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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 11:28 a.m., Wednesday, October 8, 2008

MLB: Yankees scrap closing ceremony at stadium

Associated Press

NEW YORK — Plans for a closing ceremony at Yankee Stadium have been scrapped.

The team had discussed organizing an event on the weekend of Nov. 8-9 that would have included remembrances of many of the non-baseball events at the 85-year-old ballpark, such as football and boxing.

"The Yankees were considering having a charitable event at Yankee Stadium for BAT (Baseball Assistance Team), however, the Yankees realized that the final event at Yankee Stadium should be a baseball game, which in fact took place on Sept. 21," spokesman Howard Rubenstein said today. "Accordingly, rather than having a fundraiser, the Yankees will be donating $500,000 to BAT."

Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen were among the artists the Yankees had reportedly sought for the event.

New York is scheduled to move into a $1.3 billion new Yankee Stadium. The first home game at the new ballpark is April 16 against Cleveland.

The decision to call off the ceremony was first reported by am New York.