It may be affectionately known as "The House That Ruth Built," but husky homerun hero Babe Ruth was just one of a slew of legends that have cemented Yankee Stadium's immortal standing in the storied halls of sport.
Whether it was the incomparable class of Joe Dimaggio, the staggering talent of a self-destructive Micky Mantle, Lou Gherig's heartbreaking 'goodbye', or the dramatic beating a vengeful Joe Louis laid on Hitler-endorsed Max Schmelling, the stadium at East 161st Street and River in the Bronx has been the stage where some of the most colourful and unforgettable athletes were given the chance to display their incomparable skills and indomitable spirits.
But just as Ruth's records were inevitably shattered and an ageing Louis was mercilessly battered by a bulldozing Rocky Marciano, the old charm of Yankee Stadium will soon fade into the realm of memory, to be replaced by a modern ballpark that promises to improve on the old one's crumbling infrastructure and outdated amenities, but can't promise to carry with it the undeniable mystique of the historic address.
The new Yankee Stadium is currently under construction and is situated right across the street from the long-standing ballpark, which opened in 1923. The new incarnation will be ready for action on April 16, 2009, when the Yanks take on the Cleveland Indians.
The fact that Yankee Stadium will soon be replaced is just starting to sink in for baseball fans around the world, but plans to build a new yard have actually been brewing for almost 30 years.
Yankee owner George Steinbrenner first considered packing the franchise up and moving it out of the Bronx in the 1980s. Crime was rampant in the area at the time and Steinbrenner began eyeing more attractive locations. But by the time the 90s rolled around the team was riding another wave of success and attendance skyrocketed.
Security in the area was subsequently increased and public safety concerns began to wane, leading Steinbrenner to believe that a new park in the Bronx was a viable, if not attractive option.
After years of political wrangling, often involving both mayors Rudy Guliani and his successor, Michael Bloomberg, a deal was finally struck and groundbreaking ceremonies for the new Yankee Stadium took place on August 16, 2006, which just happened to be the 58th anniversary of Babe Ruth's death.
The price tag for the ambitious project proved to be a staggering one.
What was initially projected to be an $800 million job soon balloned to a mammoth $1.3 billion, making it almost 500 times the cost of the original stadium.
It has since become the most expensive stadium ever built in the United States.
More Facts And Figures About The New Yankee Stadium:
- The new stadim is being designed by HOK Sport.
- The field's dimensions will be identical to those at the current Yankee Stadium ~The new stadium will seat 51,000 fans, with a total capacity of approximately 53,000 (including standing room), compared with 57,545 in Yankee Stadium (not including seating in luxury boxes).
- There will be half as many bleacher seats as the existing Stadium's 7,500, but 2,000 standing room spots will be added.
- There will be 60 luxury boxes between the second level and the upper deck. The current Stadium has 16 luxury boxes, around both sides of the press box, which is directly behind home plate.
- Monument Park, which features the Yankees' retired numbers as well as other monuments and plaques honouring legendary members of the pinstriped fraternity, will be relocated to the new stadium.
Full Specs
- Location: E. 161 St. & River Ave.. Bronx, New York
- Construction Began: August 16, 2006
- Projected Opening Day: April 16, 2009
- Surface: Grass
- Cost: $1.3 billion
- Architect: HOK Sport
- Capacity: 52,325
Field Dimensions:
- Left Field - 318 ft (96.9 m)
- Left-Center - 399 ft (121.6 m)
- Center Field - 408 ft (124.3 m)
- Right-Center - 385 ft (117.3 m)
- Right Field - 314 ft (95.7 m)
michael.talbot@citynews.ca
Check out our other exclusives from Yankee Stadium:
CityNews In New York Series Photo Gallery
CityNews In New York: Blue Jays Out On A High In Yankee Stadium Finale
CityNews In New York: Jays Fans Make Historic Pilgrimage For Club's Last Stand At Yankee Stadium
CityNews In New York: The Classic Characters Of Yankee Stadium
CityNews In New York: David Eckstein Waves Goodbye To Jays, Yankee Stadium On Same Day
CityNews In New York: Jays Bask In Classic Comeback After Penultimate Yankee Stadium Tilt
CityNews In New York: Jays Gem Travis Snider Has Dream Debut At Yankee Stadium