Pitch Size And Condition Thoughts

During Wingert's Facebook Q&A he said that the pitch size would not affect the players because players focus on what they can control. There might be a learning curve relative to timing of runs and passes, but the effects should be minimal.
Very true. I'd also add that the learning curve shouldn't take too long and will probably benefit our team if anything. For top teams like this playing on a larger field is a lot easier and more natural for the most part, while having to play on a compact, smaller field takes a lot more practice. I think since our team is playing on a small field for all the home games the players will be much more used to it than the away team which will benefit us. Since it is easier to play on a larger field in general, then the fact that our home field is smaller shouldn't affect how we play in the away games.
Probably isn't the worst thing in the world.
 
If anyone wants to get an idea of what to expect from our small field, the match on NBC Sports between West Ham and Palace is at Boleyn Ground. According to @Christian, they are the same size!
 
I give it two years before we are playing at Redbull Arena, Metlife or some college field in Nassau or Westchester.
I know this will never happen, and most NYCFC fans would completely disagree, but my ideal scenario is that they announce a stadium (that would take a couple of years to build) and we played at RBA until it's completion.
 
The biggest problem fans are going to have at Yankee stadium are sight lines and concession stands. I was at a hockey game there. The concessions are not designed for halftime. Mother cannot handle the entire stadium trying to get a beer and a hot dog all at once. So when you go, expect long waits. The sight line issue will be that some seats close to the field aim towards home plate. And then there's also the foul poles.

Chris Wingert did a Q&A and discussed playing there. He said field size is not something that affects a player while the game is going on. They are taught to react to things they control. They make their adjustments and play.
 
The sight line issue will be that some seats close to the field aim towards home plate. And then there's also the foul poles.

Spoke to my account manager and he said they're not selling tickets for the seats behind the foul poles - this might only pertain to season tickets, though
 
I think the quality of the grass where the infield is will be an issue (when the baseball season starts if not before) -- it affects 1/4 of the field (you can kind of make it out in the photo below; hopefully NYCFC can somehow use this to its advantage. However I believe players will much prefer this to the options at Vancouver, New England, Orlando City, Montreal, Seattle and Portland. I believe Toronto somehow maintains grass; why can't the others do the same?

tumblr_m8kfey0uyb1r5d7bto1_1280.jpg
 
I think the quality of the grass where the infield is will be an issue (when the baseball season starts if not before) -- it affects 1/4 of the field (you can kind of make it out in the photo below; hopefully NYCFC can somehow use this to its advantage. However I believe players will much prefer this to the options at Vancouver, New England, Orlando City, Montreal, Seattle and Portland. I believe Toronto somehow maintains grass; why can't the others do the same?

tumblr_m8kfey0uyb1r5d7bto1_1280.jpg
I agree. The fake turf makes the game SO sloppy. I guess we'll see how it goes next week.
 
Also, wouldn't the Yankees be smart to switch to an infield design like the Blue-Jays, at least as long as NYCFC play there?

It would seem to save a lot of time and resources:

Rogers-Centre-Home-of-the-Toronto-Blue-Jays.jpg
 
On the positive side, saving the mound will actually be somewhat beneficial to both parties.

The mound just made added more unnatural grass area to the field and by saving the mound the field will be oriented in a way that maximizes the regular outfield grass and minimizes the infield stuff. Good.
 
The field as it will be when we play there:

article-2711587-20247E2D00000578-867_634x392.jpg

yankee-stadium-soccer-2.jpg


Here is a nice close-up picture of where the new grass and old grass meet:
liverpool-fc-manchester-city-fc.jpg


I guess we can only hope that the grounds crew learn many tricks going forward. Also, I think since the baseball season hasn't started maybe they'll give them an extra couple of days to work on the field? Don't know that for a fact but it'd be nice to have the nicest possible field for opening day.
 
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Pepper your angus for 9676868685955748668558697958475685548558 "playing in a baseball stadium derp" comments.
 
1) The Toronto Blue Jays field is turf.
2) That infield looks stupid.
 
1) doesn't matter
2) function over form

Yankee Stadium is first and foremost a baseball stadium and Toronto doesn't look like a baseball stadium. The configuration will be and look small but hey, home field advantage.
 
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