LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WELCOME TO ORIOLE PARK AT BRONX YARDS

     A preliminary plan for renovating Yankees Stadium was
unveiled to Bronx borough officials on Tuesday.  The proposal,
designed by the sports architectural firm, HOK of Kansas City,
calls for "widening the structure by 40 feet and adding luxury
boxes."  The plan also calls for building 90 luxury boxes, 12,000
parking spots, and a picnic area in the left field bleacher area.
HOK, widely known for its design of Oriole Park at Camden Yards,
also plans to have an "exact replica of the original facade of
the stadium as a new outer wall for the ballpark."  To make the
facility more accessible, the subway station would be improved,
and easier on/off exits from the George Washington Bridge
(Matthew Purdy, N.Y. TIMES, 12/14).  The cost of the stadium
renovation is estimated at $125M and total neighborhood
renovation at $380M.  Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner has
threatened to move the team out of the Bronx when his lease
expires in 2002 (Polner & Lin, N.Y. NEWSDAY, 12/14).