| They won't win any awards for long-term comfort, but | | | | was taken. Watching games in the lazy days of |
| the vintage stadium seat could be one of the most | | | | summer, seeing a special moment unfold before your |
| valuable pieces of furniture in your house. | | | | eyes, a championship game or historic event....all evoke |
| Fans and collectors have flocked to the folding | | | | the best of times for fans and collectors while serving |
| reminders of happy times spent watching sporting | | | | as a unique bit of sports decor. |
| events by snapping them up by the thousands. The | | | | Yankee Stadium seats went for over $1,000 when |
| recent sale of ballpark memorabilia from Yankee | | | | they were sold; other stadiums sold theirs for |
| Stadium proved that fans can have strong enough | | | | $200-700 each. Some were refurbished, but others |
| emotional attachments to their favorite places to pay | | | | are purchased virtually as is. For some collectors, part |
| significant amounts of money to acquire even small | | | | of the fun and the charm is doing just a bit of |
| pieces. | | | | restoration to make it look exactly like it did during a |
| Other ballpark seats and memorabilia have been sold | | | | certain era. However, prior to the late 1990s or so, |
| from Texas Stadium, Tiger Stadium, Busch Stadium, | | | | many stadiums simply gave their old seats away to |
| Dodger Stadium, Shea Stadium, Memorial Auditorium | | | | anyone who wanted one or sold them off to minor |
| and other venues that have met the wrecking ball. | | | | league stadiums or other facilities that simply needed |
| You can go to an outlet store and find a nice comfy | | | | seating. |
| chair for $150, but it'll cost you more to buy an old | | | | Many of those vintage stadium seats from places like |
| wrought iron/wood chair from a sports venue. Why? | | | | the Polo Grounds, Forbes Field, Crosley Field and |
| It's a better conversation piece, for one. | | | | elsewhere were saved and can be found online. |
| Thousands of vintage stadium seats have been sold, | | | | Vintage Ballpark seats have only gotten their |
| but that still means there are thousands of rec rooms, | | | | mainstream measure of respect in the last several |
| offices and hobby rooms that don't have one. Those | | | | years and those who acquired or saved some of |
| who do find visitors instantly drawn to that little piece | | | | them for many years are reaping the rewards...if they |
| of sports history. They can't resist taking a seat and | | | | aren't using the seats themselves. |
| imagining themselves back at the venue from where it | | | | |