Just got back from a tour of fast-rising Citi Field, as well as lunch in the sales office, and I have to say the new stadium will be pretty impressive. Sorry there's no pictures, but here's a few quick points:
-- Not sure if you're planning on spending any time (or money) in the mid-level suites, but they are beyond luxurious. The sightlines are great, the seats cushy and there's a giant flat-screen on the wall. Quite a change from dingy Shea. If you happen to know any corporate sponsors -- or work for one -- find your way into one of these suites.
-- COO Jeff Wilpon took a group of writers inside the stadium itself and we walked each level of seating. Again, great sightlines, and the highest row doesn't stretch much beyond the mezzanine of Shea. Good view of Manhattan from the upper seats and you're closer to home plate than you might expect. If the Mets are getting blown out, you can even watch flights land at LaGuardia.
-- Looks like there will be plenty of open areas to congregate, have a beer and watch the game without having to rush back to your seats. That's a popular feature among new stadiums and Citi Field is catching on to that trend.
-- Took a stroll through the skeletal clubhouse. One reporter who will remain nameless asked where Manny Acta's office was going to be. Sorry Willie.
-- The rotunda is taking shape and the Ebbets-style brick face is flying up at a rapid rate.
-- Another interesting feature is the upper deck that overhangs rightfield. Hit it high enough and the first few rows will catch the ball before the outfielder ever has a chance.
Unfortunately, the Mets have one more season at Shea (ugh).
Comments (6)
Dave, thanks for the highlights of the tour and all, but can you restrain yourself, at least in your 2008 stories, from bashing Shea (which I get the sense will be a running theme)? Some of us who pay our way in will be doing so sentimentally and enthusiastically and don't need to be told how much something we love is a horrible inconvenience for folks in your profession. Citi Field (or whatever it will be called in a few years) may be gorgeous, but the awesome suites will be out of just about every Mets fan's price range and tickets figure to be tighter than Guillermo Mota with runners on base.
Hope it's a great park and hope I can get in with some regularity once the novelty dies down, but let us enjoy Shea while we silly, misguided Mets fans still can.
I'm with you, G. I grew up with Shea, snuck into games via the employee entrance and picnic area during my high school and college days. Love the Shea.
Dave,
What do you think of the fact that, as you point out, they've essentially built the stadium no higher than the Mezzanine?
What will become of those of us who have seen our only Opening Days and Playoff games and really major sellout games in the Upper Deck?
Don't we deserve to see an important ballgame too?
I'm sure that the stadium will be much nicer than Shea for those who will still be able to get into it. But I have spent some of the nicest moments of my last 43 years in Shea Stadium and I really worry how many of my remaining moments I am going to be able to spend in a stadium with 13,000 fewer seats than Shea, especially if the Mets get really good and stay good. Even this year, they sold more tickets than they will be able to sell in their first year at Citi Field.
If you want to know what many Mets fans are actually thinking about the loss of big, goofy, wonderful Shea, please visit my site, www.metsfanbook.com and read my piece "For Shea." It's from my book, Mets Fan, which does at least make the argument for mourning Shea and for regretting the loss of what it may represent for many of the Mets middle-class fans.
Will CitiField retain the famed home run apple, or feature an updated version of it?
this franchise is gutless and scared.
i am embarrassed to call myself a fan
I hope and pray fans stay away in droves. unfortunately the fickle mets fan base won’t as they buy into the far inferior product this amateur organization puts out. since this ‘organization’ embraces the patsy role to the likes of the Big Bad Yankees and the Mighty Red Sox in pursuit of their needs they should pursue players that NO ONE wants. omar-the-schmuck’ 1st. order of business should be to re-sign both steve trachel and brian lawrence. immediately insert them into the top of the rotation bouncing the remaining crap to the bottom of the rotation.
The Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees, model organizations whose steadfast goal is to every year put out the best possible product to win a championship for their deserving fans. Bravo! To these fine organizations!
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