Rant of the Week

The Ugliness of Yankee Stadium

Here is a picture of the New Yankee Stadium, from behind home plate.

I know the Yankees used to think of themselves as being the "class" of professional sports franchises. They refused to allow advertising along the board behind home plate because that would be tacky, like hockey.

Well, here we are:

Now you might think this is the triumph of commercial considerations over artistic considerations. I say it isn't. I say it's the triumph of stupidity over wisdom-- the commercial advantages will be short-lived because the damage to the Yankee brand will be long-term. Think of the impression children -- future baseball fans-- will have of this stadium. Think of the impression they would have had if there had been no advertising visible in the above shot. Think of how that plays on the imagination year after year after year-- until a franchise has a clearly defined luster.

Not any more. What is the new Yankee Stadium? A bunch of billboards with people in front of them and grass in front of the people. That's all. You're uglier than Susan Boyle. Thank you and good bye.