Can anyone spare $400 million?

I remember getting excited when the Yankees (and the Mets, for that matter) announced plans for new stadiums.  Although I'll miss the current Yankee Stadium, the chance of a domed stadium to better enjoy the games during the brutal weather conditions here in New York had me thinking I just may want to attend more games (even if it meant slightly higher ticket prices).  Unfortunately, the plans for a domed stadium never came to fruition but I was optimistic the stadium would still be state-of-the-art.

A recent article in the NY Daily News claimed the Yankees are seeking an additional $400 million in public funding to help complete construction of the new stadium. Yankees president Randy Levine refutes this claim by assuring the completion of the stadium regardless of whether the funds are granted or not.  On August 16, 2006, Yankees officially broke ground on the New Yankee Stadium (November 13, 2006 for the Mets' Citi Field).  I've seen video of the Mets new facility and although having construction begun some 3 months after the Yankees "park" broke ground, the stadium in Queens looks farther along than the one in the Bronx.  Both stadiums are slated to be ready for opening day April 2009.  

The following pictures were taken aboard the south bound #4 train just last week.

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.