DEIS: Business impacts; New restaurants in stadium

NEW RESTAURANTS IN STADIUM

Draft EIS states:

An approximately 300-seat restaurant located at street level would provide year-round operation with direct entry from outside the stadium, as well as access to the stadium concourse.

Premium Seat Lounges. Several lounges would be available to premium seat-holders, as follows:

• The Legends Suite Lounges would provide Legends suite seat-holders lounges with food and beverage service, including the Legends Suite Home Plate Lounge, which would be located behind home plate with an entrance from the Main Concourse, allowing direct access to the Legends suites. Glass frontage would provide natural light and views to the field.

• The Grandstand Sports Club would be an enclosed, air-conditioned suite seating area and lounge located directly behind the centerfield wall. It would consist of approximately 400 tiered seats within the suite that view the field and a lounge with seating and light food service. The club would be accessible from the stadium concourses.

• The Stadium Club would be a full service restaurant and bar located in the left field corner at the Suite Level with dining both within the club and on a terrace, which would provide a view of the field in a conditioned environment.

Response:

These new restaurants may have an impact on some of the existing neighborhood restaurants that draw their business primarily from Yankees fans going to games. While most of the restaurants seem to be targeted towards premium ticket holders only, the 300 seat restaurant would be open to everyone, even those not attending any games. This, coupled with the shift in position of the stadium away from existing neighborhood restaurants, may mean a loss of business for local restaurants.