Something completely off-topic

Aug 17 2008

yankee stadium

When people get to know me, it usually doesn’t take long for them to discover that I am a baseball fanatic and especially passionate about my hometown New York Yankees.

By now, just about everyone that follows sports (and a great many who don’t) has heard that this will be the last year the Yanks take the field at Yankee Stadium, their home since 1923. In 2009, they will move across the street to a brand new stadium and the “House that Ruth Built” along with its 85 years of history will be torn down.

It seems a terrible waste that such an iconic part of our country’s history should be demolished, especially when the great old old ballpark hasn’t outlived its usefulness. Beyond its historical and sentimental value, Yankee Stadium still has value as a tourist attraction, a minor league ballpark or other sports recreational facility, a museum, a shopping mall or possibly all of the above. And it makes me sad personally that I’ll never be able to go back there and never be able to take my kids there and show them where all those famous things happened.

What does this have to do with small business marketing? Very little. It is clear though that those of us who love Yankee Stadium will need a campagin based on word-of-mouth and grassroots support to ensure that Yankee Stadium is preserved for future generations.

About a month ago, my father wrote an opinion piece in the New York Sun about saving Yankee Stadium and received a terrific response. When my folks came to visit this weekend, we talked about what might still be done to prevent the wrecking balls from doing their job this winter.

And so we created an online petition to gather support to save our country’s most storied sports venue. Please visit our web site (http://www.saveyankeestadium.org) and help us save Yankee Stadium.

My wife has been quick to point out that there are nobler causes in that world than trying to protect a building. But the sentimental and historic value of the place along with the potential economic benefits to my hometown in The Bronx tells me that Yankee Stadium is worth saving.

Please visit the web site and sign our petition!