Posted on Wednesday, October 15, 2008 at 6:18 PM
by:
Tal PinchTagged as: Harlem Globetrotters, Neiman Marcus Christmas Book, Texas Stadium, Sports, Basketball, Football
Neiman Marcus Christmas Book Forces Us to Choose Between Sports Fantasies
While the majority of its pages showcase women's apparel we?re happy to blindly buy for certain significant others, the Neiman Marcus Christmas Book actually features a few fantasy men?s gifts, least of which is the custom-made Guinness pub we've already profiled. But there are two particular sports gifts available through the book that force us to make a difficult choice.
Let?s start with the positive, and it doesn't get any more positive than the fabulous, barrier-breaking, Sweet Georgia Brown magic of the Harlem Globetrotters (whose offices are actually now located in Arizona, but whatever). For $110,000, you?ll earn the incredible opportunity to showcase your crossover on the hardwood alongside the world's favorite non-NBA basketball team.
The package includes a personalized Globetrotters uniform (which almost justifies the expense by itself), a special introduction and full access with the team. It also guarantees playing time in a 2008-2009 Trotters game. We hope it's against the legendary Washington Generals. Most of all, the team's history will forever read ?Chamberlain, Lemon, Curly, and you.
Tempting as that Neiman Marcus item is, there?s another fantastic gift up for grabs that brings out our dark side just a little. Always wanted to pull a T.O. and dance on the Dallas Cowboys star after schooling the ?Boys backfield at Texas Stadium? Like any New York sports fan, our answer is an unequivocal YES! Now you can, sort of. For all the fans who?ve been practicing their cabbage patch for just such an occasion, the same book offers the entire Cowboys? end zone from the soon-to-be-abandoned Texas Stadium for $500,000.
Along with the end zone, the price tag also includes an invite to the Cowboys' last home game at Texas Stadium, where you?ll sit in a luxury suite alongside team owner Jerry Jones. You?ll also be invited to opening night at the new stadium and receive memorabilia from Cowboys legends. Combine all these goodies with the fact that Jones is donating the money to the Salvation Army and you just may come to respect the Cowboys.
Given the choice, we'd probably go with the Globetrotters cameo, but keep in mind that with that Texas Stadium end zone stuck quaintly in your backyard (or in a particularly massive Manhattan loft), you'll quickly remember where your loyalties lie.
Read More
Posted on Wednesday, October 15, 2008 at 4:16 PM
by:
Tal PinchTagged as: New York, New York City, New York Giants, New York Jets, New York Rangers, New York Knicks, Madison Square Garden, Shea Stadium, Yankee Stadium, Citi Field, Stadium, Luxury Suites
New York's Latest Stadium Luxury Suites Going Fast
With two new stadiums slated to open in the next 18 months and some new renovations coming to the World?s Most Famous Arena, you can officially start preparing for the run on luxury suites.
Let?s start with CitiField opening in 2009 as the first of New York's newest venues to announce that its luxury suites, going for as much as $500,000, are completely sold out. While the Yankees have been more tight-lipped regarding their upcoming new stadium, Bloomberg reported on October 10th that of their roughly 47 luxury suites (about seven suites) priced at around $600,000 each, were still available to potential buyers.
While the baseball stadium sales figures are impressive, there's no disputing that, even if it doesn't open before 2010, the new Giants/Jets stadium is the biggest of the new players when it comes to luxury accommodations. With 200 luxury boxes up for grabs, individual suites started selling at around $1 million each when they went on sale last year. With no word yet on availability, Jets owner Woody Johnson is saying he foresees a strong demand for the roughly 2,000 seating licenses that will be up for grabs on StubHub starting October 19th. The auction ends October 27th and the licenses will provide potential ticket buyers access to the Coaches Club, a VIP dining, drinking, and lounge area situated directly behind the Jets' bench.
Considering the selection of new VIP Premier Seating options coming to Madison Square Garden, including 68 new mid-level suites (each 50% larger) and 20 new floor-level suites ready by 2011, don?t think you can drag your heels just because the financial news is atrocious. The race is on.
Read More
Posted on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 11:38 AM
by:
Tal PinchTagged as: Baseball, New York, New York Mets, Shea Stadium, Sports, Auctions
There are plenty of things we're going to miss about the old Shea Stadium, which will be closing up shop after the 2008 season. While we always knew that every last piece of the stadium would be sold at auction, it's sobering to see the actual list of items (which is finally available to the public) and how much everything is selling for. The sale requires that you sign up and join the Shea Premiere Club, but consider that a down payment on some historic baseball memorabilia. While there are plenty of green and red seats for sale (available only in pairs), the variety of Shea memories is as fun as it is seemingly random.
Read More
Posted on Friday, September 5, 2008 at 9:42 AM
by:
Tal PinchTagged as: Football, Sports, Stadium, Seattle Seahawks, Suites, NFL, Qwest Field, Access, Football Frills
Seahawks owner Paul Allen didn't become one of the world's richest people by making dumb decisions. He started by building a nice stadium in Seattle that was acoustically designed to help generate so much crowd noise that playing against the Seahawks in Seattle has become one of the hardest tasks in football. But aside from the crowd noise, Qwest Field also boasts some pretty nice suites and single-game suite packages that provide a lot more than just free beer.
Read More
Posted on Thursday, September 4, 2008 at 9:24 AM
by:
Tal PinchTagged as: Football Frills, Football, NFL, Sports, Kansas City Chiefs, Stadium, Luxury
Since making some much-needed renovations last year, Arrowhead Stadium has gone from a historic (if outdated) stadium to one of the NFL's most fun venues. One of the standout features at Chiefs games since the renovation has been their Golden Circle Suites. Located in the exclusive Club Level and providing some of the top views of the game, the suites come completely furnished with the requisite bar and catering courtesy of Levy Restaurants. What sets Arrowhead apart is the access to different VIP venues before, during, and after the game.
Read More