Spring 2009 is just around the corner and Yankee fans will be able to visit the new Yankee Stadium. Of course, it will be a little while before fans warm to the new stadium - these are indeed some big shoes to fill. Yankee Stadium has seen a lot of history come and go in the South Bronx over its 86 years; but the new Yankee Stadium will replace something great with something even greater; the new $1.3 million stadium promises to be a worthy addition to the team and to the city of New York.

Spring 2009 is just around the corner and Yankee fans will be able to visit the new Yankee Stadium. Of course, it will be a little while before fans warm to the new stadium - these are indeed some big shoes to fill. Yankee Stadium has seen a lot of history come and go in the South Bronx over its 86 years; but the new Yankee Stadium will replace something great with something even greater; the new $1.3 million stadium promises to be a worthy addition to the team and to the city of New York.

The idea of moving the stadium is not a new one - in 1980, the owner wanted to move the stadium to an area considered safer than the South Bronx was at the time. Ideas were talked over and discarded over the following years; in the meantime, the team acquired a legion of new fans and the neighborhood improved considerably. The idea of a new stadium remained - but it was now to be built in the Bronx.

However, the cost of building a new stadium was a challenge. The team's hopes were raised when former Mayor Giuliani proposed city funding for new stadium construction for both of the city's baseball teams. Giuliani's plan included $800 million in construction funds, $390 million to be invested in improved transportation to the stadiums (via the MTA's B,D and 4 train lines to Yankee Stadium in the Bronx and the 7 line to Queen's Shea Stadium). Both teams would also have received $25 million for planning and the Mets another $80,000 of debt forgiveness.

The plan also waived sales and property taxes on the teams, would have provided both stadiums with state subsidized low cost electricity and allowed the teams to keep 100% of parking and other revenue brought in by the stadiums, with the city receiving a mere 4% of the ticket sales. Things looked a little less rosy for New York's ball clubs when current Mayor Michael Bloomberg too office. Mayor Bloomberg decided to exercise the escape clause provided for in the contract - however, the contract also included a provision allowing the teams to leave the city should the escape clause be used! Happily, the city and the two teams came to a new agreement and planning for new Yankees and Mets stadiums kept moving along.

Much planning has gone into designing the new Yankee Stadium. The exterior will be built of Indiana Limestone and will encircle the perimeter of the entire property it will look a lot like the original park did before renovations in 1974. Keeping with the theme of the original stadium a replica of the copper frieze that adorned the first stadium will be built. Along with the original feel will come better amenities and two new restaurants that will be open year round.

Whether you support it or feel like many do that a piece of history will be lost forever, it is safe to say that the new Yankee Stadium will keep with the tradition that brought the old Yankee Stadium, one of progress and financial risk taking. It paid off the first time, we will soon see if it will a second time.

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