OT: Goin' toYankee Stadium

by tyrannoman on Jun 16, 2008 7:06 PM PDT

Well, it's time to make my pilgrimage to Yankee Stadium. My wife, daughter, and I will fly out Friday morning from Oakland to JFK, and catch a Yankee game Sunday and a Mets game on Tuesday. Are advise for visiting the Stadium for the first time? Any can't miss ideas for Shea (I'm sure that list will be long).

Any help from the fine assembilage...umm...assembled here will be...helpful. Thanks in advance.

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We went to both parks two summers ago. The only advice I can give is to get to Yankee stadium is get there early. they close down memorial park in CF well before game time.

To be honest, both parks are a little disappointing, but still worth checking out. Like everything else in NYC except Grand Central Station, there both a little grimy for my taste. Makes you appreciate the big phone booth.

Have fun!

2008 Giants: Scrappy! Scrappy! Joy! Joy!

by Goofus on Jun 16, 2008 8:23 PM PDT reply actions

thanks, I’d heard that about memorial park. I’d really like to see that as well.

by tyrannoman on Jun 16, 2008 9:16 PM PDT up reply actions

Shea Sucks. Yankee Stadium is great. There’s no reason to tear it down. There’s not a bad seat in the house. The food suck in both yards. The one decent bar around the stadium closed two years ago.

There’s a lot of cool stuff in Queens, but it’s not near Shea.

The Mermaid Parade on Coney Island is Saturday. That might be fun for you, but I’m sure the rest of the family has an agenda as well.

"Don't trust anyone under the age of 30" - Brian Sabean

by Smotheredinhugs on Jun 16, 2008 8:37 PM PDT reply actions

There’s not a bad seat in the house

Not true at all. There’s a bunch of seats in the boxes under the overhang where they sell seats in folding chairs. You can see the field, but not about 2o feet above it, so you can’t follow any ball hit in the air. Also, you can’t see the scoreboard, so they have crappy TV monitors showing the scoreboard. REALLY bad quality.

We sat in the upper deck behind home. It felt much higher and further away from the plate than similar seats at most ballparks I’ve been to. It was also really steep, so a bad place to sit for those with a fear of heights. The day we went it was 90-something degrees and REALLY humid. We made it through about 7 innings, then left.

2008 Giants: Scrappy! Scrappy! Joy! Joy!

by Goofus on Jun 17, 2008 9:20 AM PDT up reply actions

The place where they hold the US Open tennis tourney is near Shea. I think they have tours.

2008 Giants: Scrappy! Scrappy! Joy! Joy!

by Goofus on Jun 17, 2008 9:23 AM PDT up reply actions

We want to do this too

Probably going to try to catch a game in September. I never can figure out where to stay in NYC. I’ve gotten lucky and very unlucky in the lodgings dept.

Notgardo, I still love you -- but you're grounded. No Guitar Hero for a month, no Cheez-Its for two months, and NO BASEBALL! This hurts me as much as it hurts you.

by tk on Jun 16, 2008 9:40 PM PDT reply actions

Good Luck

with the tickets. I hope you get better luck than we have. We’re looking at $65 a seat in the upper deck or bleachers.

Have you tried VRBO.net? We’re renting an apartment on the Upper East Side for $200 a night per couple. Worth looking into.

by tyrannoman on Jun 16, 2008 9:59 PM PDT up reply actions

Mid-town Manhattan is probably best. Walking distance to Times Square and close to Grand Central Station, so you can get to anywhere else with ease. Not cheap, but not super expensive either. You feel like you’re in NYC if you stay in that area.

2008 Giants: Scrappy! Scrappy! Joy! Joy!

by Goofus on Jun 17, 2008 9:22 AM PDT up reply actions

we’ve rented an apartment on the Upper East Side, about two blocks from Central Park. It’ll be a lot of fun.

by tyrannoman on Jun 17, 2008 9:28 AM PDT up reply actions

I don’t know how scrappy you and your family are, but as a Giants fan, I’d recommend that you take the train up to the bluff above the old Polo Grounds and then walk across Macomb’s Dam bridge to Yankee Stadium. C train to 155th and St. Nicholas, walk a block east to Edgecombe and you can kind of look down on the spot. From there it’s only about a 10 block walk across the river to the Stadium.

As for stuff to do around the stadiums…absolutely nothing at Shea. Yankee Stadium it’s your usual souvenir-and-sports-bar scene outside, but inside is great, and I second the recommend on Monument Park.

by sularz on Jun 17, 2008 3:55 AM PDT reply actions

Thanks, I’ll give that a try. I’m not sure if the family would want in, but I can make a little hike.

by tyrannoman on Jun 17, 2008 5:48 AM PDT up reply actions

I was just there in April. I was glad I was able to take my girlfriend to see these ballparks for the first and last time.

Yankee Stadium
- Make sure not to bring any back packs. They will confiscate it and tell you that you’ll have to go down the street to store your bag at a bowling alley. Have your wife bring a large purse.
- Try and get round trip fares for the subway. You’ll be waiting in line forever after the game.
- As everyone said, Memorial Park is great. Be sure to make your way there the first thing the gates open. Depending on availability, I recommend the ballpark tour.

Shea Stadium
- If you have time to eat before the game, make reservations at the Diamond Club. Reservations: 718-565-4333. Great food. And a great view of the park. The souvenir store is up there as well.
-Try to get tix as close to the diamond as possible because they start to look like ants as you go higher. Tickets @ Shea are more of a bargain here than Yankee Stadium, of course.

Have fun!

Adopted brother of the AnVil / GIANTSPACE™ returns!

by SoFa King Mike on Jun 17, 2008 7:41 AM PDT reply actions

Thanks, king. Do you think they’ll let me bring a diaper bag for my 2 year old? It is see through mesh.

by tyrannoman on Jun 17, 2008 7:49 AM PDT up reply actions

I think it will be fine

Adopted brother of the AnVil / GIANTSPACE™ returns!

by SoFa King Mike on Jun 17, 2008 7:57 AM PDT up reply actions

yankee stadium...

is a large cement block. really it is, ive been there countless times. Shea is huge and seats are expensive for a mediocre view. My advice to you for yankee stadium is to NOT park in the stadium lots they are really expensive. there is this market type place where i always park for free and is about a 3 minute walk. i also think memorial park is overrated but you pretty much have to go your first time. for shea , well there isnt much to do but watch the game. before the game you should check out the old world’s fair park which is right next door.

Keep the Watson

by czechwonder on Jun 17, 2008 8:07 AM PDT reply actions

I always thought the subway was the way to go at Yankee Stadium. My guess is he won’t have a car while visiting NYC and he’s probably not staying in the Bronx.

2008 Giants: Scrappy! Scrappy! Joy! Joy!

by Goofus on Jun 17, 2008 9:26 AM PDT up reply actions

OT:airports

yeah off topic sorry, i would recommend next time flying in to laguardia its smaller and has way shorter lines

Keep the Watson

by czechwonder on Jun 17, 2008 8:15 AM PDT reply actions

I actually woudl’ve preferred to, but the fares we got on Jet Blue were outstanding, and they only fly into JFK.

Thanks for the parking info, but we’re actually not going to rent a car. We’ll take a cab from the airport, then take the subway all around town.

Thanks for the tip on the world’s fair park. We’ll try to check it out before the game.

by tyrannoman on Jun 17, 2008 8:48 AM PDT up reply actions

I was just in NYC 10 days ago and flew in and out of JFK. No problem with lines at all. The subway takes you right to the property and another train/tram gets you right to the terminal. Very efficient.

2008 Giants: Scrappy! Scrappy! Joy! Joy!

by Goofus on Jun 17, 2008 9:27 AM PDT up reply actions