The New York Yankees are the very model of excess. They are the most successful franchise and most recognizable brand in baseball, possibly in all of sport. Moreover, they make craploads of money and spend craploads of money. None of this appears to embarrass Yankee officials, players, or fans. It's just the market, baby, and the Yankees own more of it than anyone else.
But $1.3 billion to build a new Yankee Stadium?!?!?
As reported today, the new stadium will include luxury boxes, corporate meeting space, a VIP restaurant, and even a martini bar. Located in the Bronx across the street from the current stadium, it will open for business in 2009. Too bad average local residents will likely be stuck watching the limousines parade by their houses on the way to games they'll never be able to afford. How nice that the latest playground for the elite from Manhattan and the suburbs will be conveniently located in the Bronx.
We have long passed the moment when the costs required to sustain commercial sports have exceeded what should ever be deemed reasonable. But $1.3 billion for a sports stadium is surely a sign that our collective priorities have never been more mistaken.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
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2 comments:
Watching wall street implode, it makes you wonder if sports could do the same, and how far the 'mercan tax payers' would go to save the giants, bears, dodgers, and 76ers.
are the yankees too big to fail? Obviously aROD's contract is not too big for him to fail.
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