Okay, so this whole thing started ’cause I’m a huge Yankees fan, right? Wanted to catch more games live in 2018 without breaking the bank or freezing my butt off in some crummy seat. I was like, “How do people actually find the good spots?” So I dug into their schedule.
Step 1: Finding the Games
First, I needed the actual schedule. Went straight to the Yankees site back then. Not gonna lie, it took some clicking around. Scrolled through that calendar like crazy, looking at home games specifically since I live in the Bronx. Aimed for weekends mainly, maybe a Friday night game. Wrote down April and May dates first – early season vibes, less chance of a monsoon ruining things.
Step 2: Researching the Spots
Then came the fun part: figuring out WHERE. I’m talking actual seats in the stadium this time. I hit up forums and even asked dudes at my local deli where they sat. Remembered reading about the Bleacher Creatures, but wasn’t sure about the view from there for actually watching baseball. Cross-referenced a bunch of opinions. This took ages! I had a notepad full of stuff like:
- Behind Home Plate (Sections 015-022): Everyone raves, but mad expensive. Maybe one game max.
- First Base Side (Lower Tier, like 132B): Supposedly great for sunsets, gotta try on an evening game.
- Grandstand Level (Sections 420-423): Cheap, high up, but sightlines okay? Mixed reviews.
- Bleachers (Section 203): Loud, fun crowd… but can you actually see the pitches?
Also thought about rooftop bars nearby for a few games – heard some places had views of the stadium lights. Made a separate list for that.
Step 3: Testing ‘Em Out
Alright, time to actually GO. Started with a cheaper option: Grandstand Level for an April game vs Toronto. Brought my little binoculars just in case. Honestly? Way better than I expected. Higher up, yeah, but saw the whole field perfect. Felt the wind though – layered up smart. Cheap beer nearby helped.
Then splurged one night in May – Section 019 behind home plate. Totally different experience. Hearing the mitt pop… seeing the pitches bend… wow. Pricey AF, but worth it once. Tried the Bleachers in June (Section 202). Atmosphere was wild, view was… decent? Lost some fly balls in the lights. Fun once, but not every time.
Final Verdict
After testing spots for like 6 games, here’s the raw take:
- For cheap + solid view: Grandstand Level around 421. Bring layers.
- For vibes + energy: Bleachers, but go early for front rows.
- For feeling rich & seeing magic: Sections behind home plate. Save up.
Didn’t end up loving the rooftop bars much – cool for pics, but far from the real game feel. Learned it’s all about balancing cash, weather, and what kind of experience I wanted that day. Planning early was key. Still got that crinkled notepad somewhere!