Yankee Stadium Parking Update: Owners Plan to Default on Bonds

Cost of parking for the 2011 ALDS

Today in a report from the New York Daily News the owners of the parking garages and lots around Yankee Stadium plan to default on $237 million in bonds. It shouldn't come as a big surprise, since the new stadium opened they have raised from $14 to $35 ($48 if you want valet), and have opened up a brand new metro north station just a block away.

Just 38% of people are parking in the lots when the bombers are home, and just 70 people use the lots during the off season. That's 21 acres of wasted space for the community on parking garages, and even more when you consider that the new Yankee Stadium took away park land too. If the city wanted to do right they would tear down one of the garages/lots and make a park for the public. Some of the other options in the article are low income housing or a hotel.

With tolls and gas going up, the owners of the garages would be smart to lower the prices to get more people to drive again and use the parking lots. I expect in 2012 for them to either raise the price again, or keep it at $35.

Yanks parking mess: City deafults on parking bonds & a hotel in the Bronx?

So it looks like the city of NY is going to default on the bonds for the parking garages around Yankee Stadium according to this report.

Its upsetting but when you have too much parking, high prices and mass transit option that are cheaper and more convenient, why would anyone want to drive? This season (if they don't close garages) it will be easy to get in and out of the parking since not many individuals are going to want to pay $35 to park.

The other thing in this, is will a hotel in the Bronx really work? Sure if this was 2007, I might agree. At that time hordes of tourists were coming to the Bronx to see the old Yankee Stadium one last time, and that lasted for much of 2008 and 2009. But as the "new" Yankee Stadium's newness wears off then what? Why would anyone want to visit and stay in a hotel in the south Bronx when you have all the luxury hotel a train ride away in Manhattan?

What they should do is either lower the price of the garages, knock the garages down, or build parks on the top level of each garage. That way they still have the parking, and can give back to the community.

NYC raises Yankee Stadium parking

The picture is dated from 2006. So in five years the price will have
been increased by $22.

The story was first reported by the NY Daily News , but it looks like the parking around Yankee Stadium is about to become a premium. To prevent from defaulting on bonds, the price for parking in 2011 will go from $23 to $35 for self park and from $36 to $45 for valet parking.

In the article it says that the reason behind this is so that the city can get money back, but how are they really going to get money? Its basic economics to know that once you pass a certain price, you will no longer make money. Does the city forget that three subway lines, along with the metro north all arrive at the stadium? If the lots were only filled to 60% on average during the regular season, what will it be like next year? Also who would ever pay $45 for valet parking? Last year when I would pass those lots, when they were priced at $36 their may have been like 20 cars in it.

Of course many will now be taking mass transit to the game, but if you insist on driving, the shopping mall right off exit four of the major deegan was charging $19 for parking this past year. If that price stays the same then you may want to try that out.

It is sad that parking is now about to become more expensive then Grandstand and Bleacher seats, but this is something that the Yankees cant be blamed for. The whole mess is up to the Bronx and NYC, eventually they will have to lower the prices if nobody is parking in the expensive lots.

Yankee Stadium Experience : August 9th 2010 Yankees vs Red Sox

It had been 3 years since I had attended a Yankees vs Red Sox game at the stadium. I have realized alot has changed since when I saw them play on a cold April 2007 night. The Yankees hadn't won a World Series since 2000, still played in the old Yankee Stadium and at the time Doug Mientkiewicz and Kei Igawa were part of the roster. For the Red Sox, Manny Ramirez was still loved for "Manny being Manny" , David Ortiz was still beating up on the bombers and Dice-K had just come over from Japan. Of all the things I listed the only thing that is still somewhat possible is Ortiz beating up on the Yanks and even that, we now find out was performance enhanced.

So about the stadium experience. In my last trip to the stadium, I wanted to grab a Lobel's steak sandwich but the line was way too long. This time with a 2:05 pm start time, and myself arriving at the stadium an hour and a half early, the line was reasonable. Its different how they do it at the small Lobel's stand in left field compared to all the other concessions in the stadium. You tell the cashier what you plan to order, pay them and they give u a receipt. You then move along, show your receipt to another worker and they grab your food and put it in a Lobel's bag, even if it is just one sandwich.

The sandwich runs $15, but compared to a $5 crappy hot dog it suddenly seems like a bargain. Part of me believes that after eating the sandwich that for only $15 it is a bargain. The meat was tender and juicy, and they piled a lot of it on the bun. So in case you don't get my point, next time your at the stadium and you got some extra cash to spend and don't mind spending some time on line, head to Lobel's. Trust me you will thank me once your mouth is in heaven.

While walking around before the first pitch I noticed that the Yankees have added one of those machines in which you put a penny into it along with a dollar and an imprint of your choice will come out on the penny. Maybe it has been there for a while and I hadn't noticed. Anyways if you would like to make a penny yourself , the machine is located outside the team store behind home plate.

Finally 20 minutes before first pitch, I ventured to my partial plan seats in section 235 of the bleachers. Lucky for me, I am the last row so a cement wall is behind me that i can use as a back rest. Last row or not it was not going to save me from the heat on this warm August day. I was surprised by how sparse the crowd leading up to first pitch, eventually the seats would fill in and the Yanks drew another crowd over 49,000.

Through the first few innings the crowd never really seemed into the game. Maybe it was because it was hot or it was a day game during the week, maybe the rowdy people had work, also maybe because for this Monday matinee I did not spot many Red Sox fans. Either way for a Yanks - Sox game it was very calm.

Here are some of my thoughts on the game while it was happening :

• Why in the world is Curtis Granderson playing against a tough lefty like Jon Lester
• Great, Lester is having trouble throwing strikes and we cant get a hit off this guy
• Um Yankees can you not get no hit by Lester here in the Bronx ?
• Alright now I'm getting annoyed. The worlds most annoying voice over guy is doing the Zales marquee message board and the Yankees still don't have a hit. I hope the Zales marquee guy gets laryngitis and had to miss the next 25 seasons.
• Marcus Thames almost saved the Yankees with a ball that hit off the top of the wall. Had the ball gone over it would have tied the game. At the time I wasn't too worried since the Yanks had no outs and I was feeling confident.
• Following strike outs from Curtis Granderson, Derek Jeter and Nick Swisher to leave the bases loaded suddenly my confidence turns into frustration.
• Also it should be known Jorge Posada and the Yankees pitchers could not contain Jacoby Ellsbury on the base path.

When Jonathan Papelbon struck out Mark Teixiera ( who will miss the next game,due to his wife having a child) it meant that the Red Sox had come away with a 2-1 victory and a series split. As i mentioned earlier the game didn't really feel like a game against the Red Sox. Mostly because I didn't notice any fights in the stands and only once heard a "Boston Sucks" chant.

Following the game, it took forever to leave out of the 161st street parking garage, as my friend and I stood outside his car and chatted I took a few pictures from the top level. Certainly a nice view of Yankee Stadium.

In case you have not noticed the Yanks have lost the last four games that I have attended. I hope to change that trend next Wednesday August 18th when I head back to the Bronx to see Johnny Damon return. I will be sitting in my usual section 235 in the left field bleachers, should be interesting to see how the fans respond to Damon's return.

I leave you with some pictures from the game

The mess in the parking lot trying to leave.

The view from 235

Nobody cheering or standing as Phil Hughes had two strikes on a batter with two outs and runners on.

The crowd following Tex hitting a solo blast

Odd looking picture of Gate 2 following the game. It looks like the stadium is bending.

The gorgous Yankee Stadium following the bombers 2-1 loss against the Red Sox

153rd Street Garage Now Only Open for Special Events And Overflow

The 153rd street garage, that is next to what is left of the old Yankee Stadium will no longer be open unless it is a special event or for overflow. Pre-2009 at the old Yankee Stadium, this lot was always packed, and season ticket holders who purchased parking passes got them for this lot. I had parked in this lot a few times and can say that it was really annoying to leave the garage if you parked high up.

For this weekends set against the Red Sox, the garage will be open due to the large capacity crowds. I can say I'm surprised that they are picking this garage to close, it has the most parking spaces available according to Baseball-Parking.com. In the future I wonder if they will close the garage all together and build something else there since the new Heritage Field will be across the street.

Garage mentioned is the building all the way to the right that the "Game Day Ticket Sale " booth is against.