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The Yankees like to spend a lot of money - both on their star players and on their new stadium. Originally slated to cost around $800 million, the new Yankee Stadium now has a price tag of $1.5 billion.

Much of the costs were paid for with the use of tax-exempt bonds, which has infuriated critics like Westchester Assemblyman Richard Brodsky.

"It makes no social sense. It makes no economic sense," said Brodsky.

The deal to build a new stadium was struck in 2005 and approved by all levels of city and state government, as well as the Internal Revenue Service. But like many things related to the Yankees, there was controversy.

Heated public hearings held by Brodsky, which sometimes could have used an umpire, concerned the use of bonds to finance the new ballpark. Like the Mets, the Yankees were issued a large amount of tax-exempt bonds to pay for construction.

In the case of the Yankees, the $1.5 billion facility was paid for with $1.3 billion in bonds. About $1.2 billion of the bonds are exempt from taxes.

Brodsky claims the deal leaves taxpayers on the hook for billions of dollars, because the Yankees are paying back the bonds through PILOTS, or "payments in lieu of taxes."

"This whole deal is like you building a house and the tax collector coming and saying you have a house, you owe the town property taxes and you say, "I'll pay those taxes but only if you send those taxes to the bank to pay my mortgage," said Brodsky.

City officials points out that the Yankees, as well as the Mets, have never paid property taxes.

"The teams are paying the costs of these bonds. The teams are paying entirely for these stadia," said Seth Pinsky of the New York City Economic Development Corporation.

The Yankees are saving a lot, as a result of tax-exempt financing. According to the city's Independent Budget Office, the Yankees are expected to save $787 million, while the project is expected to cost the public around $855 million.

The costs to the public include nearly $400 million to build parks, a Metro-North station and parking garages.

Yet, city officials say the stadium represents the largest private investment ever made in the Bronx.

"It's being made in the poorest congressional district in the country. It has created nearly a 1,000 permanent jobs, 6,000 construction jobs," said Pinsky.

Brodsky disputes those numbers, and as the new stadium opens, is likely to carry his fight into extra innings.