Angry NYU graduates claim the Yankees deserve an anything-but-honorary “BS” — for barring them from the best seats in the new Stadium during their commencement yesterday.
Unlike at Bombers home games, where outrageous prices have kept the so-called Legends seats empty, NYU’s graduating seniors were stopped by security from getting as close as possible to the ceremony on the infield.
“The word on the street is that we are not good enough for them,” Julio Alvarez, 21, who earned his degree in economics, said of the first 10 rows. “But in 20 years we’ll have enough money to buy any of those seats.”
During much of the season so far, huge swaths of the premium seats have been vacant, prompting the team to slash the price on the $2,500 tickets by half.
An NYU spokesman said the Yanks stipulated the plush seats not be used during the ceremony as part of the deal for use of the ballpark.
The Yankees say the decision was in response to an incident last year in which a student ran onto the field half-naked during the ceremony.
“We felt this was the most prudent way to protect the integrity of the ceremony,” team spokesman Jason Zillo said.
Students complained they were too far from the stage, and had to watch keynote speaker Hillary Rodham Clinton on the JumboTron.
“It seems very New York to me and indicative of Major League Baseball and the new stadium to segregate those who have and those who have not,” said Matt Farler, 22, who earned his BA in fine arts and film.
But not all students took issue with the snub.
“Those are expensive seats and they want to keep it that way,” Adam Thanens said. “They don’t want any college kids partying in those seats.”