keep more of their revenue from the league building this new Stadium which must kill Bud and his employers.

Thanks for sharing that bit about "City Slickers." You can't make that stuff up. And Yankee Fan in Chicago, thanks SO much for sharing those lines. Bringing a huge smile to my mug. I'm not sure why, but this death is really bumming me out.

8 I agree with you, Simone. I liked both movies very much and don't mind saying so. Bruno Kirby always cracks me up in the Pictionary scene from "WHMS".

Of course, his role from Godfather II will always be the one I think of when I hear Bruno Kirby. Apparently when he was asked to do City Slickers II, he turned them down saying that he was arleady in the greatest sequel of all time(Paraphrased).

7 Agreed - 'The Freshman' is the one film that sticks out in my mind (besides 'Slickers') when I think of Bruno Kirby..

A couple of other unheralded, yet memorable, performances that I can think of off the top of my head:

- The tortured father of the main character in 'Sleepers'.
- The 2nd Lt. in 'Good Morning Vietnam' who performed with the fictitious 'Frenchy' character during his attempt to replace Robin Williams on Armed Forces radio.

My take on the new Stadium: It will signal (or at least be pretty close to it) the end of the Era of George. We've all heard the rumors about his failing health, and 3 years sounds about right as to when he might be handing off most of his responsibilities in regards to the team.

As fans, we'll also be in the fortunate position of having members (hopefully) of the current Yankees dynasty usher in this new building, and hopefully create a few more lasting memories before they fade into the night. It's not like the Yankees are desperate for attendance - or money - and the team is so downright awful that the only way to get people to come out is to provide a multi-billion-dollar distraction with shopping boutiques, luxury boxes and 5-star restaurants.

4 Thanks for mentioning Good Morning Vietnam. Kirby was terrific in that, part of an excellent supporting cast - Forrest Whitaker, Robert Wuhl and the great J.T. Walsh. And yeah, young Clemenza was a fine, fine role.

Bruno's father Bruce was a regular on Columbo, one of my all-time favorites. Bruno appeared in one episode, the one with Patrick McGoohan at the military school.

He was a great actor. He was just on Entourage too. I loved him as Clemenza.

Other than the movies being mentioned, given his time after working on The Godfather II, then I would have expected a lot more movies on his resume along with more recognition.

I must say, I never really knew his real name BUT I knew who he was. I recognized him in Entourage and was like, "oh there's Clemenza". Was he more private? Did he not get a lot of work or was he just more picky than others?

Nevertheless, RIP Bruno Kirby.

Some of my favorite Bruno Kirby moments are from when he played himself on "The Larry Sanders Show."

Him getting bumped from Larry's final show was hilarious, but my favorite was this exchange with "Hank Kingsley" who was the clueless Ed McMahon to Larry's Carson.

Bruno Kirby: I was in "The Godfather".
Hank Kingsley: I don't think so.
Bruno Kirby: I was in "The Godfather Part 2".
Hank Kingsley: Oh see, I only saw Part 3, the good one.

3 Alex, I was being serious, I really do love that you didn't mention those films and instead went for Spinal Tap, one of my all-time favorites.

And props to 11 for the Frenchy reference. If only Robin Williams had learned a thing or two from Bruno about how to be funny without being a clown.

Baby Fish Mouth!

RIP, Bruno Kirby.

By the way, Alex, I liked your headline today. Readers often comment on your hip-hop references, but this one comes more from my territory. Hooray for Captain Spaulding!

12 Apparently his dad is still alive? Wow, that's rough.

10 That pictionary scene is also one of my favorites:
Jess: "Baby talk"? That's not a saying.
Harry Burns: Oh, but "baby fish mouth" is sweeping the nation? I hear them talking.

...the African Explorer (Did someone call me Schnoorer?) Hooray, hooray, hooray!

17 See, to me that's a Phil Collins album title.

From GMV:

Lt. Steven Hauk (Kirby): First of all, don't make fun of the weather here, and don't say the weather is the same all the time here. Because it's not. In fact, it's two degrees colder today than yesterday.
Adrian Cronauer (Robin Williams): Two degrees colder, me without my muff.

22 See, and Kirby's funnier in that exchange than Williams.

21 I'm truly sorry to hear that. I'd trade all of Phil Collins - and then some - for one raised eyebrow from Groucho.

24 Agreed.

I didn't know about the Phil Collins record.

"Hello, I must be going," is the opening line to Groucho's big intro song in the Marx Brothers' second movie, "The Animal Crackers."

p.s. Schnorer is the Yiddish word for "begger."

Lyrics to Hooray for Captain Spaulding:
Jamison (Zeppo): There's something that I'd like to state
That he's too modest to relate.
The Captain is a moral man.
Sometimes he finds it trying.

Spaulding (Groucho): This fact I'll emphasize with stress:
I never take a drink unless
Somebody's buying.

Crowd: The Captain is a very moral man.

Jamison: If he hears anything obscene,
He'll naturally repel it.

Spaulding: I hate a dirty joke I do,
Unless it's told by someone who
Knows how to tell it.

Crowd: The Captain is a very moral man.
Hooray for Captain Spaulding,
The African Explorer.

Spaulding: Did someone call me Schnorer?

Crowd: Hooray hooray hooray!

Spaulding: [Wacky Dance]

Jamison: He went into the jungle,
Where all the monkeys throw nuts.

Spaulding: If I stay here I'll go nuts.

Crowd: Hooray hooray hooray.

Spaulding: [Wacky Dance]

Crowd: He put all his reliance
In courage and defiance.
And risked his life for science.

Spaulding: Hey hey!

Mrs. Rittenhouse (Margaret Dumont): He is the only white man
Who covered every acre.

[Note: This line is often edited from the film, and the version from
which the sound clip was taken is no exception]
Spaulding: I think I'll try and make her.

Crowd: Hooray hooray hooray!

Spaulding: [Extended Wacky Dance]

Crowd: He put all his reliance
In courage and defiance.
And risked his life for science.

Spaulding: Hey hey!

Crowd: Hooray for Captain Spaulding,
The African explorer.
He brought his name undying fame,
And that is why we say:
Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!

Spaulding (spoken): My friends, I am highly gratified at this
magnificent display of effusion. And I want you to know -

Crowd (interrupting): Hooray for Captain Spaulding,
The African explorer.
He brought his name undying fame,
And that is why we say:
Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!

Spaulding (spoken): My friends, I am highly gratified at this
magnificent display of effusion. And I want you to know -

Crowd (interrupting again): Hooray for Captain Spaulding,
The African explorer.
He brought his name undying fame,
And that is why we say:
Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!

Spaulding (spoken): My friends, I am highly gratified at this
magnificent display of effusion. And I want you to know -
(singing): Hooray for Captain Spaulding,
the African Inquirer.
(spoken): Well, somebody's gotta do it.

To bring this all back to baseball, Bruno Kirby was also in a TV movie called Million Dollar Infield.

Rob Reiner coproduced, cowrote and costarred in this TV-movie about suburban "angst" in the 1980s. Reiner is one of four wealthy Long Islanders who play for an amateur softball team. All four men (Reiner, Bruno Kirby, Robert Costanzo and Christopher Guest) suffer from profound personal and professional problems, thus the weekly ball game becomes a method of working out their frustrations. So adept do they become at this cathartic activity that their team makes it to the state-wide championship--which leads to yet another crisis. Million Dollar Infield was the first of several "behind the scenes" projects for onetime TV sitcom star Rob Reiner.

Anyone ever see it?

He was also in Tin Men, a pretty good period comedy from the 80's, and interestingly was in the 1972 Pilot episode of the M*A*S*H TV Series...

Oh, and his real name was Bruno Quidaciolu Jr.

"Three cheers for Captain Spaulding! Three cheers for Captain Spaulding! Three cheers---"
(Harpo and Chico arive with three chairs).

No no, get these chairs out of here.

27 No, but I'd like too.

Million Dollar Infield? Never heard of it. I'll check for it if it ever comes 'round again. Thanks for the tip.

I remember Good Morning Vietnam being Robin Williams' breakthrough box office hit. He spent most of the 80s as box office poison. My favorite Williams performance was from that period though--in Paul Mazursky's "Moscow on the Hudson." I though GMV was effective if maudlin--that bombing montage over Louis Armstrong's "A Wonderful World," was just too much for me. But Barry Levinson was wise to surround the very hammy Williams with the likes of Kirby, JT Walsh and F. Whitaker.

30 Are you trying to tell me that gems like Popeye and Club Paradise didn't do big business? There's no accounting for taste, I suppose.

I still think about the coffee scene in Moscow on the Hudson whenever I walk into a Super Stop and Shop to do my grocery shopping. Great performances in that film by his Russian buddy (who actually was a clown) and the old man who played his grandfather.

30 "I though GMV was effective if maudlin"

Well, it was set in Vietnam.

apparently espn said something about Dotel being activated. Anyone hear this? I wonder who was sent down.

33 Someone on the YES boards posted that ESPN radio reported it - my best guess would be Veras to go down.

Picking up on our New Yankee Stadium conversation from the previous thread, which seems to have petered out, I'm looking at some of the conceptual drawings and, is it me, or does this large glass box where the batters' eye should be look like a disaster.

A) the sun will reflect off it into the batters' eyes
B) It will block a great deal of the action from the view of those seated in the bleachers on either side of it.

Check the drawings:

http://www.ballparktour.com/new_yankees_43.jpg
http://www.ballparktour.com/Test_New_Yankee5.jpg

I guess the thing is a restaurant or something, but wow does that ever look like a bad idea.

Like I said, the more I think about it . . .

34 ah, just heard it myself. Sounds official. Didn't say who he replaced.

33 I'd guess Veras. This could be interesting.

I saw "Moscow on the Hudson" after reading about it in law school - there was a copyright issue with the movie poster vs the New Yorker's famous NYC-centric cover. It was nice to see Robin Williams doing something genuinely funny instead of the garbage he's been in over the years. Every peak has its valley, I suppose.

I would gladly trade Pluto, which is apparently still alive, for Bruno Kirby. RIP.

35 On YESnetwork.com, they had a clip where they interviewed players (Mo, Bernie, DJ, and Posada) about the new Stadium. IIRC, Bernie said he hoped the team would speak with everyone - including players and coaches - so that the new Stadium would improve upon the old one. I'm guessing the players would not be in favor of the glass batter's eye, but would the Yanks get rid of it just on the players' say so?

38 They may have to. If it interfers with visiting teams' hitters, it would have to go, if I understand the baseball rules correctly. Heck there's one pitcher who has to wear long sleeves, even in hot weather, because his tatoos cover his arms and are thus a "distraction".

35 The large glass box in center is hideous. Couldn't they find another place to situate Sterling and Waldman's "Disco Dance Tank"?

The new place looks like it will have the charm and character of a Home Depot.

Heading up to the old place in about an hour. Can't wait.

37 There was an old theory about being able to tell the good Robin Williams movies from the bad ones by whether he had a beard (Moscow on the Hudson, Awakenings, Good Will Hunting) or not (uh, everything else?). It seems that Good Morning Vietnam and Dead Poets Society challenge that rule, but it's still fun, like the old Bret Saberhagen odd/even year thing.

41 I like that. His beardless Garp would be another exception.

Good Morning Vietnam also had a great baseball joke.

After Robin Williams calls him "sir" J.T. Walsh's hardass sergeant points to the stripes on his shoulder and asks "What does three up and three down mean, soldier?"

Williams answers with a sheepish grin: "End of the inning?"

By the way, a former college points out that the groundbreaking occured at 11:34 AM. Type 1134 into a calculator and turn it upside down. It's a sign! Stop the bulldozers!!!

42 No, that movie was godawful.

44 I'll tell you what the "hell" is going to be: the new prices for my season tickets, and what are these ticket licensing fees I keep hearing about? It sounds like more $ to me

45 Disagree. Close and Lithgow had great, memorable performances, and Williams busted out of the Mork/Popeye mold.

44 Maybe a tongue-in-cheek tribute to Larry Lucchino?

He had a beard for parts of Fisher King. That was a good movie, IMO. (or maybe it was the girl I was with.)

41, 42 I vote no on Garp, but also on Dead Poets. Pretentious and glib.

The genie in Aladdin had a beard, so that counts. But I think Birdcage deserves an exception - a thoroughly watchable movie, maybe because Williams is the straight man (so to speak).

38 et al. I think that they would listen to the players, at least some. Comerica Park had the reputation of driving away potential FAs because of the dimensions, and both Comerica and the new SD park had the fences brought in after players bitched. So it is plausible that the Yanks want their new park to be state of the art and both fan- (or rather, consumer- ) and player-friendly...to attract the big bucks. It also makes sense to get some use out of the CF bleacher area.

I am not happy with the new park, though not as unhappy as Cliff. At least it stays in the Bronx, and this conforms to a NYC tradition of multiple venues with same name (MSG, Polo Grounds). There are also some problems (practicla and aesthetic) with the current park that would be difficult to solve within the parameters of remodelling.

The problems with the current park are not so much the product of the remodelling in 1975, so much as the subsequent handling of the physical plant. By continuing to bring in the fences, the current configuration does not invoke the old Death Valley very much (in 1976, LCF was still 430'), while at the same time moving fans in LF farther from the action. Frankly, all the fences, tacked on seats, piles of dirt and groundkeeping equipment, windows in the fence (and ads painted on the walls) render the current field rather aesthetical unpleasing, IMO.

The exterior was stripped of much of the original charm. The way crowd control is handled makes getting into and especially out of the stadium burdonsome (why DO they close off so many exits, and force everyone out of just a couple of gates?).

The new design will address these issues to some degree anyway. People flow should be better (I'm not that bothered by the separation between the exterior hull and interior stadium). The exterior aesthetics will improve. The interior aesthetics will, in general, improve--especially if some sort of frieze is restored to the upper roof. At least the stands will match the configuration better.

OK, but now some complaints. The Upper deck will be smaller and farther way. This will actually improve sight lines for much of the UD, by eliminating the lost corners of the field. But, like all new parks, there will not be any of the "on top of the game' feel. I had the pleasure of sitting in the upper deck of old Tigers' Stadium--amazing! There is also someting so distinct about Yankee Stadium's three stacked decks, still almost one on top of each other. No other park looks so vertical and intimidating, IMO.

Finally, the dimensions. Why is there the desire to 'preserve the current dimension?' Every other new park is quirky, if forced so. Couldn't they humor the traditionalists with just a dash of Death Valley asymmetry? Say, 415 to LCF and 410 to CF? The whole justification for bringing n the fences before was to provide the fans with access to monument park, but that problem will presumably be solved from scratch in the new park.

Overall, I am sad and a littl eangry, but mostly resigned and somewhat relieved the new park doesn't appear to be a total abomination.

49 No, Fisher King is a good one, for sure. And I'm not much of a Dead Poets fan either 40, but my fiance and her friends loooove it, but I'm happy to make GMVietnam the lone exception to the Beard Theory.

50 Williams ruined Aladdin (which is saying something), that doesn't count. Birdcage was crap. The original French version (which I'll avoid trying to spell here) was great fun. The Hollywood version was abysmal. Wasn't that a mustache movie like Cadillac Man. Mustache movies are also bad, must be a full beard.

26 You know, I think I am going to start using [Wacky Dance] at opportune moments in this thread, its just oo good to pass up on. For example:

Octavio Dotel: Just called up, comes in to strike out the side in the 8th in the Fens.
Zack: [Wacky Dance]

Cashman: I have decided to call up Colter Bean and DFA Ponson. Not onyl that, but I have found a way to force Joe Torre to pich Bean
Zack: [Wacky Dance]

Yankees: We have decided that beer is too expensive at the stadium, so from now on all Beer will be $2.00.
Zack: [Extended Wacky Dance]

You get the point...

Why build the new park without a retractible roof??

It, um, tends to rain in New York City during the summer.

The gate and concessions for games missed (and replayed with 15,000 on hand) would pay for the damn roof after a couple of years.

I liked "The Fisher King," though I can't say I was crazy about most of his other work. I liked him in "Garp" too, but that was such a contrived book and movie I can see why it's hard for some people to take. I worked in the Brill Building when they were shooting "Awakenings" and used to see the dailies each night. Williams would break into schtick all the time just to break DeNiro up. Penny Marshall's idea of directing is shooting miles and miles and miles of film, each scene from every angle possible, and then handing it off to her editor and saying, "Now, make a movie."

The late Pauline Kael called Williams' roles in "Dead Poets," "Awakenings," etc. as his benevolent eunuch roles.

Did anyone ever see the PBS film version of Saul Bellow's novella "Seize the Day" that he did? I remember liking that okay too.

Cliff, I saw "Cadillac Man," the other day again. Hadn't seen it in forever. Lots of shouting. The waitress in the Chinese restaurant stole the movie as far as I'm concerned.

54 Retractable roofs are ugly and ruin the outdoor feel of their stadiums. They're necessary in hot climates (Houston, Phoenix, though curiously not Arlington or San Diego) and excessivly rainy ones (Seattle, Florida counting as both but without any new stadiums in the works). But I'd rather deal with a few rain delays and cancellations in order to enjoy a beautiful day at the ballpark without some concrete monstrosity lurking off in left field.

Part of the problem with Garp is they left a lot on the cutting room floor. I haven't read the book, but apparently there's more to the story with the nurse (don't want to give away any spoilers). That character and her motivation make no sense in the movie.

55 Ironic term from Kael given his propensity to mime things at croch level in his other roles. Of course, she probably did it on purpose.

54 i like no roof. no roof. no roof.

51 Great post - I agree there's nothing more annoying than being forced out that one Gate that's about 50 yards to the right of the player's entrance. If you were parked somewhere in the Farmer's Market (which I usually am), you now have to walk ALL THE WAY around the other side of the Stadium because they have all foot traffic headed towards that player parking lot blocked off with a police barrier.

"Excuse me, I'm not cutting through here to harass the departing VIPs, I'd just like to get to my car before 3am."

I'm certainly welcoming any and all improvements to the general atmosphere of the Stadium and the surrounding neighborhood, but like most folks here I'm melancholy because it just won't be the same ol' Yankee stadium.

As you mentioned, however, the outer facade of the park betrays the original stadium design - even though I'm certainly attached to the way YS looks right now, I wouldn't think too many 'original' stadium patrons would mourn the loss of the current design.

As I recall, Safeco field was designed & constructed with heavy player input - Griffey, A-Rod, Buhner et all. IIRC they would take BP in a half-constructed field and gave feedback to the architects on how it could be improved in regards to seeing & hitting the ball.

I'm sure the initial plans were drawn up with the exterior and overall structure in mind - the inner dimensions would HAVE to be completed with the current Yankees roster in mind (and their input), no?

57 and 60 I hear you, but once the stacked upper decks are gone and all the rest of the glitz and nonsense is added, it will be a pretty poor substitute for "The" Stadium IMHO, so why not stick a roof behind home plate where it won't spoil the view while open?

Anyway, is the current stadium such a drag for the fans to see a ballgame in? Not to me, nor the 50,000 who show up every day. And I don't believe the story that it's about to collapse and can't be fixed. The new park is just another case of history being wrecking-balled so someone can up their revenues by 10 or 20%. Sad.

OK, I feel better now.

61 Odd if that's true about Safeco, because Mike Cameron supposedly had a very hard time seeing the ball against the background there. I know he came to the team after Safeco was built, but you'd think if there was so much player input he wouldn't have had a problem. Besides which, that's the only case I can think of in which I read about a player having a hard time seeing the ball in his home park.

As for considerations of the current roster, why? Rosters turn over so quickly and this Stadium will be around for decades. Sticking with the current dimensions is fine by me.

62 Because it'll block the sun. And you're right, everyone loves the current Stadium, at least when they're in their seats.

54 They still sell concessions for rainouts, twice when you count the makeup game. No roof please.

Maybe the restaurant will use a dark glass with little glare? It would be a great place to watch for an inning if you can score a window seat. The blocked views in the bleachers are alarming though. Wonder if the bleachers will be accessible from the rest of the stadium.

63 Well maybe not the current roster in terms of individual hitters and their patterns, but you and I both know that Yankees tradition dictates two things - power and more power. :-)

A nice short porch in right and a spacious left-center is mandatory!

65 If the new park is built with the same drainage system as the current YS, there should be minimal rainouts - no need for a roof.

Unless they were planning this to be a multipurpose arena.

Which, of course, would be blasphemy.

65 Oh good point about the bleachers being accessible from the rest of the stadium. I sure hope so, not being able to go to Monument Park because you have a bleacher ticket is a bummer. Then again, the separate entry makes the bleachers' no-alcohol policy very effective, which I appreciate.

I already saw the renderings, and like I said, I'm not very happy. But does anyone know where I can find the 3D Model/Video they showed during the press conference on YES?

I'm wondering about the new park's seating capacity. Some stories say 53,000 (smaller, but not that bad), some say 51,000 (this will really put a strain on getting tix).

When the stadium was remodelled and opened in 1976, the seating capacity was listed as only 54,000, increased to 57,000+ in the 1980s. I always wondered where those extra seats came from--did they not sell LF bleacher seats at first?

Anyway, I hope (probably in vain) that they leave room for some seating expansion in the future, even if only a little more.

I agree with many of you that it's a shame to lose the history and memories of the original stadium. But... I gotta say, the exterior on these new sketches looks vastly improved to me.

I love the Stadium too, but as 51 and 61 said, if we're being honest, that is NOT a beautiful building from the outside. It looks like a fort -- windowless, gray, concrete. Once you get inside, of course, you forget all about that... but still, they really blew it with the 70s renovation.

Oh, and 53 Zack - brilliant idea.

67 Stadium does drain well, but it would be nice to avoid rain delays at least (though am sure Boss George wants the extra concessions $$$). Also would be nice to close the roof and crank the AC during the summer, when the weather in NY is often unbearable.

67 "Unless they were planning this to be a multipurpose arena.

Which, of course, would be blasphemy."

Does that include Giants' games and papal masses?

: )

73 If only we could bring back the Giants.

71 Really, at least 60,000 should've been the minimum, and the perfect #. I like how they moved 10,000 seats to the lower levels. But how's about in addition to that, keep 30,000 in the Upper Deck. More seats in October = More Money. And the Upper Deck needed to be closer to the field, but they pulled a lame HOK and put it on the moon. And someone please explain, what the hell is the point of having the outside wall and stadium be separate? How's about maybe a ROOF in between so fans are covered when it rains? Also, Yankees, PLEASE make the outfield bleachers ACTUAL SEATS like the Braves did with their ballpark. Come on, how much will it cost you to just make regular (like the current Upper Deck) seats in the outfield instead of bleachers?

73 Yes, and Rangers/Islander exhibition games too. :-)

Of course I must clarify what I said in 66: lefty power.

60 The anti-roof contingent obviously hasn't had the Friday season ticket plan the past 5 years. The skies always seem to open up on Friday's. Having said that, I'm not crazy about the aesthetics of a retractable roof either.

73 Good point. It would kick ass to have the Pope do a session at the Stadium like at the OLD Yankee Stadium, and "Bless" the Stadium or something. Also, [Insert Current Corporate Name] Park in Frisco hosted a college football bowl game and a soccer game during the offseason not too long ago. I don't mind doing that at the Stadium. And a concert, all the better, as long as the grounds crew has at least 1 or 2 full days to fully fix the field for the next game.

75 Maybe we could just block off the entire upper deck (ala the Oakland A's) during the regular season to generate more sellouts, and just uncover it for the postseason?

;-)

Do blueprints like this usually at least get somewhat revised before they actually start building? I'm not too familiar with the process of building. Unfortunately, i'm not an architect like George Costanza

75 I think the neighborhood infrastructure is an issue. Even now, it really doesn't support the 57k that show up for playoff games though they stuff them in anyway. 51k is just fine. Any $$$ loss as a result of less seats I'm sure will be made up in pricing.

79 What I mean was, go ahead, add 10,000 to the lower levels but also keep the current 30,000 in the upper deck.

78 Knowing Steinbrenner, he'd have the Pope come out and bless the Stadium before EVERY playoff game, along with Challenger the eagle, Ronan Tynan, the YMCA guys, Cotton-Eye Joe and the bastardized version of the scoreboard subway races.

It'd get old fast. ;-)

75 The separation of the exterior wall and interior stadium does two things: 1] facilitates people flow, and 2] increases retail/restaurant space inside the structure. This is good for the Yankees (less so for the neighborhood vendors). It's also not bad for the fans--I hate to admit it, but I LIKE how easy it is to get around Jacobs Field and Comerica (or Whatever) Park, which are designed the same way. It's very nice, as well, during a rain delay. I went to a Tigers game a few years back--a long drive for me then--and there was a lengthy delay. No problem; fans simply retreated to the huge plaza/concourse and set up shop in the various bars and restaurants within the stadium walls.

Yeah, this makes me an evil consumer, I know. Just being honest.

84 But will there be some kind of cover between the two structures? At least Glass like in a (sigh) mall. Besides, the ROOF would be above the people flow...

83 I meant that just have the Pope do that once. I think the Pope only came to Yankee Stadium once for a session, right? That's what I mean, just hold a session there.

51 You're right. As someone who did go to the old Stadium, I'll be happy to have the outer facade redone. I've never liked it since they painted it white.

And to answer my own question, there's a link to the video of the 3D rendering of the new Stadium on the YESNetwork.com home-page.

85 I know, and I was kidding about the playoff games.

85 I'm not sure what you mean by a 'session,' but I believe there have been two papal masses at Yankee Stadium (1965 and 1980 or so).

87 Upon checking it. RELAX people. the Upper Deck in the new Stadium is NO FARTHER away than it is in the LF corner of the current one. Having been in the LF corner (and many of us have I suppose), I can assure you all, it is actually pretty good. Well, I got no complaints left.