Many wonderful things have been said about the new Yankee Stadium. Concession stands go on for miles offering all the best fare the city has to offer. Everything is pristine, even the men's bathrooms. A fan can wander around the hallways and find stunning views of the field with each step. But one thing is missing: fans who actually care. Nearly two billion dollars bought all the players, food, and amenities that charm corporate America, but the Steinbrenners' and taxpayer dollars will not be able to recreate the magic of the old park. That seems harsh after one regular season game, but any real fan could tell the show has become the park, not the game. Fans reveled at all the new toys, but couldn't even muster a "Reg-gie" or "Yo-gi" during pre-game introductions. Never before has such a star-studded event been received so poorly in the Bronx. It may have been just day one, but the sights and (lack of) sounds do not bode well for the future of the new building.
People may suggest it was simply "an opening day crowd"; a crowd there more to be seen than heard. Unfortunately, this year projects to be full of "opening day" crowds. Even the most passionate fans can't justify the type of money it costs to catch a game. Those who can afford the most expensive seats, even in the old stadium, aren't the noisemakers. Unfortunately, in the current structure, those are the only ones who can be heard by the players. The new "concourse level" is closer to the Grand Concourse than the field. These differences were not lost on the beneficiaries of a home-field advantage. Players, past and present, remarked how different the park sounded yesterday. If the performance by the "10th man" continues to be lackluster, the Yankees once vaunted home-field advantage will be greatly diminished.
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