New” Yankee Stadium Review

Written By: mike on August 30, 2010 No Comment

From the fans perspective in the center field bleachers in the “New” Yankee Stadium, it seemed as if nothing had really changed, except the luxury boxes (and prices!) as New York, for the 27th time, was on top of Major League Baseball.

The 50,000 plus fans expressed their approval and voiced their satisfaction at the Yankee’s latest success; however something felt like it is missing. Happiness was present, contentment certainly was witnessed, but what we see in the video (or better, don’t see) is pure unadulterated joy, the kind one saw with Boston’s fans in 2004, or what we would surely see from Cubs fans if they ever achieved title status…or at least recent title status…1908 is a long time. But the Yankees have won 5 titles just within the past 15 years…maybe enthusiasm is replaced with expectation. Though the video is just a microcosm of a bigger picture, we see no tears, we see no breath of relief, of “finally”, we witness no pain being alleviated as a result of reaching the top after years of failure. This isn’t to disparage Yankee’s fans or even question their fandom; this just shows their level of expectation and team success is viewed on a different plain than the rest of Major League Baseball.

Though winning (they say) never gets old, it can get mundane when one is so used to it, and frankly expects it; fans celebrating, singing “We Are the Champions”…a song Yankee fans by now should know by heart, flash bulbs from camera’s dazzling the night, recording this special event (if you consider “special” repeating itself 27 times) to record and prove “I was there!” The fans appear to appreciate the success and revel in the Yankee’s winning the World Series, but the routine and the yearly contending has flowed over into the celebration, creating a more subdued atmosphere and response. Though no one seemed to want to leave their seats, or storm the field (security on the field is also a big deterrent), it felt more like “we know this routine and have been here before, so we act like it”. As happy as the fans are for winning another title, the jubilation and pure joy seemed absent; it felt more like a coronation, than celebration.

The Yankee players seemed to enjoy the victory, and seeing grown men pile on one another bringing out the “inner child” from the millionaire athlete is heartening in this era of big money and self interest. But even their celebration seemed more “we did it again” instead of being uniquely “we did it”. Though they no doubt seemed sincerely pleased, that celebration from a distance appeared almost choreographed. I have to wonder, it is more special to Mark Teixeira & Alex Rodriguez winning their first title, or Derek Jeter winning one for his thumb? Regardless, they all seemed to be in that pile enjoying the capping of another victorious season…just 1 out of 27 seasons the New York Yankees have ended their season the same way; World Series champs. The fans know this all to well and reacted as such; without surprise.