Yankee Stadium Part II- After All that Food I Had to Walk it Out, Walk It Out...

Yankees walk it out, HowFresh walk it out, Lonn Trost walk it out, B-X walk it out, Big Papi whine and pout...

An added bonus to the HowFresh Eats Food Derby was getting to see the entire stadium. One must travel far and wide to attain certain delicacies. This provided me with an opportunity to view the game through a variety of vantage points and gain a deep knowledge of what the stadium has to offer- a true resume builder. WARNING: There is no food in this post.



After all that MSG and sodium I had no choice but to walk it out. Not Kurt Warner status however. I can't begin to tell you how uncomfortable that footage makes me.

As mentioned in HowFresh Eats Yankee Stadium, you are free to roam all over. And it appears that as long as your not blocking the walkway or entrance to the section, and not being an inconsiderate jerk, you can loiter as long as you please. It was bugged- every time a Burn's Security member came near we got shook- as if we were doing something wrong. So if you're high up below the overhang on the 1st base side and want to catch some rays- you know how I do- just mosey on over to the 3rd base side in the 300s section and hang out behind the handicapped section. You won't be able to tan it up on the main/box level since the concourse is completely covered. The bleacher concourse area provides some prime time SPF 15 though. Shit, I need that 30 or 45, but sometimes you need a good burn to set the table. Cops were hanging out and not saying a word to anybody standing behind the seats. What a plush job.



Having sat in section 209 and 314, I can say that leg room is far better here than the old stadium. I don't recall bumping my knees off the chair directly in front and definitely didn't kick anybody. Last year- Tier MVP box 615 in section 7- I stayed kneeing this woman in the back of the head all season. I stopped apologizing after a while because there was really nothing you could do to avoid it. Maybe she should have kept her head in check. A true bobblehead.



The bathrooms in the 300s were smaller and more crowded than the field level. Makes sense since nobody's sitting down there. But the bathrooms were huge down there- maze status. 2 separate areas with urinals- reminded me of a large airport. And there are dividers down low, unlike in the 200s and 300s. You pay extra money so that nobody will look at your dork. Money has its privileges. Unless you're into that shit.



The smokers are still getting their puffs in. I didn't see anybody catching tokes on the ramps- I see you Pops- but apparently the restroom is where the non-athletic badboys congregate. Damn Lonn, I thought you would have put banning this high up on the totem pole. I notice all the efforts to keep it green- well what about my lungs? I know green is a secondary color while yellow is primary- and I can see how you might think getting yellow lungs is somehow associated with being green, but you are incorrect. Honestly, I didn't smell any smoke at either game. The stadium must have a great ventilation system.



One would think that since Bank of America is a premier sponsor at the stadium, ATM machines would be aplenty. WRONG. I believe I saw 4 or 5 and based on the 2009 Fan Guide there are 7 in the stadium. With a full house that comes out to about 1 ATM per 7500 fans, and that's laaaaaame. We all know those numbers are a bit inflated since the Yanks don't sell out anymore, but still. How difficult is it to have 4 per level? Yankee fans can be dirtbags, but not brazen enough to crack an ATM open during the game. Personally, I charge it to the game- every concession I went to accepted Credit Cards- but for those with terrible credit history it can be a problem as exhibited by my boy in the 200s section. With only 1 ATM in the entire section- around homeplate heading towards 3rd base- it took him close to half an hour to get loot and then attempt to get some food. Knowing where it is now, piece of cake, but if you're not armed with the knowledge you're fucked. Ironically, the Upper Decks (300s) have 3 ATMs. They love making the working man bleed and spend that hard earned cash. They figure you got over on us with that cheap ticket so you better spend that shit. If you're unable to get cash in advance and don't have credit cards, you can re-up in the following sections: 128, 222,313,320C, 330, 239 and near the Guest Services Booth near Gate 6 (entrance closest to 161st and River). I cannot promise that they will be operable.



Walking from field level to the grandstand was much longer and way more arduous than expected. Shit just kept going. Like I was on the Beartooth Highway with all the switchbacks. And the air got thinner. All I kept thinking of was whether my parents would be able to make the trek to the heavens. Wet behind the ears, I didn't realize there were elevators available to all ticketholders. There are 8 elevators behind sections 214-216 and 314 to 316, all letting out in the Great Hall between Gates 4 and 6. The elevators have an attendant so if you have that claustrophobia issue be comforted in knowing that an expert is manning the vessel. The elevators say a capacity of 40 or so but one of the attendants said he keeps it around 25 so not to make the ride uncomfortable. Reminds me of the 168th and 181st Street 1 train elevators.



Screens and speakers are in abundance. They caught a truck and sucked it dry. Throughout the entire Main level there are flat screens and speakers suspended everywhere. It's great to see close/confrontational calls which aren't shown on the 103 foot monster screen (that thing is a beast- amazingly clear). After a close call during the 4/17 game I heard boos and had no clue where they were coming from. Then I looked up and saw the replay and realized they were reacting to that. On the other levels screens are positioned all along the walls and by the concessions. You will not miss anything. I don't recall seeing any screens in the bathrooms. Unlike the old stadium with the garbled sound, everything is clear. Low though- I found myself not being able to hear certain things, especially the at-bat tracks for several players. None of that heavy bass anymore courtesy of the Giambino.

Below are views from all over the stadium. They are all from public areas where your ticket doesn't matter. Find the view you like so next time you're in the stadium you can mark it off early. We're about to get territorial in this bitch. Some photos used zoom so you might not be as close as it shows. As always, click on image for a more detailed view.

1st Base Field Level.


Left Field View Behind Foul Pole.


Right Field Behind Bleachers. (a lot of space out there- Boardy Barn status)


3rd Base Field Level - Yes during YMCA. The grounds crew should do a little Lean Back during the 5th. Fat Joe is from the BX and that beat would get the crowd HYPED.


1st Base UD Field View.


View of stands from section 209. Who can spot the empties and calculate the value of those seats?


View of Great Hall looking West. Legends are in black and white from this angle. When looking East players are more current and in color.


Piece of Shit.


Left Field UD view of diamond. (great area for sun)


Behind Home plate Field Level.


Center Field Concessions view towards home- first time you have a chance to see Mo hit the mound.


View of Right Field bleachers from Center Field Concession area.


Exit on 162nd and River- the exits are large and this exit is great. No crowds and a close walk to your parked car in the upper 160s or to the subway by McDonalds. No more of that overcrowded subway exit on the corner.


Tables and chairs on Main Level behind Homeplate and by Press/Media area.


Captain Clutch- the HR that led to the first win at the new stadium.


Jerks. Anybody wearing an A-Rod jersey and anybody that puts a name on a Yankee jersey. Show, don't tell.


3rd Base Field Levels- Looked empty but was told that the Invisibles were there and having a better time than me.


Pause.


View of Subway from LF Upper Deck. (I'm a mini train buff)


161st Subway Station.