The New Yankee Stadium Will Host More Than the Yankees

A swing--but no miss--was in full form yesterday at the site of the old Yankee Stadium, as a portion of the upper deck was destroyed as part of the demolition of the old stadium; it's being razed to make room for parks.
The new Yankee Stadium (home of last year’s World Series champions, of course) which opened last year, hosts its opening day game on April 13. (Spring training is already underway. Yay!)
But the stadium will play host to more than just baseball teams this year. Part of the agreement when the new stadium was built was that uses would be found for it year round. The inaugural New Era Pinstripe Bowl (college football; who knew?) is scheduled for December 30 of this year. It will host the third-best Big East team against the sixth-best Big 12 team. ESPN will televise it (Unlikely if it were not being played at the home of the Bronx Bombers…)
We don’t make up these things; we just report them.
Team officials say that in part because of the college bowl game, employment will now be available year round, and that free tickets to the game will be given out to local residents.
A major boxing match is also planned at the stadium for this June, as is the Notre Dame-Army game in November.
College and professional games were also played sporadically at the old Yankee Stadium.
In the meantime, play ball!

New York's Randall's Island Under Scrutiny Again

New York’s Randall’s Island--which contains dozens of acres of parkland off the Triborough Bridge in Manhattan--is under attack once again.
A judge ruled last week against the city’s plan to give certain private institutions in New York City near-exclusive access to most of the sports fields on the island. Twenty such institutions would have paid for almost full rights to use the fields during after-school hours, due to the use of an exclusive lease.
Randall’s Island is one of those oddly little-known spaces in New York. It holds not only sports fields, but Icahn Stadium, a modern track stadium; wetlands; and venues for concerts and Cirque du Soleil. Its sports facilities include 26 baseball and softball fields; 18 soccer fields (some of which are under construction); a golf center; a tennis center; a playground; and picnic areas, many which are free and open to the public.
A judge has ruled that the plan must go through a community and environmental review. While on the surface it seems that such a plan is blatantly unfair, it would actually bring in money from the private schools, which would, in turn, allow the fields to be renovated. Much of the money would go towards the refurbishment of 63 fields, which would eventually open the playing field, so to speak, for public schools and the public as well. Free programs are already provided for many public schools kids, and the Island hosts more than 7000,00 visitors annually, including spectators to the events.