Posts Tagged ‘Champions Suite’

Despite a reputation that says otherwise, Yankees fans are inherently friendly when out-of-towners visit “our” stadium. Yankees tickets are some of the hottest in sports, so we’re accustomed to International tourists, disinterested gawkers and opposing team’s fans filling the seats around us. Everyone goes to baseball games for different reasons, so for the most part, we understand if those around us aren’t as invested in the game as we are. As self-proclaimed “Stadium Insiders,” we even created a website to help these out-of-towners get the most out of their Yankees tickets.

Of course, there are exceptions, most notably in the right field bleachers – home of the world famous Bleacher Creatures. In sections 202 and 203, being a diehard Yankee fan is expected, and anything else is unacceptable.

Its quite the experience out there, but if you don’t participate, the creatures will let you hear it. If you’re a fan of an opposing team, you will be ribbed, and sometimes it won’t be friendly ribbing.

Unless you’re willing to take the heat, here’s our recommendations for best places to sit (based on your budget):

$ — Left Field Bleachers (sections 235, 236, 237, 238)
In a previous post here on FanSnap, we discussed the value of Yankees tickets in the bleachers and called them, “some of the best value tickets in all of sports.” If you’re scared off by the diehard-nature of the right field bleachers, you’ll get a similar view from left but you’ll fit in better. These are the types of seats you sneak your own snacks into. No seatbacks, no frills.

$$ — Grandstand dugout (behind home plate)
You’ll be up close to the sky here, but your perspective will be straight on, so you’ll get a decent view of all the action. If you stray from directly behind home plate to the right field side (toward section 417), you’ll be close to the elevators down to the “Great Hall,” which is good for a quick exit from the stadium. One thing to be careful of is buying tickets in row 14. Row 14 is the last row, and there is a wind tunnel that exists because of the design of the stadium. This obviously makes for a very cold experience during early spring and late fall games, but the wind can be annoying even in the dead of summer if you don’t like you’re hair being blown around while eating.

$$$ — Anywhere on the Main Level
Yankees tickets on the Main Level truly are the midway point. The tickets aren’t cheap, but they definitely aren’t expensive. You’re not close enough to the field to smell the grass, but you’re not up in the nosebleeds either. The seats behind home plate are the best (and usually priced accordingly), but you’ll get some great views from all over the 200′s level. You’ll also be protected from the rain, and in most sections, the sun due to the overhang from the suite level.

$$$$ — Field Outfield (Sections 103, 104, 105, 134, 135, 136)
We discussed this in a recent post about catching A-Rod’s 600th home run ball, but what can be better than having the chance to catch a home run ball at a Major League Baseball game? Your perspective of the game will be a bit skewed from these seats since you’ll be so close to the field in the outfield. However, you’ll have the chance to smell the grass, see the players’ facial expressions and the opportunity to bring home a souvenir! If your budget is a little lower, check for tickets in sections in the 100′s level that are right around the foul pole, in foul territory. You won’t be able to catch a home run ball there, but you’ll still be close to the field and a foul ball might come your way!

$$$$$ — Field Dugout (behind home plate)
The official Yankee Stadium name for the seats in the 100′s level behind home plate is a bit confusing. They’re called “Field Dugout,” but you’re not going to sniff the dugout from these seats. They’re on the field level, but there is a “moat” between your seats and the super-special Legends Suite which is practically on the field. Here in the 100′s, you’ll have in-seat waiter service, cushioned seats and great views of the game. Be aware that these seats are directly in the sun in the summer, so if you’re heading to the game with someone really old or really young, these might not be the seats for you.

$$$$$$ — The Legends Suite
The aforementioned Legends Suite was the topic of much controversy in 2009, when the Yankees had trouble selling them due to their high prices. The best of these seats “beyond the moat” can sell for thousands of dollars, so when we say no budget splurge, we mean it. Of course, you’ll have the best Yankee Stadium experience that anyone can ever have. You’ll literally have unlimited food – a top notch restaurant lounge with buffet-style eating, and free “stadium fare” in your seats such as hot dogs, popcorn, candy, ice cream and soda. Not to mention that you’ll be able to smell Jeter’s breath. If you buy Yankee tickets in the Legends Suite you’re allowed to arrive four hours before the game, and you probably should if you want to squeeze every last bit of value out of the experience. If you’re looking to splurge but not spend thousands, take a look at the “Champions Suite.” These seats are down the foul lines, but are still entrenched within the protective moat. You get a lot of free food here, but it isn’t as unlimited as in the Legends Suite. We wrote extensively about these seats over at NYY Stadium Insider recently, so be sure to check that out.

If you have Yankees tickets in a section other than the ones mentioned above, don’t be alarmed. Yankee Stadium was designed with the fan experience in mind, and most sections offer good views of the field.

If you have great pictures of Yankee Stadium you’d like to see on FanSnap, go to the Yankee Stadium photos page and click “upload photo” in the upper right. You can add your own reviews of your favorite sections in Yankee Stadium here.

Ross Sheingold is a Yankees season ticket holder, the creator of the Yankee Stadium blog NYY Stadium Insider and a contributing writer at FanSnap’s blog.  You can find him on Twitter @StadiumInsider