NYC Mayor Rudolph Giuliani "hopes" the incident at
Yankee Stadium "will boost efforts to build new ballparks
for both the Yankees and the Mets," according to Robert
Hardt of the N.Y. POST. Giuliani "reiterated his call for a
new stadium" for the Yankees on Manhattan's West Side (N.Y.
POST, 4/15). Giuliani also said that new ballparks in NYC
"will mean substantial revenues for the city that will more
than offset whatever the negotiated price turns out to be.
It will mean a lot more jobs for the city." But Smith
College Professor Andrew Zimbalist said, "People shouldn't
be running to finance a new stadium just because one beam
fell" (N.Y. POST, 4/15). Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner
observed the damage on Tuesday and said of the inspection
process: "[W]e'll be absolutely sure it's safe for fans to
come back" (Bill Chastain, TAMPA TRIBUNE, 4/15).
REAX: In N.Y., George Vecsey: "Steinbrenner now has
every right -- he would even say the responsibility -- to
search for a safe home for his club and his fans" (N.Y.
TIMES, 4/15). A N.Y. POST editorial says, "[I]t's now
inarguable that the 75-year-old stadium must be replaced"
(N.Y. POST, 4/15). A NEWSDAY editorial says a ballpark in
Manhattan is "plainly the best" option and adds, "It's time
to get on with this job" (NEWSDAY, 4/15). On L.I., Shaun
Powell says a new park should be built, "Just make sure the
taxpayers aren't stuck with the bill" (NEWSDAY, 4/15).
THE FANS SPEAK: A poll by Quinnipiac College of 922
registered NYC voters taken from April 1-6, before the
stadium incident, showed that among those surveyed, 81% want
to keep the Yankees in the Bronx. Among Yankees fans, 91%
support keeping the team in Yankee Stadium (Quinnipiac).
