The View from the Bleachers

The Yankees request for an additional £350million in tax-free bonds to help in the construction of the new Yankee Stadium has instigated a backlash from many New York politicians reports The Gothamist. Congressman Richard Brodsky went so far as to say:

“These decisions are being made in secret in these Soviet-style meetings and it is outrageous.”

Personally, I want New York teams to have stadia that befit the teams playing in the sports capital of America. However, I do believe that there needs to be a serious investigation in to how these new facilities are approved and funded. The sports representatives of New York have to realise that they aren’t bigger than the city, and that the opinions of the residents of the city, sports fans and non-sports fans alike, have a right to see that both the planning and funding of these new stadiums are above board and proper.

It seems the planning permission for the new Yankee Stadium and Atlantic Yards projects were granted without the considerations of the local populace of the South Bronx and Brooklyn respectively being taken into account, while there is much controversy over the funding of both Yankee Stadium and the Mets’ new Citifield. I believe that some sort of independent investigation should take place into the procedures for granting and funding new stadia within the five boroughs, however, there is a very long history of large-scale developments in New York City going ahead without proper public consultation and I hold out little hope for transparency in these cases.

Having a major sports franchise in your borough can bring immense benefits, as well as great pride for the residents, but these teams must realise that they are not more important than the neighborhoods in which they reside.