One of the few times a year I will opt for a baseball game over football. But this really is a historic occasion. Its an absolute dump but no other venue in the country can touch the amount of history that took place there http://www.nj.com/yankees/index.ssf/2008/09/big_names_expected_at_yankee_s.html Big names expected at Yankee Stadium finale, Steinbrenner not among them NEW YORK -- George Steinbrenner is not expected to attend Sunday night's Yankee Stadium finale, but a number of Yankees Hall of Famers will be on hand, and fans who show up early will be able to walk onto the field. The Yankees announced that the Yankee Stadium gates will open at 1 p.m. Sunday. Game time against the Baltimore Orioles is approximately 8:15 p.m. Also, the Yankees announced there will be a final celebration of Yankee Stadium in November, at a date to be announced. Admission will be charged for that event, with proceeds going to charity. "I can't even imagine what Sunday is going to be like," manager Joe Girardi said Friday. "You think of maybe like (the) seventh game of a World Series. "You can just imagine the attention that's going to be brought to this historic building. And I'm really looking forward to it." Fans will be able to visit Monument Park, beyond left-center field, as usual Sunday. Once they exit Monument Park, they will be permitted to walk along the warning track to behind home plate. Field access will end at 4 p.m. for batting practice. Monument Park will close at 6:45 p.m. There will be no re-entry once fans enter the gates, and bleacher ticket-holders who want to visit Monument Park should enter the Stadium through Gates 2, 4 or 6. Concession stands at Gates 2, 4 and 6 will open at 1 p.m. The Yankees said fans should be seated by 6:50 p.m., because pregame festivities will begin at about 7:05 p.m. That will include appearances by former Yankees greats Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Goose Gossage, Ron Guidry, Graig Nettles and Bobby Richardson. Bernie Williams also is scheduled to attend. The Yankees said a "historic artifact from the Yankees' past" will be unveiled during the ceremony. There should also be postgame ceremonies. Steinbrenner, the Yankees owner, made it to July's All-Star Game, where he was honored on the field before the game. But word was Friday he does not plan to fly up from Tampa, Fla., for the finale. Expected to attend are Steinbrenner's four children: co-chairpersons Hal and Hank Steinbrenner, vice chairperson Jennifer Steinbrenner Swindal and Jessica Steinbrenner. Yankee Stadium opened in 1923, and the Yankees went into Friday night's game against the Baltimore Orioles with an all-time record of 4,130-2,430 (with 17 ties) in the building. The new Yankee Stadium, under construction, will open with exhibition games before next season. The first regular-season game in the new building is scheduled for April 16 against the Cleveland Indians. "It's going to be different. That's the best way I can say it," pitcher Mike Mussina said. "It's going to be different. Whatever stadium you're building across the street isn't going to be this stadium. It's new and it's improved and it's going to be great. But there's a lot of people that have walked into this building and played on that field, and it's not going to be around any more." ESPN, which is televising Sunday's game, will air two specials: "Remembering the House that Ruth Built" and "Yankee Stadium -- Baseball Cathedral." The first will air from 1-3 p.m. and again at 4-6 p.m., and the second at 3-4 p.m. on ESPN and 7-8 p.m. on ESPN2. YES has scheduled a "Yankeeography" on the Stadium from 4:30 to 6 p.m. and a pregame show from 6 to 8 p.m. The Yankees say law enforcement will be vigilant in preventing people from removing items from the Stadium as souvenirs.
