2/2/2004: End of the Vet

[stlbob]

Take it from someone who went without a football team for awhile, if you could call Bill Bidwell's Cardinals a football team, you'll miss them if they were gone. In addition, it is cheaper to keep her than to go buy a new team and bring them to town later on. Man, we got reamed by the NFL over the Ram's move here from California!

[CharlieG]

Originally posted by sycamore
...snip...
Incidentally, after the demolition of the Vet, the only two "cookie cutters" left will be RFK Stadium in Washington (where the Expos will play temporarily if they move there in 2005) and Busch Stadium in St. Louis (to be torn down in 2006).

Make that 3

Shea (Mets)

[elSicomoro]

I haven't heard or seen Shea referred to as a cookie cutter, nor should it be. The horseshoe shape makes it stand out from the others.

[elSicomoro]

Originally posted by stlbob
Take it from someone who went without a football team for awhile, if you could call Bill Bidwell's Cardinals a football team, you'll miss them if they were gone. In addition, it is cheaper to keep her than to go buy a new team and bring them to town later on. Man, we got reamed by the NFL over the Ram's move here from California!

I dunno though, Bob...I didn't like the cost either, but I think it was worth it now. We have an owner and front office that really wants to win, and is no longer afraid to open up the checkbook (though the salary cap could hurt us this year).

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally posted by stlbob
Take it from someone who went without a football team for awhile, if you could call Bill Bidwell's Cardinals a football team, you'll miss them if they were gone. In addition, it is cheaper to keep her than to go buy a new team and bring them to town later on. Man, we got reamed by the NFL over the Ram's move here from California!

I've lived a lot of places without a Pro Football team. Didn't miss them for a moment. There are thousands of College/High School/Semi-Pro games going on every weekend that provide better football and better entertainment than these overpaid prima donnas.

[CharlieG]

Originally posted by sycamore
I haven't heard or seen Shea referred to as a cookie cutter, nor should it be. The horseshoe shape makes it stand out from the others.

It's really a round, with 1/4 of it missing. Frankly, it's a sucky stadium. The Yankees get their stadium rebuilt in the late 70s (while playing at Shea), and now want their stadium rebuilt again, at city expense. In the mean time, the Mets are having trouble getting permission to build at their own expense

Gad, I can remember going to games there in the late 70s, early 80s, where you would buy top level tickets, and they wouldn't LET you go up there to sit - the seats were in such bad shape - you usually got moved to a field level box, or at worst, a loge seat

I haven't gone in about 2 years - too darned expensive to take 4 people (2 adults, 2 kids)

[elSicomoro]

I thought the plan for the Mets was to build a park similar to Ebbets Field next door to Shea...is that not happening?

[CharlieG]

Originally posted by sycamore
I thought the plan for the Mets was to build a park similar to Ebbets Field next door to Shea...is that not happening?

They are having a lot of problems doing that. The problem is that to make it pay, plus to have parking, they really need to grab a bunch of the neighborhood that is right beyond right field - It's about 50% junkyards, but there are a few other semi major businesses - an Iron Works, a provisions house, a few major construction companies, the city's major supplier of sawdust (gee, think I know the neighborhood? I used to work down there). The business owners have their politcal act together, and know all the tricks to stop the new stadium - environmental law, the fact that they employ a large minority contingent, etc. They have been delaying a new stadium now for about 25 years! (The first thing that was supposed to be built was a dual use dome - for the Mets and the USFL Generals (gives you an idea of the time frame)

Let's put it this way - don't hold your breath - the next stadium that'll get built is the Nets in Brooklyn, then the New Yankee/Jets stadium over the West Side Subway yards - both are "Hot" ideas. Bringing a pro sport back to Brooklyn, and bringing the Jets back to NYC from the Meadowlands, plus keep the Yankees, who are the political darlings here in NY, and George know how to play city hall. The Mets have never figured that out. They have been, and will always be "the second team" - aka, they are not the fabled Yankees. Takes a certain resignation to be a Mets fan, and get your face rubbed in it by the Yankees all the time. My response is to let me know when the AL starts playing baseball

[xoxoxoBruce]

The business owners have their politcal act together, and know all the tricks to stop the new stadium - environmental law, the fact that they employ a large minority contingent, etc. They have been delaying a new stadium now for about 25 years!

How could those selfish people worry about their businesses at the expense of some billionaire team owner.

[CharlieG]

Originally posted by xoxoxoBruce
How could those selfish people worry about their businesses at the expense of some billionaire team owner.

Not calling them selfish - I can't blame them (Heck, I worked for one of them for 6 years, my Mom for about 15 or 20). He just asked what the status is. I'm just saying they know all the right strings to pull. Not saying that pulling strings is wrong - that's part of life. Heck, if I was in their place, I'd do the same thing. A lot of what is down there has no other plase in the county to go. I can see both sides of it. The business men down there get screwed 6 ways to Sunday - the city won't put in sewers or sidewalks because "the stadium is coming" - not's of other problems - it was the dumping ground fo Queens for a long time. The city doesn't provide proper services down there - if something gets dumped, the Sanitation dept won't pick it up. It's crazy, and a catch 22

[xoxoxoBruce]

No problem, Charlie. I was just commenting (sarcastically) on the team owners propensity for crushing their neighbors for profit. Bush did a number on the neighbors of his baseball stadium and when the courts ruled it illegal, the taxpayers got screwed again.

[stlbob]

Originally posted by sycamore


I dunno though, Bob...I didn't like the cost either, but I think it was worth it now. We have an owner and front office that really wants to win, and is no longer afraid to open up the checkbook (though the salary cap could hurt us this year).

You are absolutely right, of course. The cost was worth it the second that they won the Super Bowl in '99. I didn't pay for it though. I was too poor to afford the $500 and up for a PSL (personal seat license) so that I could have the priviledge of purchasing tickets to the game. I'm sure I paid my share in increased taxes.

Originally posted by xoxoxoBruce
I've lived a lot of places without a Pro Football team. Didn't miss them for a moment. There are thousands of College/High School/Semi-Pro games going on every weekend that provide better football and better entertainment than these overpaid prima donnas.

Some of the best (read most fun) games I have ever watched were the kids games that I just dropped in on. There was a Khorey (how do you spell that?) League field in the middle of a town that I used to live close by (Valley Park). The street went right by the park and I used to stop and watch the baseball games if I had the time. You can't beat the genuine excitement on a kid's face when he connects with the ball. I would prefer watching those games to Cardinal games downtown. I think I understand what you mean Bruce!

[elSicomoro]

Bob, where are you at now in the St. Louis area?

[dar512]

More important, what high school did you go to?

[stlbob]

Originally posted by sycamore
Bob, where are you at now in the St. Louis area?

My wife, two kids and I live in High Ridge and I went to Northwest H.S. in House Springs a long, long time ago.