The House that Ruth Built and the House that George Kill't

I'm not one of those people who wish the Yankees would never leave Yankee Stadium, but I am one who will be extraordinarily sad when it is torn down. The probability of man tears will be high that day.

While I wish the Yanks could continue playing in a modern ballpark where a trip to the men's room doesn't require a background in spelunking, I also wish the heritage of the old stadium could be preserved as is. And yes, I know how terribly impractical and expensive that would be. But isn't that what the Yankees specialize in these days?

This week's FCNP Picking Splinters takes a look at the final days of Yankee Stadium and why the team missing the postseason may be an unfit ending for the stadium's lifespan, but an entirely appropriate beginning to a new era marked exclusively by high prices - both for the seats and the players.

In the column I discuss the fate of the blue collar Yankee fan and how he/she is being marginalized by the process of moving to the new field. I'm sure the Yankees would counter by saying that there will be inexpensive seats available. In fact, I think I found some already.

This is a digital view of seats offered in the new stadium. Check out the sweet seats in the back part of Section 239, as reported on by New York Magazine. So, does this make the new stadium The House that Ruth Would Not Have Been Seen In From The Left Field Bleachers? Eh, whatever. It's not like anyone hits home runs to right field in Yankee stadium anyway ... Oh, wait a minute ...

Will I still be a Yankee fan after the move? Yes. Am I bitter that prices are rising exponentially? Yes. Is it a business? Yes. But all good businesses realize that pricing out your best customers -- in this case die-hard middle-class fans -- is a lousy strategy for long term economic success.

With New York's big businesses taking it on the chin, I wouldn't be at all surprised if there are some empty seats near the field if prices don't drop in a few years. The Nationals were impacted severely by campaign finance reform legislation that reduced the number of tickets bought by and for congressional offices. Something similar could happen in New York, though obviously New York is a much, much bigger market and even struggling firms still have deep pockets for discretionary spending.