Let the commercial-ization begin!

by NumberSeven on Jun 19, 2008 1:06 PM EDT

Did people see this? There will be a Hard Rock Cafe at the new Stadium.

The [Yankees] announced Wednesday that they have agreed to enter into a long-term agreement to open a 7,000 square-foot Hard Rock Cafe at the new Yankee Stadium.

Now I am part of the faction that is actually looking forward to the new Stadium next year. But this rubs me the wrong way. Feels like they are turning it into a tourist draw rather than a cathedral of baseball. Now I understand everyone wants to make money here, but Hard Rock Cafe? It's cliche, and it's been done before.

I will say the thing I am looking forward to most about next year is the more wide-open concourses, and not taking forever to get in and out of the Stadium. But it looks like there's a bit of selling of the soul in order to get it.

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I actually like the idea

It’s a start toward making good on the promise to make the Stadium a year-round destination.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Jun 19, 2008 5:22 PM EDT reply actions

Bad idea

The Hard Rock Cafe is like TGI Friday’s with music memorabilia on the wall. Chain-restaurant ,bland food, zero atmosphere. Hooter’s would have been a better idea.

Music memorabilia has nothing to do with baseball, or Yankee Stadium. And why would anyone go the Hard Rock Cafe in November when the greatest city in the world is a quick subway ride away? No one went to the Hard Rock Cafe when it was on 57th street. Unless they put a casino in this one (they won’t obviously), no one will go to this one when there’s no game on.

They should have moved the Yogi Berra museum there, and built a nice sports bar named after him. Or done something similar. It’s the most storied franchise in sports for christ’s sake. The Hard Rock cafe????? Blech….

They sold the space to the highest bidder, which they have every right to do, but it still bothers me.

"Well, that kind of puts a damper on even a Yankees win."
-- Phil Rizzuto after hearing about the Pope's death

by matthaggs on Jun 19, 2008 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions

I understand your argument

and I agree about the quality (and overprice) of the food.
The Yogi Museum is a great idea I’d never considered.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Jun 19, 2008 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions

HARDRoCk

As a fan and season ticket holder this latest development makes me sicker than the last: we have the NYY Steak (don’t get me wrong, i love meat) and now an aging cultural icon in the Hard Rock as our “anchor” property. I just have to wonder if the baseball experience will be maintained in a cathedral such as the bronx for the boys that have been riding the trains to 161 St since 1994 and hopefully before… PLEASE do NOT fuck it up!!! it is our temple.

by 1FastClown on Jun 20, 2008 3:39 AM EDT reply actions

It's Over!

As stated in the press relase: “Adding popular and premier dining options such as the Hard Rock Cafe and NYY Steak was done with our fans in mind,” said Yankees chief operating officer Lonn Trost. “The new Yankee Stadium will be a destination that fans of every age and from around the world can look forward to visiting throughout the calendar year."

So basically they doing this for “the fans” with idle time on their hands, a lot of disposable income and absolutely no sense of direction, why else would anyone spend $200 for a burger in the south Bronx in February?

This is a billion dollar disaster in the making, the Cathedral of Baseball is the old Yankee Stadium, and the mystique still exists in the current Yankee Stadium.

That new facility across the street is something else and will never be Yankee Stadium as we understand it today. It’s over .. this is just another new ball park, nice, clean and expensive.

I too am a season ticket holder, and dread to see what they are going to do to my seats in that new building!

JPL

by lobrutto on Jun 20, 2008 11:26 AM EDT reply actions