Yankee Stadium [I] Demolition

[J.R.]

New York has demolished more baseball history than most cities will ever know.

[Kentucky Bomber]

Since the Sox insist the Yankees are the Evil Empire, I wonder if YS has a weak spot like the Death Star? One little shot in the right place and the whole thing evaporates.

[Aviator_Frank]

Since the Sox insist the Yankees are the Evil Empire, I wonder if YS has a weak spot like the Death Star? One little shot in the right place and the whole thing evaporates.

You could probably start with those tension cables holding the upper tank.

[JMC Bomber]

You could probably start with those tension cables holding the upper tank.

I would think a small explosive charge at the connection to each of those cables would do the trick. The entire upper deck and roof would probably come crashing down.

[jimmyjimjimz]

Well....I know how sad this is, and I know its early but but very soon they will be tearing down the catherdal, the House that Ruth built........Im not sure how they will go about doing it..if its going to be a slow, very PAINFUL process that will take a month or more, or if it will be a quick death, but either way, its gonna be a bad, bad time...Yes, we can say its not the 'same place" as the Original Yankee Stadium (I spent alot of time in the pre 1976 Yankee Stadium) but no matter what, this place is still...YANKEE STADIUM..:bowdown:....
Any thoughts on the dreaded day, and how they will do it?

what do you mean it's not the "same place" as the original stadium? Do you mean the new stadium, or the current stadium? Cause last I heard, the current stadium IS the original stadium, it just got a facelift in the 70's.

anyway, I really hope they start taking the stadium apart as soon as everyone is out of the stadium after the last game, whether it be the last regular season game, or they make the playoffs. I want them to do it that way, because a whole bulk of the stadium will be gone by opening day next year, and it won't be as heartbreaking to see.

[Swoboda4]

OK, I have posted this over in the New YS construction thread, but no one commented on it. I am persistent.

I have always been puzzled by the apparent lack of passion about preserving the original YS. As much as I am fond of Shea, as a Met fan, I understand the ambivalence about Shea. But YS? I was wandering around the thread about Tiger Stadium's ultimate fate, and was struck again by the sad idea that YS is going to really be torn down.

That really hasn't sunk in yet, I guess. I took part in some give and take about the landmarking issue, so I get that problem. And I've heard about the community wanting parkland back, but that can be overcome. (Organized Yankee fans can shout down a public hearing!)

What about this? What about de-renovating the original YS for awhile before it is finally torn town? Take off those last ten rows of the upper deck and open up the original catwalk openings. Take the mid 70's scoreboard wall down in the outfield. You could get Christo (the artist who draped Central Park in saffron fabric) to construct a temporary canvas that approximates the frieze and the roof, and the upper outside facade. This is very feasible, since it is only a temporary "last gasp" artistic expression.

Or, if we get crazy, de-renovate the place properly, and restore it to its original appearance for use as the ultimate Yankee Museum. Maintenance would be very expensive, so have the Yankees help set up seed money for a non-profit foundation for the purpose of raising enough capital to have it become self-sufficient. Corporate money would come, as would private donations. Look at Colonial Williamsburg; this is how they raise funds. Within three to five years, the place could be almost back to its original state, and could then house exhibits, restaurants, cater special events, host HS and college games, corporate batting practice events, fantasy leagues, community events, and even those special Ranger hockey games I keep seeing suggested.

They are going to tear it down. Until it is ACTUALLY torn down and gone, anything is possible. Anything.

[SparkyL]

OK, I have posted this over in the New YS construction thread, but no one commented on it. I am persistent.

I have always been puzzled by the apparent lack of passion about preserving the original YS. As much as I am fond of Shea, as a Met fan, I understand the ambivalence about Shea. But YS? I was wandering around the thread about Tiger Stadium's ultimate fate, and was struck again by the sad idea that YS is going to really be torn down.

That really hasn't sunk in yet, I guess. I took part in some give and take about the landmarking issue, so I get that problem. And I've heard about the community wanting parkland back, but that can be overcome. (Organized Yankee fans can shout down a public hearing!)

What about this? What about de-renovating the original YS for awhile before it is finally torn town? Take off those last ten rows of the upper deck and open up the original catwalk openings. Take the mid 70's scoreboard wall down in the outfield. You could get Christo (the artist who draped Central Park in saffron fabric) to construct a temporary canvas that approximates the frieze and the roof, and the upper outside facade. This is very feasible, since it is only a temporary "last gasp" artistic expression.

Or, if we get crazy, de-renovate the place properly, and restore it to its original appearance for use as the ultimate Yankee Museum. Maintenance would be very expensive, so have the Yankees help set up seed money for a non-profit foundation for the purpose of raising enough capital to have it become self-sufficient. Corporate money would come, as would private donations. Look at Colonial Williamsburg; this is how they raise funds. Within three to five years, the place could be almost back to its original state, and could then house exhibits, restaurants, cater special events, host HS and college games, corporate batting practice events, fantasy leagues, community events, and even those special Ranger hockey games I keep seeing suggested.

They are going to tear it down. Until it is ACTUALLY torn down and gone, anything is possible. Anything.

Part of the preservation problem is the Yankees (read: the Steinbrenner family) want the House that Ruth Built gone - no matter what nice things they say about the place now. They have never liked Ruppert's stadium and they want no competition to their own legacy.

That being said, I bet Steinbrenner & Co. thought there would be a major outpouring of opposition from Yankee fans, and if they knew that there would be this collective yawn they would have built a new place years ago.

[Swoboda4]

Part of the preservation problem is the Yankees (read: the Steinbrenner family) want the House that Ruth Built gone - no matter what nice things they say about the place now. They have never liked Ruppert's stadium and they want no competition to their own legacy.

That being said, I bet Steinbrenner & Co. thought there would be a major outpouring of opposition from Yankee fans, and if they knew that there would be this collective yawn they would have built a new place years ago.

"The collective yawn" is a perfect phrase. As loud as Yankee fans can be, I am stunned by the apathy. I still think it gets ugly late. As in; the day demolition is slated to begin, people wake up and near riot. I cannot believe YS will go down easily.

[Swoboda4]

Part of the preservation problem is the Yankees (read: the Steinbrenner family) want the House that Ruth Built gone - no matter what nice things they say about the place now. They have never liked Ruppert's stadium and they want no competition to their own legacy.

That being said, I bet Steinbrenner & Co. thought there would be a major outpouring of opposition from Yankee fans, and if they knew that there would be this collective yawn they would have built a new place years ago.

Oh. And before I turn in for the night, the Yankees DON'T OWN Yankee Stadium. NYC owns YS. The Steinbrenners might want it gone, but the City can do what it wants with it, ultimately. What are the Yankees going to do now that they've built a new place? Move?

[Kentucky Bomber]

Oh. And before I turn in for the night, the Yankees DON'T OWN Yankee Stadium. NYC owns YS. The Steinbrenners might want it gone, but the City can do what it wants with it, ultimately. What are the Yankees going to do now that they've built a new place? Move?

If you've paid any attention to the plan for the site you'd know that the residents of the South Bronx lost 10 acres of park land to build the new Stadium and it will be restored to them by demolishing the old one. It's coming down, as soon as is possible (and that would look to be September 22nd the way the Yankees are playing). Now if you'd like to be on YouTube you could try throwing yourself in front of a bulldozer or two, but I don't think you're gonna have a lot of company.

[Manhattan]

Yankee Stadium Demolition

There are folks ..with too much money in their pockets, other folks, with too much time on their hands. Hell, there are folks who talk like freekin windpipes. Don't stress brother . . . i feel your pain.

There is also me that has not inside of Old Yankee Stadium. I also feel your pain. And I will be inside of New Yankee Stadium.

[DiggerODell]

There is also me that has not inside of Old Yankee Stadium. I also feel your pain. And I will be inside of New Yankee Stadium.

I hope you get their dude . .. honest i do. I will on July 18 to see a team I grew up with . . . the Oakland A's . . and i aim to route for them swingin A's . . . too late to sell out now for arrogance and whiners, most (and I do mean most, not all, don't know the gift they are being served and given right now) . .even if I do get my ass kicked . .. and I just might could, from what I've heard and read of YS . . . but point is . . . I could have gone to Oakland and seen them play the Yanks . . . I'm going to Yankee Stadium because I deserve it and the ole park deserves my one time representation in life.

[Sappy3]

I get to go to Yankee Stadium this summer and see them play. It'll be my first time to NY, I'm going to go see Yankee Stadium before it's torn down. Don't know when I'm going or what game, I just know I'm going. Pretty excited about it too.

[curb my enthusiasm]

I've heard that Shea Stadium will be torn down immediately after the season is over, but the Yankee Stadium demolition process won't begin until about March 2009. I wonder why this is. Maybe the Mets need that space for parking? And is the same demolition company handling both projects?

Also, since Yankee Stadium isn't coming down until later, that's why they were talking about holding a Rangers hockey game there in January.

[dabx]

I've heard that Shea Stadium will be torn down immediately after the season is over, but the Yankee Stadium demolition process won't begin until about March 2009. I wonder why this is. Maybe the Mets need that space for parking? And is the same demolition company handling both projects?

Also, since Yankee Stadium isn't coming down until later, that's why they were talking about holding a Rangers hockey game there in January.

This is my understanding. Shea will immediately go down after the season ends. They have to do this for the parking. YS will start to go down sometime in the early spring. The reason for the delay is to insure that both teams will have a place to play if their stadiums are not completed on time