April 4, 2013
Recently, here at TicketIQ we were in the market for some new custom business cards. After some research we decided to go with MOO.com. Their prices were good and their customization process was very easy to work with. We decided that each employee would choose their favorite sports venue for the back of their cards. Below, is why each person chose their respective venue:
I chose Old Yankee Stadium because it's where I grew up as a fan. I saw Boone win the Pennant in 2003 vs. the Red Sox, and 9 days later saw the Yankees lose Game 6 to the Marlins. I saw Jeter dive in the stands in a 13-inning comback win against the Red Sox. I caught my first foul ball there on a pitch from Rich Dotson to Jim Walewander in meaningless September game en route to a 5th place fine in 1988. I saw Billyball there. I took my 3-year-old daughter to her first game there in The Final Season. In the same year, I saw Josh Hamilton light up the House that Ruth Built in the most Ruthian of ways. My most memorable moment, however, was not on the field. It happened when I was about 12. For one night, I had the privileged of sitting in the box next to Mr. Steinbrenner. After a meaningless walk-off win in what would be a so-close 2nd place year, I walked into the hallway and into the unavoidable bear hug of the Boss himself. He squeezed me hard, and he was as happy and proud as a man could be. He told me to 'keep pulling for the Yanks', something I've done religiously ever since.
Brett House - Vice President, Marketing (Bowery Ballroom)
The Bowery Ballroom is easily the best place to see a show in Manhattan, and the obvious crown jewel of the Bowery Presents empire. Rolling Stone agrees with this assessment, and placed the fifteen-year-old venue atop its list of twenty greatest rock clubs in America. I had the pleasure of seeing Patti Smith give an impassioned and intimate performance with Lenny Kaye and band on Dec 30th, 2000 (the 1st of 2 nights to end the year). A great way to celebrate the coming of the new year with one my iconoclastic heroes!
As good as that show was, the June 2002 performance of The Hives (the year they 'broke into the mainstream') with opening act Mooney Suzuki proved to be the best 1 - 2 punch I've ever seen, and everyone was there to see it. I was standing a few feet from Jimmy Fallon before the show and eyed David Fricke at the bar. It was one of those shows where the opening act blows the roof off the joint so thoroughly you are left wondering 'how on earth can they top that?!?!?'.
Mooney Suzuki's incendiary performance lived up their billing as a terrific live act with crashing drums (with the drummer standing up half the time), fuzz-soaked rave-ups, and liters of sweaty excitement. Every member of the band was in a constant state of frenetic motion for an entire 45-minutes ending with the drummer stomping across the stage amidst a cacophony of feedback holding a statue of a cobra above his head.
The Hives, having a hard 'electric sweat' act to follow, burst on stage in white and black tuxedos (in front of a super-sized white light bulb sign in their namesake), and played an explosive punk-inspired set with Howlin' Pelle Almqvist doing his best Mick Jagger meets Joe Strummer impressions. Fast, furious, and passionate...The Hives knew this was their time in the sun and they took advantage of every moment. It was a show I'll remember for the rest of my life.
Chris Matcovich - VP, Data & Communications (Shea Stadium)
Shea Stadium holds many memories. I remember going to Shea as a kid with my brother, Dad, and Uncle to games in the early 90's with the likes of Jeff Kent, Butch Huskey, Bernard Gilkey, and Todd Hundley as "stars". My favorite memory at Shea Stadium came in a devastating lose. I sat in the mezzanine row H when in Game 7 of 2006 NLCS Endy Chavez made, in my opinion, the greatest catch in MLB playoff history when he robbed Scott Rolen of a go-ahead home run.
Greg Cohen - Dir. of Editorial (Yankee Stadium)
On August 2nd, 1987 my parents took me to Yankee Stadium for the first time. The Yankees won 8-5 that day and Don Mattingly (my favorite player) went 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI. It was the start of 21 years of great memories at the House That Ruth Built. It may be a cop out, but between all the regular season, playoff, and World Series games, the 2008 All Star game, and the final game, it’s nearly impossible to pick one that rises above the rest. However, the loudest I've ever heard the old place in person is an easy one--that was Tino Martinez's grand slam in the 1998 World Series.
Ralph Garcia - Dir. of Social Media (Madison Square Garden)
I chose Madison Square Garden because the Knicks have been a huge part of my life for nearly 20 years. I had my first Garden experience with my Dad seeing the 94/95 Knicks & meeting Walt Fraizer, Derek Harper, and Monty Williams at the game. My dad took a photo of Clyde and I, and cut off half of my face during the shot. Since those days I've endured the highs and lows (mostly lows) of being a Knicks fan. While I'm happy they are back to winning basketball, I do miss the days of being able to go to a game for $25.
Matthew Feuerman - Sr. Dir. of Business Development (Fenway Park)
One of the most prominent memories of my childhood is fighting a mob of Red Sox fans to get Nomar Garciaparra’s autograph during his rookie season in 1997. With the help of a few fans, I practically body-surfed the crowd and stretched out my 8-year old arms to reach “Nomah”. I was hooked. Through my years attending games at Fenway, I’ve been fortunate enough to witness a many David Ortiz walk-offs, a couple no-hitters, and a World Series victory. It's been tough.
Drew Stanton - Director, Sales (Fenway Park)
The first baseball game I ever attended was at Fenway Park on July 8, 1994. I don't remember much, other than wolfing down a few hot dogs, cheering on John Valentin and the rest of the Sox, and watching the MLB debut of Seattle's top prospect, Alex Rodriguez. Ever since, I've witnessed memorable moments from almost every conceivable vantage point at Fenway, none better than sitting ten rows behind home plate when the Sox slugged four homers in a row against the Yankees. After Manny Ramirez, J.D. Drew and Mike Lowell went yard all in a row, one of my buddies said he'd go streaking across the outfield if Jason Varitek homered. Varitek launched one over the Monster and, thankfully, my buddy did not keep his word.
Kenta Heinsdorf - Business Media Analyst (New Yankee Stadium)
I was born in Manhattan in 1989 and have lived here for more than 19 years. Unable to experience the glory that the Giants and the Knicks had, I naturally gravitated toward the Yankees and the dynasty that they started in 1996. My bandwagon fandom soon became legitimate and the Yankees have become a huge part of my life. I bleed Giant blue, like the Knicks, but I will always put the pinstripes above everything else.
Despite the Yankees many successes my most vivid memory is from their May 30th, 2010 game against the Indians. I went with my family to celebrate my mother's birthday and got to see an almost perfect game of baseball. AJ Burnett, surprisingly, pitched a solid eight innings and the Yankees, down three to nothing, had a two-out rally for five runs in the bottom of the seventh due to a clutch Derek Jeter double and a Mark Teixeira three-run bomb (his 250th). The day was capped off by Mariano Riveira getting the save, something that seemed impossible in the beginning of the seventh inning. It was a truly wonderful way to celebrate a birthday on a picturesque Spring afternoon.
Stefan Mersch (Prudential Center)
As a lifelong New Jersey Devils fan, I have to say my favorite place to watch a game is at the Prudential Center, or as it is known to us fans, the Rock. The arena is built for hockey from the outside in. Even when the Nets were there, it was clear why the stadium was built. The walls have always been lined with local hockey jerseys and massive graphics of current Devils players, the lower level center seats have Devils logos on them, there's a Diablos section for super fans, and the friendly crew makes you feel comfortable at every game. The Rock provides not only a chance to relive the glory days of the organization but each seat leaves you with an experience like no other. Whether it be a Kovalchuk breakaway or a windmill save by living legend Marty Brodeur, you will always have the best seat in the house simply because you're there.
