Yankee fans stood in awe of their sun-soaked new Stadium yesterday as they ushered in a new era of baseball in The Bronx.
A ceaseless barrage of camera flashes began during the elaborate opening ceremony for the new Yankee Stadium and didn’t let up until well after the final out.
PHOTOS: OPENING DAY AT NEW STADIUM
“I took 125 pictures already, and we haven’t even gotten to our seats yet,” gushed Anna Garzil, 34, of Mount Vernon, NJ, one of many snapping shots of everything — even the fancy new garbage cans.
The masses arrived hours before the first pitch and seemed to care more about exploring the new ballpark — which they said had a “new-car smell” — than watching the scoreboard.
What they found was a cleaner, kinder and gentler version of the old stadium.
Even the typically hostile bleachers now have several “ambassadors” holding up signs that read, “How may I help you?”
Ambassador José Morel, 26, of The Bronx, said fans were stunned to be offered assistance.
“Mainly, they ask three questions,” he said. “1. How do I get to Monument Park? 2. Do I need to pay to go to the Mohegan Sun sports bar? And 3. Can you take my picture?”
But fans blown away by the $1.5 billion ballpark were far less wowed by the product on the field — a crushing 10-2 loss to Cleveland.
“Don’t worry; we’ll be back,” said 12-year-old Jake Glantz, who left with a smile. “This place is amazing. I love it.”
The day started with Derek Jeter toting to home plate the bat Babe Ruth used to swat a home run that christened the original Yankee Stadium in 1923.
The pregame ceremony also included many of the high priests of pinstripes — including Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford and Reggie Jackson — who took the field to huge ovations.
John Fogerty played his hit “Centerfield” in center field, before former Yankee center fielder Bernie Williams played a jazzy version of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” on guitar.
Berra stood halfway between the mound and the plate to toss out the ceremonial first pitch — a little dribbler he laughed off. Kelly Clarkson sang the national anthem as fighter jets buzzed the stadium.
The best seats sell for an unheard-of $2,625 each — but the same view can be had for a fraction of that by standing behind those fans.
“I paid $14 and have as good a view, so the joke’s on them,” said Albie Garcia, 24.
Others were willing to plunk down 20 times the ticket price just to get inside.
“I paid $300 for a $14 seat in the bleachers, but it was worth it just to be here,” said Peter Holderlin, 60. “I just wish I could have afforded bringing my kids.”
Beer once again pours freely in the bleachers, but not all are thrilled. “Nobody wants this detail now,” one cop told The Post.
On one of the long lines to the bathrooms, one fan noted that the floors were all sparkling clean and fresh smelling.
“Don’t worry; we’ll dirty this place up,” another fan said.