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Yanks' $1.5B Park a Big Strikeout So Far

New stadium draws small, bitter crowds, opponent home runs

By Katherine Thompson, Newser Staff

Posted May 16, 2009 10:12 AM CDT

(Newser) – With its $1.5 billion price tag, you’d think the new Yankee Stadium would be pretty much perfect, right? But even the most loyal fans are griping as the “Taj Mahal” isn’t turning out to be everything it promised. From outrageous ticket prices to questionable outfield dimensions, the park is in danger of striking out, writes Darren Everson in the Wall Street Journal.

Management has cut prices and is taking the criticism in stride, noting that the park has been open for just a month. Still, “they’ve made almost every mistake you can make,” a Stanford prof says. “There’s nothing that’s been as unpopular as this.” Meantime, ghosts of stadium horrors past—Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia (lousy turf, worse odor), Olympic Stadium in Montreal (a retractable roof that wouldn't retract), Miami Arena and Charlotte Coliseum (not enough luxury suites in either)—haunt the Bronx.

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (2)]

With average prices for non-premium tickets at a league-high $73, the Yankees have a lot of empty seats and outraged fans. (Flickr)

Youngsters play among the empty seats while awaiting the start of a May 3 game at Yankee Stadium. (AP Photo)

New York Yankees' Derek Jeter grounds out to second base in front of a sparse crowed in the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, April 30, 2009, at Yankee Stadium. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

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The old Yankee Stadium, the cathedral of baseball, had 83 years of history. This stadium has been open a month. We believe this stadium will have its own great life and great memories. - Yankees Team President Randy Levine

They've made almost every mistake you can make. There's nothing that's been as unpopular as this. - Roger Noll, a professor of economics emeritus at Stanford

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Yanks' $1.5B Park a Big Strikeout So Far