Assembly Presses Yankees To Keep Some Tickets Low-Cost
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The battle between a state assemblyman and a top New York Yankees official grew increasingly bitter Friday as the debate turned to ticket prices. NY1's Grace Rauh filed the following report.Yankee fans are already shelling out a lot of cash for top seats at their new Bronx ballpark. But as opening day approaches, there's more and more talk about whether stadiums built with public support - like the Yankee Stadium - should be forced to sell a certain number of low-cost tickets for each game.
"If the taxpayers are going to build a building, the taxpayers should be able to afford the tickets to get into that building," said Westchester Assemblyman Richard Brodsky.
The issue came up at Friday's contentious Assembly hearing held in Downtown Manhattan over the Yankee Stadium deal.
"Mr. Brodsky, you invited me here to speak. Let me speak my mind. You invited me," said Yankees President Randy Levine.
Assemblyman Brian Kavanaugh introduced an affordable ticket bill, which 33 members signed on in support.
But Levine is opposed to the idea, and said says businesses should be allowed to set their own prices.
"We take affordability into consideration," said Levine. "To get the government involved in monitoring it, or testing for it or deciding what is or isn't affordable, personally, I think that's a mistake."
He also noted that what is affordable to one New Yorker may be unaffordable to another.
"There are some people who walk into Starbucks who can't afford a $3 cup of coffee. There are some people who can only afford a cup of coffee for 25 cents," said Levine. "So I really don't know where we're going with this."
People in the Bronx who spoke with NY1 Friday said they liked the proposal.
"Right now if I want to watch the game, the tickets are too expensive. I cannot even pay for it," said a local.
"I really think they should bring the ticket prices down, because if our tax money is paying for this doggone stadium people should get something," said another.
For now, budget-conscious fans will have to make do with a $5 bleacher ticket. But they might have to strain to see the field. Views from the cheapest seats are obstructed.