New Yankee Stadium (Dimensions)

[mrow1927]

I am a big fan of the Stadium from the 30s to early 70s. To me that was the best of Yankee Stadium. I wish I was born at that time just to see it in person. I been to the Stadium when it was renovated in the mid 70s up to now. I liked how deep the dimensions were and got upset when they kept bringing in the fences to please other batters. As much as I love Yankee Stadium, dimension wise it's just like any other ballpark out there.

If you were able to build the new Yankee Stadium, would you keep it the same or will you change the size. My Yankee Stadium would be;
Left Field- 308FT
Straightaway LC- 399FT
Deep Left Center- 417FT
Center Field- 421FT
DeepRight Center- 385FT
Straightaway RC- 353FT
Right Field- 300FT
The fences will be low in left and right and slightly increase in size to center field, similar to the "Classic Stadium". And the current Yankee Stadium will be
renamed Monument Park and be used as a museum of the history of the Yankees.
What Do you think.

[ElHalo]

You completely lose the dimensions of death valley with this design. The deepest part of the park HAS TO be deep left center... it used to be 490, but that's a little unrealistic, so I'd keep it in the 450 range. Narrow back down to 425 or so in straightaway CF.

[mrow1927]

You completely lose the dimensions of death valley with this design. The deepest part of the park HAS TO be deep left center... it used to be 490, but that's a little unrealistic, so I'd keep it in the 450 range. Narrow back down to 425 or so in straightaway CF.

Left Center use to be 457 ft. When it was renovated in the 70s it was 430 ft. Dave Winfield complained that he couldn't hit homeruns to LC so they moved it to 399. Plus 490 was dead center from 1923 to some time in the 1930s then it was move to 461. If you have a CF and LC combination that is over 400 ft., it still can be considered death valley.

Some right handed batters complain about Yankee Stadium now so they won't like my design anyway. It still will be deep with sweeping arc like the stadium from the 30s to 70s. I also heard rumors that Arod was complaining that LC is too deep and wants them to move it in more.

I found this website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yankee_Stadium and it lists the dimensions of the Stadium past to now.

1923-1936

Left Field Line - 285 ft.
Straightaway LF, corner of main stand - 395 ft.
Straightaway LF, corner of bleachers - 460 ft.
Center Field - 490 ft.
Right Center - 429 ft.
Straightaway RF, bleacher gate - 350 ft.
Right Field Line - 295 ft.
1937-1973

Left Field Line - 301 ft.
Straightaway LF, corner of main stand - 402 ft. - left of bullpen
Straightaway LF, corner of bleachers - 415 ft. - right of bullpen
Deep Left Center - 457 ft.
Center Field - 461 ft.
Right Center - 407 ft.
Straightaway RF, corner of bleachers - 367 ft. - left of bullpen
Straightaway RF, near corner of main stand - 344 ft. - right of bullpen
Right Field Line - 296 ft.
Backstop - 82 ft.
1974-1975

Renovation of Yankee Stadium
1976-1984

Left Field Line - 312 ft.
Straightaway LF - 387 ft.
Deep Left Center - 430 ft.
Center Field - 417 ft.
Right Center - 385 ft.
Straightaway RF - 353 ft.
Right Field Line - 310 ft.
1985-1987

Altered to make Monument Park accessible to fans
Left Field Line - 312 ft.
Straightaway LF - 379 ft.
Deep Left Center - 411 ft.
Center Field - 410 ft.
Right Center - 385 ft.
Straightaway RF - 353 ft.
Right Field Line - 310 ft.
1988-present

Altered to make Monument Park more accessible
Left Field Line - 318 ft.
Straightaway LF - 379 ft.
Deep Left Center - 399 ft.
Center Field - 408 ft.
Right Center - 385 ft.
Straightaway RF - 353 ft.
Right Field Line - 314 ft.

[mrow1927]

To anybody out there, what would be your ideal Yankee Stadium if you were to build one and what would you do with the current stadium?

[Elvis]

To anybody out there, what would be your ideal Yankee Stadium if you were to build one and what would you do with the current stadium?

I would duplicate the old Yankee Stadium (1938-67) with the same dimensions and esthetics including the roof, scoreboard placement, copper frieze, etc. The deck structure would be identical to the old stadium with a couple of updates: There would be far fewer posts and those few would be made to obstuct very few views. The rest of the structure would be supported by cantilevers, much like the current stadium. And there would be two stadium clubs and 80 suites and club seats tucked under the upper deck where the current mezzanine is.

The new stadium would look and feel almost identical to the original Yankee stadium without sacrificing the needed luxuries and revenue producers.

The old stadium field would be preserved as it is currently planned to be.

My new Yankee Stadium would look like Yankee Stadium, instead of Turner Field like the new one actually will.

[Myankee4life]

I would like the on field dimensions to look more like the prerenovated stadium......because it does look plain from what I can gather.

[redbuck]

I think we're forgetting that dimensions aren't a total free for all. MLB requires that you can't build less than 325 down the lines without a higher wall.

[Elvis]

I think we're forgetting that dimensions aren't a total free for all. MLB requires that you can't build less than 325 down the lines without a higher wall.

Not always - all you need is the commisioner's OK. The Red Sox New Fenway Park was approved with the same 302 ft RF foul line and 3 ft high wall. New Yankee Stadium is also approved for a 312 ft line with 8 ft wall.

[JordanDL3891]

now I was born in 1991, so this is from a dif view -

I would say, have it look the same as it does now. Like the dimensions and monument park and the bleachers there would all look the same. And I like the fence (sry I dont know how to spell the right word correctly) that is ontop of the outfield ads, I like it there, its different than any other park.

Other than that, put all the comon junk, put the retractible roof on, take PHI's infield seating and bring it to NY, and just make it fan friendly. Well dont take PHI's, it has to be different than any other park. No Green seats! Maybe navy blue because it fits the teams colors.

[mrow1927]

I think we're forgetting that dimensions aren't a total free for all. MLB requires that you can't build less than 325 down the lines without a higher wall.

This is a fantasy Yankee Stadium that you will build. No rules.

I also found out that the current stadium is not considered historical because they renovated it in the 70s. If they left it alone they couldn't tear it down today. That is a shame.

I agree with Elvis9045 in making it the same as the one from 1938-1967 dimension wise but I'm starting to really like the new stadium's design. To make it more slightly "hitter friendly", my dimensions would be like in my oringinal post.

[RichardLillard1]

I think the model they made for the press confrence looks a little too much like Cleveland Munic.

Personally I would blow the current ballpark into pieces no larger than a wallet and move the team to New Jersey... just kidding.

I think if I were forced to build a new stadium (and if I had that kind of $1 billion bankroll to do it with). I would build something very much like what Elvis was talking about. It would look almost identical to the classic ballyard we love and miss so much. It would have the 'death valley' in left center, three monuments (replicas of the originals) and a flag pole in play, and the outfield walls would be low to allow for the amazing catches of yesteryear (I saw a picture of Maris falling into the crowd to catch what would have been a homer once). The facade would definately return in all its grace and presence (it would be copper and it would hang our completely over the upper deck. It would have basically the exact look of the stadium did in the 30's through early 70's with minor changes to make it more modern.

The current stadium would be preserved in as large a section as possible without it needed constant work to maintain it. I know at the very least the entire outside wall of the ballpark would remain in tact (even if only a few feet high) so that a plaque may be constructed to read "hear lies the hollowed halls of the 'House that Ruth Built' one of the most historic places in baseball or something along those lines. The original monument park would remain as well so that people may tour it at any time they like and it would become the new home to one of the Yankees' farm teams.

That being said if I actually owned the team right now and had that tremendous pocketbook that George has I would buy the building back from the city and spend a very large chunk of it to have it completely rennovated so that it may stand another 85 years (hopefully longer) and continue to break attendence records. I would also call in a design team that would submit different designs that would bring back some (not all but as much as possible) of the classic look of the bronx bomber's home.

[RichardLillard1]

By the way, if they are trying to say that it isn't a historical landmark because of it's 'modernization' from the 70's they should have pointed out to them that at least 75% of the structure or so remains in tact as well as the original outlying wall.

When it comes to historical home and other buildings there has to be at least that much for it to retain historical value. I see no reason why this should not be the case for something as large, and most definately as historical as Yankee Stadium is.

For them to suggest this is perhaps the most heinous disreguard of history I have ever seen.

[Elvis]

It would've been nice if they would've designed the new stadium to at least keep the same, familiar, iconic "shape" of the grandstands. That "Yankee stadium shape" is so unique and instantly recognisable whan you think of Yankee Stadium. The new stadium has the same generic shape as virtually ALL of the new outdoor ballparks. There seems to be a "cookie-cutter" grandstand pattern that is seldom deviated from now which is making all of the ballparks look too much alike. An overhead shot of Turner Field/US Cellular/Arlington/New Yankee Stadium etc. are almost indistiguishable from each other at first glance.

This sameness is akin to the sameness of the 60s and 70s cookie cutters IMHO.

[mrow1927]

By the way, if they are trying to say that it isn't a historical landmark because of it's 'modernization' from the 70's they should have pointed out to them that at least 75% of the structure or so remains in tact as well as the original outlying wall.

When it comes to historical home and other buildings there has to be at least that much for it to retain historical value. I see no reason why this should not be the case for something as large, and most definately as historical as Yankee Stadium is.

For them to suggest this is perhaps the most heinous disreguard of history I have ever seen.

The problem is that if you put both stadiums together they have almost nothing in common execpt for the original outlying wall, the flag pole with the original monuments in front of that and its on the same site of the original.

If they fixed the original building and did minor changes to the inside and kept it in tact, it would have historical landmark status. Since they did a major renovation and basically built it from the ground up, that is how it lost its status.

To think of all the history that place has and all the great moments that happened there, you think it would have historical status anyway. I mean it's built on the same site. It's horrible but hey, money talks and history means nothing obviously.

[Elvis]

Since they did a major renovation and basically built it from the ground up, that is how it lost its status.

But it wasn't built from the ground up - most of it is still original.

[mrow1927]

But it wasn't built from the ground up - most of it is still original.

I thought it was. I guess I thought that because of the pictures I've seen where it looked gutted. Thanks for the info.

[RichardLillard1]

Everything was carefully removed in order to keep as much of it in tact as possible. I remember someone talking on one of the threads (I think it was you Elvis) about how the old upper deck mezzanine is still underneath the new one and is used for storage.

I have a Yankee Stadium book somewhere that shows Joe DaMaggio standing on the subway platform overlooking the ballpark's renovation progress. I just don't understand why they want to tear it down when they could spend half the money and make the current one better, stronger, faster.. oops its not the six million dollar man.

[Elvis]

I remember someone talking on one of the threads about how the old upper deck mezzanine is still underneath the new one and is used for storage.

Not to be confusing, but yes, it's the old upper deck concourse that is intact and used for storage. The old original mezzanine, or loge seating level, is still in use as, well, the new loge seating level, but it's basically the same structure, just reinforced and modernized.

[mrow1927]

Everything was carefully removed in order to keep as much of it in tact as possible. I remember someone talking on one of the threads (I think it was you Elvis) about how the old upper deck mezzanine is still underneath the new one and is used for storage.

I have a Yankee Stadium book somewhere that shows Joe DaMaggio standing on the subway platform overlooking the ballpark's renovation progress. I just don't understand why they want to tear it down when they could spend half the money and make the current one better, stronger, faster.. oops its not the six million dollar man.

I think I have the same book because I remember the picture of Joe DiMaggio looking at the Stadium while its being renovated. I guess that is why I thought it was built from the ground up.

[RichardLillard1]

Concourse... I figured I was going to say the wrong part of the ballpark. Thanks Elvis. By the way, ballparktour.com, great site.

[sfgiants29]

THE IDEAL YANKEE STADIUM WOULD LOOK LIKE THIS:

[Elvis]

THE IDEAL YANKEE STADIUM WOULD LOOK LIKE THIS:

Uh, no...God no.

Thanks Elvis. By the way, ballparktour.com, great site.

Thanks!

[bluejaysfan4ever]

What's wrong with the current one???

[RichardLillard1]

There is nothing wrong with the current one. They should stay there. If anything they should ask a design team to come up with a rennovation concept that would be half what the ballpark is now, and half what it was.

You would have some of the classic look back again as well ask keeping some of the current look we are accustomed too. Kind of like that they did to New Comiskey with the roof. If they did something like that they would save a ton of money and still have all the history. They could probably even put in quite a few more luxury suites.

I would do something like put a roof around that top that would be a replica of the '23 to '75 roof with facade. Keep the outside of the ballpark the way it is, leave the outfield wall behind the bleachers the same too. Then put in more suites, and finally make Monument Park accessable to the "Bleacher Creatures".

I guess no one told the boss that in saving money he would have more in his pocketbook...

[mrow1927]

I think he wanted to build a new stadium anyway. Remember he was threatening to move the Yankees to New Jersey if he didn't get his way. His dream is coming true in building the new stadium with more luxury boxes and less seating capacity.

If they are going to tear down the stadium anyway, play at Shea and build the new stadium in its place like they did in the 70s or just fix the problem areas and keep this stadium.