Park 'til it Hurts

The first shot has been fired and its going right across the bow of your car. You can expect increased prices with a new stadium and word is that the those of us who drive to the games are going to take a big hit in the wallet.

Juan Gonzalez, no, not that one, of the Daily News is reporting that beginning with the 2010 season, parking will be $29 a game. Yes, that $29. Parking last season was $14 and is expected to be $17 this season. The rate will initially be $19 at the new stadium, but after we've had a chance to, hopefully, marvel at the new place, the Kinney, or whomever has the contract, attendants will be slipping more green out of your billfold.

"The rates ... are projections made by an independent consultant," said Janel Patterson, spokeswoman for the city Economic Development Corp. "They, therefore, do not necessarily reflect what the actual rates for the facilities will be."

So does that mean we could be paying $50? Why are the rates going up so much? I'll give you 340 million reasons. That's how much it will cost to build 3 brand new parking garages. And, of course, this is NYC-the cost was only $260 million 8 eight months ago.

The Steinbrenner kingdom won't be hurting for cash any time soon.