Yankees confident NYCFC MLS games won't damage Yankee Stadium field
Liverpool goalkeeper Brad Jones kicks the ball in the first half during the International Champions Cup 2014 at Yankee Stadium on July 30, 2014. Credit: AP / Frank Franklin II
So where will the Yankees have to navigate more holes during the coming season: in their starting rotation or on the field itself?
With the franchise's new MLS addition, the NYC Football Club, beginning play in March, the two teams will share the turf at Yankee Stadium, requiring the baseball diamond to be converted to an all-grass surface 17 times in the spring -- not including the possibility of MLS playoff games.
That's a lot of traffic, especially during a fickle weather period for New York, where rain and even snow can be a problem in April. At Thursday's news conference to announce NYCFC's broadcast agreement with YES Network, Yankees president Randy Levine was asked about the potential problem for both teams.
"We spent a lot of time going through this," Levine said. "We have the greatest grounds crew and stadium operations people in the world. We feel very confident. We wouldn't have done this unless we felt very confident that the field will be perfect for both soccer and baseball.
"Yankee Stadium is the cathedral of baseball. We're not ever going to do anything to jeopardize that."
David Lennon is an award-winning columnist, a voter for baseball's Hall of Fame and has covered six no-hitters, including two perfect games.
