Those of you who were 'there' last night for the final game

Report back- what did you think?

Want to hear my story? Was I the only one here who got there when the gates opened and waited on line for FIVE HOURS to get into Monument Park?!

We obviously got on line hoping we'd get on the field- after three hours on line, we certainly didn't have a chance once the field was closed. DH would have been more than happy to leave the line- but I felt, we waited 3 hours, we can't let those stupid 3 hours be for nothing. I wanted a picture of the two f us in Monument Park with the Mick's statue- just to replicate the first pic we ever took together, 6 years ago.

It was so horribly organized. There wasn't a single person in charge, directing this 'traffic' telling us where we were going. It was basically like being stuck in a traffic jam in the Queens Midtown Tunnel. You couldn't see in front or in back of you. We moved - or stopped for minutes and moved 5 steps and stopped again- like cattle. We walked up a level, and kept walking til we got to the top (granted, not walking- stopping and going, stopping and going), then walked ALL THE WAY around the stadium, only to come back down again and walk all the way back. And people were cutting in from inside the stadium so it was just an absolute madhouse. FIVE HOURS OF STANDING AROUND basically in a tunnel. We didn't see daylight. Never got to see batting practice. Once we got to Monument Park, people were packed in like sardines. We finally get food at 6....and you can imagine the lines there. Not to mention, the concourse is so darn narrow that you can't even move.

After this experience I am MORE than happy to welcome a new stadium!

Doesn't stop there though....the tickets we were very lucky to get at face value....were horrendous. I've sat at the very tops of the tiers before- no biggie. I'm not picky. But we were the very last row, very far right field. So whatever they showed on the diamond vision screen, we never saw. Crowd was cheering and we had no idea why half the time. We felt so disconnected. We never got to see who was speaking. We could hear Jeter's speech- but all we saw was a huge group of guys on the mound. Guess I have to watch the encore.

I feel so cheated that I didn't have this amazing experience that I ought to have had being the huge fan that I am. Thank God I had Saturday- that was my final game in my eyes. I was emotional then, and that's where we always sit anyway, so it was like saying goodbye to my little bleacher family.

It was amazing seeing all the old players take the field....when Bernie came out I was definitely emotional.

I just want those five hours back!!! And I want that experience of really ENJOYING the game!!! Poor DH, he's a saint. He stayed on that line just because I wanted to. I apologized but he doesn't blame me....it really was such a mess. They are going to get TONS of letters- people were just horrified.

I'm guessing I'm the only idiot who stayed on that line huh? Well if you read that much, bless your heart.

Message edited 9/22/2008 6:24:49 PM.

Re: Those of you who were 'there' last night for the final game

Message edited 11/21/2011 9:02:32 PM.

Re: Those of you who were 'there' last night for the final game

yeah I think I just wrote that post to vent...
Now that I've watched the replay of the pre and post game stuff...I can say- WOOHOO I was there! I remember everything that happened- even if I hardly saw it from where I was!

Thanks for listening to my rant though!

Re: Those of you who were 'there' last night for the final game

wow I would've been really upset to wait on that line for 5 hours!!!! BUT if I were you, I would've done the same thing.....I'm really nostalgic so I would have wanted to soak up every bit of the experience I could have......being the fan that you are, think of it as the fact you HAD to wait on that line- you're that dedicated to your team!!! kudos for your perseverance Tara!!

Re: Those of you who were 'there' last night for the final game

We got there at 2pm and then waited outside until like 2:30 until they would let us in. That was totally wrong!! We were pisssed!!! Then we get in and were told right aweay MP & the field are closed b/c the line was toooo long.. What the F - are you kidding me?!?! I thought a riot was going to break out!!! We did the tour back in May so we werent too disappointed (and we have dirt from then too). So we then ate lunch and then watched BP. By 6:30 we were in our seats.

Around 7:30ish we ordered drinks b/c we ate already (waitress area). By 9:30 we still didnt get our drinks. We kept telling the waitress and she kept saying its coming . I would have gotten up but we paid already. Around 10 we grab the waitress and say we'd like chicken fingers with that too and we're not paying!! She finally brings everything and gives us the $$ back and keeps the tip!!!!!!!!!
I hate the waitress service. This has happened before. I should have known better. Like you've never had a sellout game !??!?!? Get with it people!! They really are idiots working there.

We did have an amazing time though. We finally left at 1:00am . DH did not want to leave at all.

Re: Those of you who were 'there' last night for the final game

OH wow Sandy- I wish I could've stayed til 1am...it was hell getting up the next day as it was. Must've been amazing to hang around.

Here's pics from our final 2 games

Re: Those of you who were 'there' last night for the final game

Posted by TaraGotHutched

OH wow Sandy- I wish I could've stayed til 1am...it was hell getting up the next day as it was. Must've been amazing to hang around.

Here's pics from our final 2 games

Message edited 9/23/2008 3:05:16 PM.

Re: Those of you who were 'there' last night for the final game

got there around 5:30 because I wasn't even dealing with the monument park thing or the going on the field. Good thing judging by what you guys have said.

parking was nuts though. It took me about 20 minutes to find a lot open on 165th and Gerard. $30!

Met my co-worker at Press on 157th and Gerard/River and ate sammies, guac and Stella.

Went to our seats at 7:00 and watched the ceremony. I had tears the whole time.

The game was pretty ordinary but the feeling was somber by us. In the last two innings the crowd got into it. Then Mo took the field and the place erupted.

Stayed for Jeter's speech and then high tailed it to my car since the lot closes one hour after the game ends.

Good time. Glad I went and didn't seel my ticket.

Re: Those of you who were 'there' last night for the final game

Posted by SB7308

Posted by TaraGotHutched

OH wow Sandy- I wish I could've stayed til 1am...it was hell getting up the next day as it was. Must've been amazing to hang around.

Here's pics from our final 2 games

I was so exhausted yesterday, I went to bed at 8pm
DH would have loved to stay longer

ETA: great pics Tara!

Here are mine from Sunday
9/21/08

Re: Those of you who were 'there' last night for the final game

Hope this works
PICS

Re: Those of you who were 'there' last night for the final game

We got to the stadium around 3:00 but heard that they had already closed the field so we just walked around outside for a while, ran in to Harlin (Joba's dad!!). Around 4 we decided to head up to our seats (allll the way up... Tier, Section 20, Row R, Seats 8 & 9) and relax for a while, we knew it was going to be a long afternoon/night.

We met up with some friends and hung out for a while eating and bullshitting. It was impossible to make it thru the concorse though because the line to get into MP was back all the way up into the tiers... we were amazed!!

Once the game started and the beer started flowing we were having a great time. We were definitely in a rowdy section though... the police dragged at least 3 people away thru out the course of the game (idiots! who goes to the last game at Yankee Stadium and gets tossed!?!?).

Despite being so far up, we had such a great time!! And we're so happy to be able to tell our kids and grandkids that we were a part of history!

Re: Those of you who were 'there' last night for the final game

Sandy your pics are AWESOME!!! That's all the great stuff I missed since I was stuck in the TUNNEL TO HELL!!! I wish I coulda seen stretch and BP!!!

Re: Those of you who were 'there' last night for the final game

Posted by TaraGotHutched

Sandy your pics are AWESOME!!! That's all the great stuff I missed since I was stuck in the TUNNEL TO HELL!!! I wish I coulda seen stretch and BP!!!

Message edited 9/25/2008 9:57:58 AM.

Re: Those of you who were 'there' last night for the final game

We got there about 3pm and heard that the stadium had stopped letting people in so we met all our bleacher creatures at the bodega for our last pre-game gathering. Between the last friday night game and this one....the tears were flowing. One highlight was Spike Lee joining us in Sect 39 for his documentary. Vinny was miked by ESPN for the roll call and Spike filmed the whole thing from inside the section. He interviewed a bunch of us and gave us pics with him and signed a bunch of stuff.






Jimmy Leyritz also made a bleacher appearance, signed autographs etc.







All in all I was glad I didn't sell my tickets. It was probably the saddest game I've been to since the first game back following 9-11. Ten years sitting in the same seat, somehow I don't think that the new stadium will ever come close to the experiences we've had out there.

my seats:

Re: Those of you who were 'there' last night for the final game

OMG Debbie that is SO COOL!!! Notice that Leyritz wasn't in the video for catchers though? Mighta been because of his drunk driving trouble.

We met Spike Lee at a subway platform, going to a game one time.

We took pics of our seats too! We haven't been there as long though- just 4 seasons. I love how you carved your names in.

AHHH Why didn't I DVR the game? (I only DVR'd the ceremonies on YES) Stupid me! I would LOVE to hear roll call miked like that!! I hope ESPN puts it on their Classic network.

I'm sad cuz we missed our final roll call last Saturday. Too busy tailgating!! We're usually right there, on time.

Awesome pics!

Message edited 9/27/2008 12:42:53 PM.