Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
City Gives Up Luxury Boxes at Yankee Stadium, CitiField
By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 7, 2009
Modified Jan 7, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 7, 2009
Modified Jan 7, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Realizing that talking about touch economic times while simultaneously keeping luxury boxes—for city use— at the new Yankee Stadium and CitiField is not great for his image, Mayor Bloomberg has agreed to give up the boxes in exchange for the cash. According to the Post, "The administration is asking both teams to peddle the boxes - the priciest go for $850,000 - to the highest bidders, and put the money in the city kitty over the next five years."
The NY Times points out "the Bloomberg administration...worked fervently to secure" the luxury boxes. Criticism mounted last November after e-mails correspondence between city officials and the Yankees was made public, revealing things like how the "city lawyers threatened to not make the request to the I.R.S. for the use of the tax-exempt financing unless the Yankees would consider providing the luxury suite." And when pressed by the media, Bloomberg administration officials claimed the seats would be rewards for city workers, though that wasn't mentioned in much of the correspondence.
Assemblyman Richard Brodsky isn't impressed by the city's decision to give up the boxes, "This is just an embarrassment. The city is broke, we can't fund the MTA, we can't fund schools, and we're giving them $400 million," referring to the Yankees' tax-free bonds, "And, by the way, we're giving up free luxury suites. This comes under the heading of 'give me a break.' "
Tagged
bloomberg
citifield
free luxury box
mayor bloomberg
yankee stadium
Yankees
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Why New Yorkers should care about bats beyond spooky season
As Bat Week begins, state wildlife officials urge New Yorkers to protect bats, which play an important role in the environment.
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Oct 25, 2026 at 6:44 p.m. ET
Serbians forced to wait hours to vote at NYC consulate as Balkan nation holds election
Early voting may have kicked off in New York this weekend, but Serbian immigrants seeking to vote had a much tighter window on Sunday.
By
Jill Webb
and
Michael Sol Warren
News
Serbians forced to wait hours to vote at NYC consulate as Balkan nation holds election
Early voting may have kicked off in New York this weekend, but Serbian immigrants seeking to vote had a much tighter window on Sunday.
By
Jill Webb
and
Michael Sol Warren
Retired NYPD detective charged in George Washington Bridge killing out on $1M bail
By
Michael Sol Warren
Suicides decline in NYC, but inequities persist across groups
By
Jill Webb
Cuts to rural healthcare become key issue for upstate votes in race for NY governor
By
Samuel King
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .