Friday, I crossed the moat! What’s the moat you ask? Well if you have ever been to Yankee Stadium or are a Yankees fan you know that the “moat” is the area that separates the kind of expensive seats in the ballpark from the ridiculously expensive seats in the ballpark.
Over the past two seasons I have sat everywhere from the 400’s with the foul pole obstructing my view, to section 117a behind the Yankees dugout. As much as I love my view from section 420B, I always wondered what it would be like to be waited on hand and foot in the fancy seats.
Friday, as my friend Amanda and I arrived at the stadium we learned we would be sitting in Section 26, yes that’s the Legends seats, 8 rows off the field . As we walked into the Suite Entrance we were greeted with smiling faces and given wristbands which gave us access to the suite.
Fancy bracelets for the fancy seats
The Legends Suite restaurant is two, yes two, floors of seating and food. Before eating we walked downstairs and headed out to our seats. Just before the doors was a wall full of chips, Cracker Jacks, chocolates and Twizzlers for occupants to take at will, the treats would wait til later though. As I mentioned we were in Section 26, just past 3rd base.
Not a bad view huh?
We watched the Red Sox take batting practice and then headed back into the Suite for dinner. I was a little suspicious of the spread for the night, included were New England Clam Chowder, Crab Cake Sliders and crab legs. I wondered out loud “why is Boston friendly food being made available?” Well, also included in the buffet spread was sushi, pasta, and chicken as well as hot dogs. I didn’t know where to start! (I started with sushi and crab legs).
Before the game began we walked past 1st base and watched Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano long toss, Curtis Granderson (who waved at Amanda and me!), Brett Gardner, Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez running and stretching.
Derek is SO close!!
Granderson and Gardner taking off
After being in Baltimore last Sunday for Andy Pettitte’s first start in three months we were confident that this start would be much of the same. Unfortunately, it wasn’t. But this post isn’t about the game….if you are reading this chances are you know how he pitched so I’m going to tell you more about the experience!
Alex was thisclose
Much like the field seats, there were menus waiting for us in our seats. Unlike the other menus, the food had no prices next to them. It was like being in a fancy restaurant, but unlike being in a fancy restaurant, the only items we had to pay for that night were alcohol! We gazed at the menu discussing food possibilities. Then noticed the martini, mojito and Bellini options. OH MY!
As the game was getting a little out of control and the waitress deciding to ignore us, Amanda headed into the suite to find some dinner. As Andy’s night was over and Sergio Mitre was entering the game, I decided to join her at the bar. Normally I am a beer girl, but seeing as though we were in the fancy seats, we both decided to have fancy drinks. We asked Christopher the bartender to make us something strong but sweet. He suggested a Tokyo Iced Tea. Just like a Long Island Iced Tea, a Tokyo Iced Tea is basically alcohol.
Tokyo Iced Tea
As we enjoyed our drinks, conversation with Christopher the bartender (who looked a tad like Ramiro Pena), and a selection from the desserts table, the game continued outside and on the TVs in front of us. Missing the experience we ventured back to our seats just in time for God Bless America. I was taking photos of some of the Red Sox and realized that I got one of Kevin Youkilis. Surprisingly, he didn’t break my camera. I will also spare you from the photo I took.
The Yankees had a four run 7th inning which included home runs from Nick Swisher and Alex Rodriguez, Alex’s 2nd of the game and number 610 of his career.
Alex crosses the plate after number 610
See ya Sosa…next up….Junior!
The Yankees added one run in the bottom of the 9th but lost 10-8 to the rival Sox. Once the game was over instead of being rushed out of the stadium and heading for the subway, we took our time leaving the seats and taking pictures. Then we found out the bar inside was open 90 minutes past the final pitch. We made our way back to Christopher for more drinks and conversation. This time we decided on Jolly Rancher drinks, something I probably haven’t drank since college and Saturday morning I remembered why. Much like our adventures in California for the Yankees v. Dodgers series, Amanda and I closed down the bar when a very friendly NYPD officer informed us it was closing time.
Looking back on the night I tried to take in as much as possible. No, I didn’t take pictures inside the Suite, I didn’t want to be “that person”. The suite could make you easily forget that you’re inside a baseball stadium and outside a game is going on. Thankfully, for all the photos if past players and memorabilia you can’t forget that you are actually at a baseball game. If you have never sat in these seats, it is everything you’ve heard:
Gluttonous. Amazing. Unlike any other baseball experience you have ever had…etc etc
I always knew I would sit in the “fancy” seats one day, but I expected it to be around my birthday and I would have to buy them off of Stub Hub and hopefully not for an exorbitant amount of money.
I am about to head to the Stadium one last time during the 2010 regular season. Tonight I return to my seats behind home plate in section 420B where I will have to pay for my food…and I’m ok with that.
I love my view….and my seats!
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