Bronx, NY, Borough President Fernando Ferrer "plans to
offer a proposal today to renovate Yankee Stadium, install
120 luxury boxes, ease traffic congestion and redevelop the
neighborhood with a waterfront park, a Yankee Hall of Fame
and sports-related stores," according to Charles Bagli of
the N.Y. TIMES. The proposal, called "Yankee Village,"
comes a month before Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner "is
expected to announce his decision on where the team will
play after its lease with the city expires in 2002."
Ferrer's plan, prepared by N.Y.-based architectural firm
Beyer Blinder Belle, would cost "an estimated" $535M, which
Bagli writes is "far less than any new stadium." Ferrer
said that "an estimated" $360M of the cost of "Yankee
Village" would come from state, Federal and private sources,
with "only" $175M from the city. Steinbrenner "suggested"
that if the team drew three million this season, the team
"might" stay in the Bronx. After yesterday's regular-season
home finale, the team drew 2,949,734 (N.Y. TIMES, 9/28).
YOU BELONG IN THE CITY? A survey conducted by the
Independent Budget Office found that "it would be unfair if
city residents are forced to pay a disproportionate share of
stadium construction costs," according to Tom Topousis of
the N.Y. POST. The IBO, a city agency that monitors
municipal spending, found that 33% of Yankees fans come from
NYC, 22% from NJ, 11% from Westchester and Rockland
counties; 9% from Long Island and the rest from elsewhere
The IBO surveyed 4,000 fans this summer (N.Y. POST, 9/28).
SUNDAY FEATURE: Steinbrenner was profiled by Buster
Olney in the cover story of Sunday's N.Y. TIMES MAGAZINE.
Olney: "Having been a baseball owner longer than any of his
brethren, he seems to have outlasted much of the hatred once
directed at him. ... He loves being loved, and in the Bronx,
the 1998 season has so far been a George Steinbrenner
lovefest." More Olney: "If the Yankees were to win the
World Series, Steinbrenner could step offstage at just the
right moment, his pockets extremely full, his reputation
intact as the man who restored Yankee tradition -- and, most
important, as the owner who didn't move the Yankees from
their storied home. ... There is one thing that might
prevent George Steinbrenner from giving up ownership of the
Yankees: He likes it too much" (N.Y. TIMES MAGAZINE, 9/28).
