March 22, 2008 --
Those $250 box seats at Yankee Stadium will seem inexpensive in 2009.
The Yankees will charge $500 to $2,500 for seats near home plate in the first five to eight rows of their new ballpark - yet say they already have commitments for all 122.
The team's Web site touts the premium areas as offering "an exclusive experience for those with discerning taste who seek the very best that life has to offer."
Lonn Trost, the Yankees' chief operating officer, sent a letter to season-ticket holders on March 14 that outlined premium seating in the $1.3 billion ballpark-to-be and asked whether they wanted to upgrade.
Trost said yesterday that more than 3,000 fans - "a remarkable response" - had already said yes.
In the current Stadium's final season, the team has 162 Legends seats ringing the infield, mostly in two rows, with tickets priced up to $1,000 a game.
The new ballpark will have 1,800 Legends Field Suite seats in 25 sections ringing home plate and 20 feet closer to the infield than they are now.
Food and nonalcoholic drinks are included in the ticket price, and there will be a private entrance, elevator and concourse.
By the way, behind this year's Legends seats, there are 3,000 Field Championship seats that go for $250 per game as part of season tickets.
Those same seats cost just $25 back in 1996.
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