A few questions about Shea Stadium

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I just attended my last game at Shea Stadium. I can't say I'll be surprised to see it go, really; I'm too excited about Citi Field (and, strictly speaking, Shea kind of sucks as a ballpark - it being a cookie cutter and all). I do have some questions:

- Why was Shea never built all the way around (i.e. an enclosed circle)? Was there not enough money?

- In the pictures I have seen of the newly built Shea, there doesn't seem to be anything protecting the walkways ringing the stadium! Is that just a kind of optical illusion (like the one I saw where there were thousands of little colored panels appearing to hang in midair)? I would think that there would always have been something there to protect people from falling or jumping off.

- I know that nobody has played football at Shea since the 80's. After that, did they completely remove the rotating ability (i.e. to convert from baseball to football configurations) or could Shea still technically be used for football even today? Not that you'd want to, of course.

- I also know that Shea (and Yankee Stadium) will be dismantled, not blown up. Is this simply because the new ballparks are right next door and an explosion of the old property would almost certainly damage them? Or is this a general part of city and/or state law? Also, will they dismantle the old stadiums right away after the end of this season, or will they wait till the new ones are finished?

 

[Deadpool]

I just attended my last game at Shea Stadium. I can't say I'll be surprised to see it go, really; I'm too excited about Citi Field (and, strictly speaking, Shea kind of sucks as a ballpark - it being a cookie cutter and all). I do have some questions:

- Why was Shea never built all the way around (i.e. an enclosed circle)? Was there not enough money?

- In the pictures I have seen of the newly built Shea, there doesn't seem to be anything protecting the walkways ringing the stadium! Is that just a kind of optical illusion (like the one I saw where there were thousands of little colored panels appearing to hang in midair)? I would think that there would always have been something there to protect people from falling or jumping off.

- I know that nobody has played football at Shea since the 80's. After that, did they completely remove the rotating ability (i.e. to convert from baseball to football configurations) or could Shea still technically be used for football even today? Not that you'd want to, of course.

- I also know that Shea (and Yankee Stadium) will be dismantled, not blown up. Is this simply because the new ballparks are right next door and an explosion of the old property would almost certainly damage them? Or is this a general part of city and/or state law? Also, will they dismantle the old stadiums right away after the end of this season, or will they wait till the new ones are finished?

1. For football Shea is enclosed. The stands rotate and the open spaces get closed. It can also hold alot more people in football mode.

2. The walkways have railings which is enough to protect people. Of course if we lost game 6 to the Sox in 86, then they might have added some more protection or more police to the walkways cause there would have been tons of jumpers.

3. Shea can not rotate anymore. They took the tracks out from under the field when the Jets went to Jersey, and the field is now one of the best in the majors according to the Mets.

4. Shea and Yankee stadiums will be dismantled by hand thanks to NY state law. There is no implosions alowed within city limits. That is the reason why the Polo Grounds and Ebbets field were also dismantled. It has nothing to do with the close proximity of Citi Field and the House that Steinburner built.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

For football Shea is enclosed. The stands rotate and the open spaces get closed. It can also hold alot more people in football mode.

Shea was never completely enclosed, all the way around. Where did you get that idea? I've seen pics of its football configuration; there were temporary bleachers set up - and the seats nearest the field could rotate - but the whole stadium was never completed in a circle. (Unlike other cookie cutters, like Three Rivers, Riverfront, Busch Memorial, RFK, the Vet, Atlanta/Fulton County, etc.) I always wondered why.

 

[SmoothieX]

I've also read that in parts of the stadium they never removed the rotating sections, they were still leftover from the football era.

The walkways have railings and safety equipment, but if you want, you could find a way to jump. Particularly helpful when your team blows its umpteenth save.

As others said, it will be dismantled rather than imploded, per city laws. Too bad, I liked watching the Kingdome implode.

 

[Deadpool]

The walkways have railings and safety equipment, but if you want, you could find a way to jump. Particularly helpful when your team blows its umpteenth save.

Or when Kenny Rogers walks in the winning run during the NLCS against the Braves. God that moment still hurts.

I heard on WFAN that all the tracks from the football days were taken out and the stadium can`t rotate. I think it was on Ed Randells talking baseball. I`m gonna miss Big Shea when its gone. Heres hoping we close the stadium in Oct and not Sept.

 

[SmoothieX]

If they don't make it to October I say implode the place with the players and front office still in it.

Or when Kenny Rogers walks in the winning run during the NLCS against the Braves. God that moment still hurts.

Damn right. That one hurt like a rabid ferret in your shorts.

 

[CaptainHawk1]

The walkways have railings and safety equipment, but if you want, you could find a way to jump. Particularly helpful when your team blows its umpteenth save.

Or when Kenny Rogers walks in the winning run during the NLCS against the Braves. God that moment still hurts.

I was in a bar in Syracuse, NY that night. They still shuld have scored more runs and Timo Perez shouldn't have tried to bunt with the friggin' corners in a 5 feet away from flippin' home plate.

AAARGH!!!

The one good thing about Shea getting wrecked is that Chipper Jones and Pat Burrell can't play there anymore.

F-You Larry. What kind of scumbag names his kid afterthe opposing rivals stadium.

J/K... I actually like Chipper.

-Shawn

 

[Deadpool]

The walkways have railings and safety equipment, but if you want, you could find a way to jump. Particularly helpful when your team blows its umpteenth save.

Or when Kenny Rogers walks in the winning run during the NLCS against the Braves. God that moment still hurts.

I was in a bar in Syracuse, NY that night. They still shuld have scored more runs and Timo Perez shouldn't have tried to bunt with the friggin' corners in a 5 feet away from flippin' home plate.

AAARGH!!!

The one good thing about Shea getting wrecked is that Chipper Jones and Pat Burrell can't play there anymore.

F-You Larry. What kind of scumbag names his kid afterthe opposing rivals stadium.

J/K... I actually like Chipper.

-Shawn

I`d love it if Chipper names his next kid Citizens Bank. Since we talking about Chipper fuck the Braves. Fuck Bobby Cox and his hard on for beating the Mets. This 3 game series is not your World Series Bravos. How bout you lay down for us like you did for Phillies