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Shea Stadium, the radium, EMD squared

Edgy DC Jan 20 2006 01:48 PM

Village Voice says Wilpon paying practically nothing for Shea II.

Elster88 Jan 20 2006 02:00 PM

Not surprising. Why would Wilpon open up his wallet? He's a cheap scumbag who's only interested in money and doesn't give a shit about the product on the field, or the field itself.

KC Jan 20 2006 02:01 PM

Reading it quickly, I'm not sure I get the writers point. Is it that Wilpon is getting off scott free or that Yankee Stadium will cost so much more than Shea or is it a pot shot at the government agencies and mean old con- servative Pataki or ....?

metirish Jan 20 2006 02:03 PM

That's not true Elster, he's not cheap and he's not a scumbag, now Iv'e not read the article yet but Wilpon spends on payroll.

Edgy DC Jan 20 2006 02:08 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jan 20 2006 02:10 PM

Irish, Ellie's spraying the room with an AK-47 of satire. Kase, I believe the last guess of yours was closest. But blog-style opinon journalism doesn't really have to have a specific point. They can just throw a bunch up there and see what sticks. Like J.F.K., I guess, or so I'm told.

Frayed Knot Jan 20 2006 02:09 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jan 20 2006 02:11 PM

The Voice is essentially saying that the city if giving perks to rich sports owners -- longer tax exemptions, free rent despte the building being on city land, sweetheart parking arrangements, etc -- that presumably other businessmen can't (although sometimes do) get. The guys at "Field of Schemes" are pretty much saying the same things; although I find the part about treating the MLB rule which allows teams to divert rev-sharing money into stadium construction as if those too are somehow "gift" funds to be stretching things a bit. btw: a line in the NYPost (yesterday I think) said the team will unveil plans for the new stadium "in the next few weeks"

metirish Jan 20 2006 02:10 PM

]Irish, Ellie's spraying the room with an AK-47 of satire. He's always doing that....LOL...

seawolf17 Jan 20 2006 02:10 PM

I can't believe Wilpon is trying to run a business and make -- and save -- money. I'm going to go be a fan of the Boise Potato Fighters, because their owner wants to win. He gives away tickets for free to everyone, and pays his players eighty gazillion dollars every time they sign an autograph for a kid. Gimme a break, folks. Let Steinbrenner pay through the ass for Steinbrenner Field; it's still going to suck.

Edgy DC Jan 20 2006 02:11 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jan 20 2006 02:26 PM

Word to LF's mutha on that "stretching" point.

Edgy DC Jan 20 2006 02:12 PM

Seawolf and Elster might want to consider saving some money by merging operatons.

Lundy Jan 20 2006 02:13 PM

Was that article actually published in the Village Voice, or is it part of a blog? It's not clear to me.

Edgy DC Jan 20 2006 02:16 PM

It's a Voice-sponsored blog. Traditional journalism sources are fighting back at bloggers siphoning off readers in part by including blogging sections as part of their own online editorial sections. It doesn't usually work for me. It almost says "Here are the opinions held to journalistic standards and here are the ones you don't have to hold to any standards."

Edgy DC Jan 20 2006 02:35 PM

It's fun that, despite the blog coming through VV window, where the reader would be expected to be attracted to appeals for resentment of corporate welfare, the first two comments are of the "Yay, Mets" variety.

seawolf17 Jan 20 2006 02:41 PM

Edgy DC wrote: Seawolf and Elster might want to consider saving some money by merging operatons. Nah. This is a business, man! My profits from my posts go to me and me alone. Besides, it scares me when Elster and I agree on something.

Vic Sage Jan 20 2006 03:14 PM

the main thing one should take from this, and similar articles from reputable sources, is the continuous gouging of the taxpaying public for the benefit of landlords and developers. The concession the city and state are making in tax rebates and rent waivers = real revenues lost. Money that could be going into school construction is going into stadium construction. As much as i hate Shea and would happily pee on its imploded rubble, i despise the corporate welfare that cities are seduced, or coerced, or bribed into paying to rich owners, when so many independent studies show that there is little economic bang for the bucks spent in this way, and when our city has so many other more pressing priorities. The whole Yankee/Met comparison is pointless, except to say that the Yanks want to build the best state-of-the-art stadium money can buy and are willing to spend 2x-3x as much on their stadium as the cheapass Mets, who apparently do their stadium shopping at K-Mart.

Bret Sabermetric Jan 20 2006 07:26 PM

Shit. I thought I agreed with Elster and Seawolf for once.

seawolf17 Jan 20 2006 08:00 PM

We still love ya, BS.

Diamond Dad Jan 20 2006 08:50 PM don't believe

Don't believe everything you read in the Voice. Or on the Voice blog. For my money (tickets) I don't care who'se paying. Let's just have a better park!

Zvon Jan 20 2006 11:54 PM

Has there been any speculation as to what this stadium will be called? Surely not Shea II, or Shea, for that matter.

Bret Sabermetric Jan 21 2006 05:43 AM

"Preparation H Stadium" has the inside track.

Yancy Street Gang Jan 21 2006 08:12 AM

Zvon wrote: Has there been any speculation as to what this stadium will be called? Surely not Shea II, or Shea, for that matter. Whichever corporation bids the most money will get to name the stadium, I'm afraid. The only likely alternative to a corporate-naming would be "Wilpon Field."

Edgy DC Jan 21 2006 09:03 AM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jan 21 2006 09:17 AM

Naaah. Mets Stadium Jackie Robinson Memorial Stadium Casey Stengel Field Joan Whitney Payson Memorial Field? (My son is so cultured. He goes to the Whitney every weekend.) Tom Seaver Field Mays and Seaver Field Mays and Robinson Field Flushing Meadows Stadium The Stadium at the Navy Yard John Lennon Memorial Stadium Strawberry Fields Elysian Fields September 11th Memorial Stadium Ebbets Field 2.0 And then there are compromises: Old Navy Stadium at the Navy Yard Nike Presents Seaver Stadium Prudential Bache Presents Stengel Stadium Met Life Stadium

KC Jan 21 2006 09:11 AM

I forget who thought of it years ago on mofo, but I thought it was clever ... The Polo Grounds, by Ralph Lauren

Bret Sabermetric Jan 21 2006 10:28 AM

Yancy Street Gang wrote: ="Zvon"]Has there been any speculation as to what this stadium will be called? Surely not Shea II, or Shea, for that matter. Whichever corporation bids the most money will get to name the stadium, I'm afraid. The only likely alternative to a corporate-naming would be "Wilpon Field." That's what I meant by "Preparation H" Field. Don't matter how unattractive an image is conjured up, the bottom line is the bottom line. So to speak. The motto could be "We stick it straight up your asses every day. Come out to Preparation H Field and see." Wonder if anyone has approached the Lauren people with the naming offer. Wonder if Brooklyn Fred would allow it, even if they had the highest bid and the cleverest name.

seawolf17 Jan 21 2006 11:31 AM

If it's anything other than Bob Murphy Stadium, it's a travesty. Hell, whatever it is, I think we'll call it Bob Murphy Stadium anyway.

KC Jan 21 2006 12:52 PM

I think Mets immortal figures should be remembered by things like naming gates or thoroughfares or by monuments and such. While I loved Bob and miss him, naming a stadium after him seems a bit extreme. He's not the first thing I think of when thinking of Mets years gone by. Certainly in the top ten.

Frayed Knot Jan 21 2006 01:26 PM

It's going to have a corporate name. Virtually every new arena now is (plus many of the older ones) and they've been saying as much all along since the plans were first unveiled around a decade ago. At this point you just hope it's: - something that rolls off the tongue reasonably well. Some of the hi-tech gobbledygook or byzantine corporate intitials that pass for stadium names these days have been tough to say and even harder to remember. - something that can be shortened or "nicknamed" if it does wind up being a less-than poetic moniker. I like how 'Minute-Maid Field' became "The Juice Box" - something that doesn't change every other year as companies change their minds, go under, get taken-over, have their entire board indicted, etc. I have no idea what they're calling the joint the SF Giants play in these days. As long as it's somewhat reasonable we'll get used to it. Hell, we've got a place right now named after some deceased corporate lawyer and no one gives it a second thought.

Bret Sabermetric Jan 21 2006 02:24 PM

I understand that Preparation H is "something that rolls off the tongue reasonably well."

metirish Feb 12 2006 07:29 PM

Hope you like PNC Park.... ] At Mets' park, you'll think you're in ...Pittsburgh? Feb 12, 2006 The Mets are staying secretive about their ballpark plans, but Newsday has learned that, in addition to Ebbets Field, the Mets' other main model is Pittsburgh's PNC Park. For those who haven't been there, that's an excellent choice. If the Mets pull this off, they'll go from baseball's worst stadium to one of its best. According to a well-placed source, Jeff Wilpon told confidants about PNC Park, "I'd take it in a second if I could." Wilpon or his underlings have toured every new ballpark, but Wilpon is said to love the homey feel of PNC best. PNC also is known for its view, tougher for the Mets to duplicate given that they're a few miles from Manhattan, which can be seen only from the upper deck now. One goal is to upgrade Willets Point, which might mean folks needing a chop shop will have to go elsewhere. Wilpon declined comment on stadium plans. Sometime in the next month, the Mets will unveil their new park. [url=http://www.newsday.com/sports/columnists/ny-a4624607feb12,0,2146568.column?coll=ny-sports-columnists]Jon Heyman[/url]

ScarletKnight41 Feb 12 2006 07:50 PM

That would be cool. PNC and Pac Bell (or whatever they're calling it now) are my favorite stadiums.

Frayed Knot Feb 12 2006 10:10 PM

Seems like Jeffie suffers from PNC envy. Of course, as the article mentioned, it's never going to have the view. It'll be too far away to see Manhattan (and will face the wrong way to boot) and there's a highway in the way of the waterfront at Flushing Bay.

ScarletKnight41 Feb 12 2006 10:49 PM

True - the view at PNC is awesome. But it's a very well designed stadium, even without the view -

cooby Feb 12 2006 11:14 PM

Too bad those people are standing in the way

ScarletKnight41 Feb 12 2006 11:32 PM

:p

ABG Feb 13 2006 09:41 AM

PNC is breathtaking. Of course, one of the homey things about it is that it seats only about 35,000. I doubt the Mets will go that far in replication.

Yancy Street Gang Feb 13 2006 09:43 AM

That does look like a beautiful ballpark. I just finalized my summer vacation plans the other day, and now I almost regret that it doesn't include Pittsburgh!

MFS62 Feb 13 2006 09:46 AM

I hope the bathrooms in the new place will be better than the infamous ones in Shea. Then Moen or American Standard will sponsor them as "The Flushing Toilets". Later

Lundy Feb 13 2006 10:20 AM

If New Shea is anything like PNC, I'll be a happy man. Great ballpark. This is from a night game in June last year:

Yancy Street Gang Feb 13 2006 10:28 AM

Wow! How do they get the skies so blue for a night game?

Edgy DC Feb 13 2006 10:32 AM

Corporate sponsorship. Hey, if you want to keep corporate sponsors' names off the façade of the new Shea, get F. Scott Shea on your side.

Yancy Street Gang Feb 13 2006 10:37 AM

I'm going to have to check to see when the Mets are in Pittsburgh this season. If it's on a summer weekend I might be tempted to make the trip across the state.

Frayed Knot Feb 13 2006 11:01 AM

ABG wrote: PNC is breathtaking. Of course, one of the homey things about it is that it seats only about 35,000. I doubt the Mets will go that far in replication. Rumors have it that they're looking at something on the order of 42,000 in seating. I think that's too few for NYC. Doesn't have to be another 56,000 monstrosity but it seems to me you'd want something a bit closer to 50K. ]I just finalized my summer vacation plans the other day, and now I almost regret that it doesn't include Pittsburgh! That might be the first time that sentence has ever been uttered.

Willets Point Feb 13 2006 11:10 AM

]One goal is to upgrade Willets Point Does this mean the Mets will make sure I always fly first class?

Elster88 Feb 13 2006 11:16 AM

Frayed Knot wrote: ]I just finalized my summer vacation plans the other day, and now I almost regret that it doesn't include Pittsburgh! That might be the first time that sentence has ever been uttered. More and more these days I've been hearing that Pittsburgh is underrated and is actually a nice place to visit. Camden and PNC are the next two parks that I plan to visit.

Yancy Street Gang Feb 13 2006 11:27 AM

Pittsburgh is a nice city. I was there for New Year's Eve in 1994. It's one of those places that looks like a nice place to live, but not a great place to visit. It's livable, but it's not much of a vacation destination.

ScarletKnight41 Feb 13 2006 11:44 AM

Pittsburgh is a fine weekend destination. If you like architecture, Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Waters house is about 90 minutes outside of Pittsburgh, and it's well worth the drive. Make the trip Yancy - it's probably about a 5 1/2 hour drive from where you are. Not around the corner, but not bad.

Yancy Street Gang Feb 13 2006 11:53 AM

I'll have to do that. Maybe not this year, but whenever the schedule looks friendly. I doubt that I'd bother to go if the Pirates are playing anyone other than the Mets.

HahnSolo Feb 13 2006 11:57 AM

The yellow bridge in the backdrop is cool. Could we paint the #7 tracks blue and orange?

ScarletKnight41 Feb 13 2006 11:57 AM

The Mets are in Pittsburgh Sept. 15-17. It's a weekend, and it's before the Jewish holidays.

Yancy Street Gang Feb 13 2006 12:03 PM

When are the Jewish holidays? If there's a public school holiday around then it might work out. Of course, if I'm going to see the Mets in September they'd better be playing "meaningful games!"

ScarletKnight41 Feb 13 2006 12:07 PM

Rosh Hashanah begins the night of Sept 22. Yom Kippor begins the night of October 1.

Yancy Street Gang Feb 13 2006 12:23 PM

Thanks!

ScarletKnight41 Feb 13 2006 12:38 PM

No problem :)

Johnny Dickshot Feb 14 2006 07:16 PM

The view over the center field fence may improve, but prolly not in time for the stadium's debut. ]City wants proposals for 'Triangle' BY DONALD BERTRAND DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER The future of the "Iron Triangle," a gritty 48-acre cluster of junkyards in Willets Point just east of Shea Stadium, brightened a bit last week. New York City's Economic Development Corp. issued a Targeted Request for Proposals for the redevelopment of Willets Point. The 12-block Iron Triangle is the largest single stretch of garages and junkyards in the city, with more than 80 auto repair shops and salvage yards among its businesses. "This targeted [area] is another step forward in our efforts to transform the underused, underserved Iron Triangle into a new regional destination with a vibrant mix of uses to enhance the area's assets, such as the communities of Flushing and Corona and the Flushing Bay waterfront," said EDC President Andrew Alper. The request for proposals is being sent to a group of developers who were selected from 13 proposals received in response to a Request for Expressions of Interest issued in November 2004. The development corporation would not say how many of the 13 were still in the running. The responses are due May 5. Alper said the goal of the proposal request is to select a development partner or partners to implement what EDC calls "a viable strategic redevelopment plan to be outlined in the upcoming environmental review and public review processes." "The high quality and enthusiasm of the responses we received to the [2004 request] clearly demonstrate the confidence of the development community in the potential of a new Willets Point," Alper said. Last summer the development corporation designated a developer to build a $500 million project that will create a new town square in downtown Flushing, along with 500 residential units, 350,000 square feet of retail space, a hotel and a community center on the site of what is now a municipal parking lot. The selection of the Willets Point developer will be made after the public review process, said EDC spokeswoman Janel Patterson. Over the past year, the development group has conducted environmental, engineering and soil studies, along with infrastructure analysis and site surveys of the area. In the next few months, it will select a consultant to prepare an environmental impact statement and begin the public review process for the redevelopment effort. In addition, a business assistance and workforce development program is being finalized to assist businesses and workers that may be affected by the redevelopment. "This marks a milestone in a decade-long effort to transform this part of Queens into a centerpiece of opportunity and renewal for the entire city," said Councilman John Liu (D-Flushing). "It's fairly exciting, and the EDC deserves credit for moving it along. This ties in well with the planned new Mets stadium."

Edgy DC Feb 14 2006 07:21 PM

]Over the past year, the development group has conducted environmental, engineering and soil studies, along with infrastructure analysis and site surveys of the area. I can only imagine.

Frayed Knot Feb 17 2006 12:31 AM

[url=http://www.nydailynews.com/02-16-2006/news/local/story/391780p-332277c.html]A few more details[/url] Mainly: - roof idea, retractable or otherwise, scrapped, although a partial covering over some of the seating - a look inspired by both Ebbets Field and the Hell's Gate Bridge - 42,500 ("wider and deeper") seating capacity, a number which apparently doesn't include lux-boxes, private suites, some standing rooms, and restaurant seating - yeah restaurants, two of them There's a public hearing at Flushing Town Hall on Feb 27th if any of you civic minded types want to go make a nuisance of yourselves. Still shooting for a 2009 opening.

metsmarathon Feb 17 2006 09:54 AM

hell's gate bridge - cool. that's an excellent architectural reference.