While Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner "weighs his
options" on the site for a new ballpark, Richard Sandomir of
the N.Y. TIMES writes that "much of the rest of New York has
come to the conclusion that he is really down to only two"
options: staying in the Bronx at a renovated Yankee Stadium
or in a new ballpark. The "possibility" of a ballpark on
Manhattan's Upper West Side or in NJ "has all but
evaporated." While "many city and state officials suspect
that Steinbrenner intends to wait everyone out to obtain the
best possible deal for his team," for now, he "is more
focused" on negotiating a new cable TV deal for the Yankees.
One associate: "He's been saying, 'This TV thing has to get
done.'" Sandomir notes Steinbrenner "could further delay
choosing his stadium site -- and perhaps try to build
support for the West Side -- by exercising the first of two
five-year options to extend his current Yankee Stadium
lease, from 2003 to 2007." But if Steinbrenner defers his
decision until after N.Y. Mayor Rudy Giuliani has made his
"expected" U.S. Senate run in 2000, Steinbrenner "may lose
his best chance at getting the largest possible subsidy from
the city." Meanwhile, Sandomir adds that Steinbrenner's
delays "have slowed the Mets' plans to build a new ballpark
next to Shea Stadium" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/14).
SUIT SETTLED: In N.Y., Robert Hardt reports that N.Y.
city officials and the Yankees settled a civil rights suit
yesterday by agreeing to spend $5.5M to make Yankee Stadium
"more accessible to the handicapped." The move is a
response to a lawsuit filed last year by four wheelchair-
bound fans who said the stadium's 44 wheelchair spots
"weren't enough." Under the deal, 300 additional wheelchair
spots will be built, while handicapped access will be added
to concessions, suites, restaurants and the press box. The
Yankees were asked to spend "just $35,000" (N.Y. POST,
12/14). Of that $35,000, the U.S. government will receive
$25,000, while the remaining $10,000 will go to a charity of
the plaintiffs' choice (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/14).
