MTWD

AWAY MATCH REPORT AND RATINGS TEMPLATE

MATCH: New York Yankees vs Baltimore Orioles

DATE: 7 April

VENUE: Yankee Stadium

NEAREST TOWN: New York City

An obscure fact about the venue or town:

Yankee Stadium is one of the old-style baseball stadia, with no corporate hospitality boxes, restaurants, hotels… In a couple of years the team is moving to a new stadium across the road. Some fans are unhappy that capacity is going to be lower and facilities are going to be more geared to the prawn sandwich brigade.

Getting there (e.g. accessibility, price of entry, obscure rules for visitors, quality of the pitch):

$40 to sit in the upper tier near third base. Stadium is right next to the subway in the Bronx.

Describe the food and beverage at the ground (e.g. quality of ales, variety of foods, prices, value for money):

Very expensive. $10 for a beer and you aren’t allowed to take your own in. On the plus side they do bring it to your seat. All-american food selection: hot dogs, burgers, pretzels, cotton candy, nuts…

Comment on the locals (e.g. friendliness of local supporters, size of crowd, a stewarding story, snobbery or otherwise of the members’ bar):

The cold weather meant that the sell out game didn’t result in a full stadium and the attendance was a mere 50,000. The home team went 7-3 down early in the game and the crowd turned on the opening pitcher (an overseas signing from Japan), who was being booed to the mound as early as the second innings. Quite a few people left before the end of the match, which was a big mistake.

What is there/was there to do during a rain break?:

Get wet!

Eccentric supporter of the day story (this might be a local or it might be a visiting supporter):

Mad woman behind us was very vocal. Started off by abusing the players, then turned on other spectators for not being passionate enough.

Summarise the baseball you saw (e.g. brief summary of events, your champagne moment, your man of the day/man of the match) :

Bottom of the 8^th and the Yankees are 7-3 down. Giambi home run for 3. Bottom of the 9^th and the Yankees are 7-6. One hit, one walk and a hit batsman and the bases are loaded. Alex Rodriguez comes out to bat, the highest paid sportsman in the world. 2 strikes and it’s all on the final pitch. Fast and Straight, he swings, he hits, it sails into the bleachers. The stadium erupts and Yankees win 10-7. Was Daisy there?

Summarise the overall experience in words:

Freezing cold, the overseas players were a disaster, and doom and gloom was the mood for most of the day. Déjà vu all over again.