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Early Addition
After the city has been taken to task in recent months for its dealings with the Yankees in the process of financing the team's new stadium--so far as being accused that it served no public interest--it can't be good PR for the Bloomberg administration for everyone to know just how strongly they pushed to get the best luxury box possible for themselves. Well new e-mails made public do just that in revealing how the mayor's office put on a full court press in its attempts to obtain a luxury box at the new Yankee Stadium.
E-mail correspondence published in the Times reveals the following:
- The city was very concerned with the box's field location. After an 8-seat box was agreed upon, they demanded a 12.
- They tried to demand that food be comped as it is for those who pay for their box.
- City lawyers threatened to not make the request to the I.R.S. for the use of the tax-exempt financing unless the Yankees would consider providing the luxury suite.
- The Yankees received 250 parking spaces originally to be designated as public parking.
- The team was provided with access to three billboards along the Deegan and the revenue they generate--likely to be around $750,000 annually.
- The city attempted to attain the luxury box not just for regular season games, but for playoffs and special events as well.
- A high ranking city official involved in negotiations said at one point that he "did not trust (Yankees President) Randy Levine."
- The idea of the box being used as a reward for exceptional city workers--something touted by the administration--was not mentioned in two and a half years of correspondence and only came up recently.
- The luxury box was called "a big issue for the mayor."
In response to all this, Westchester Assemblyman Richard Brodsky said, “We can’t find the money for the M.T.A., or schools, or hospitals, and these folks are used to the perks and good things of life, and expect them.”
A spokesman for the mayor said, “As a matter of equity, it was important to us throughout the negotiations that the Yankees were not exempted from such gives or treated any differently than other teams.”
Photo by skyliner72 on Flickr
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MTA week at Yankee Stadium...all revenue for the week goes directly to the MTA. That should fix a few of the issues they are having
This is why I have zero interest in pro sports. The average fan is at the bottom of the totem pole and crapped on by all the big shots.
But hey, if you enjoy being treated like a total sucker....
Turn the stadium into a homeless shelter and send the Yankees to China...as a gift.
The moment they took public monies, they were subject to these demands. I think it's wrong but so are the prices of the tickets and the beer and the soda and the ice cream. There should be 20,000 seats set aside for purchase the day of each game at an affordable price, say $10. The skyboxes and their high prices (that are probably deductible as business expenses) are strictly for corporations and other enterprises to entertain their customers and clients and of course, the families of the executives. The public, whose taxes paid for a good part the stadium and the property it sits on are entitled to some consideration
i luv humanz
King Bloomy is coming out of the closet
with his extravagance and we all pay for this "luxury".He can use his own money.
Thompson for Mayor next year.
Bloomberg is an ass but good luck with "Thompson for Mayor next year."
http://www.nypost.com/seven/11302008/news/regionalnews/shady_island_house_party_141513.htm?page=0
Billy caught with Rangel and other sleaze partying on Citibank's (we need a bailout!") and other corps illegal donor $... ..
Is Bloomberg going to sit in the front of the box and give the thumbs up or thumbs down for gladiators who fall in the ring?
This is giving baseball a bad name.
As much as I dislike Rudy Giuliani, he brought his VIP guests to the seats. Great seats, OK... but he was the Mayor. I want my Mayor to have great seats... but a freakin' skybox, after they,ve cut way back on the number of seats available to us, the citizens who are financing this money making machine? Nothing but elitist BS!