Review by Wendy Adair, Stadium Journey Correspondent
The New York Mets moved to Citi Field this past March and it is a dramatic upgrade over Shea Stadium, which had been their home since 1964.
During Citi Field’s construction, you could sit and watch the progress from your seats at Shea Stadium as Citi Field was built behind Shea Stadium.
It is quite ironic that David Wright was the first Met to hit a home run at Citi Field, as he also hit a ball out of Shea Stadium that landed in Citi Field while it was under construction.
Shea Stadium was demolished for parking for Citi Field last winter, but the most famous feature of Shea Stadium, the Home Run Apple, was brought to Citi Field for display, and a brand new home run apple is located over the center field wall.
When the Mets management was working on the design of Citi Field, they wanted it to resemble Ebbets Field where the Brooklyn Dodgers played before their move to Los Angeles. Fans enter into the stadium up the escalator through the Jackie Robinson Rotunda where there are gift shops and video tributes in auditoriums, along with pictures and quotes from Robinson.
Jackie Robinson Rotunda
A unique feature of Citi Field is the Fan Walk, which is located just outside the Rotunda where fans who have purchased and still can purchase bricks in memory of loved ones who were fans of the Brooklyn Dodgers and also fans of the Mets.
Many of the bricks contain fans names that the bricks were purchased in memory of loved ones, and also if fans were present at a significant game or event, that is stated as well, whether it be a clinching game or one of the many post season games.
My husband and myself were at Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS, where we saw Endy Chavez make a spectacular leaping grab and he threw the ball into 1st base to get the double play, and several mentions of “the catch of NLCS Game 7” appear on Fan Walk.
FANFARE SCORE: 24
Food and Beverage: 5
The food choices are many in Citi Field, but the most famous eatery there is called the Shake Shack, where you can buy the traditional burgers, nachos and chips but the menu also includes milk shakes and smoothies.
Shake Shack
Some of the other dining options at Citi Field include Blue Smoke BBQ, Catch of the Day Seafood, and Nonna Delia’s Brick Oven Pizza.
As required by New York State Law, calorie information on products sold is available on the menus so that patrons are informed about the choices they make when eating at Citi Field.
Atmosphere: 4
Citi Field, while new to the Mets and New York, is a great place to see a game and is historically significant due to the honor paid to Jackie Robinson and the Brooklyn Dodgers as well as the 1969 and 1986 New York Mets World Championship teams.
Citifield has about 10,000 fewer seats than Shea Stadium, and the seats are angled to have an excellent view of the field no matter where you are sitting.
Infield View
The Concourse Level of the stadium features 360 degree circulation around the ballpark with unobstructed views of the field with plenty of standing room.
With the majority of the eating establishments on this level, fans can wait on line for their food and not worry about missing the action on the field.
Neighborhood: 3
Citifield resides in Flushing Meadow Corona Park, which also houses the US Tennis Center including Arthur Ashe Stadium.
La Guardia International Airport is another famous neighbor in Flushing, Queens.
There are many auto body shops and Asian groceries in the immediate vicinity of the stadium due to the large Korean and Vietnamese population of Flushing.
There are a few neighborhood establishments for after and/or before the game, but tailgating in the parking lots is a big part of the Citi Field experience, as was the case at Shea Stadium in previous years.
One of the neighborhood establishments meant for pre and post game activities is Carmelita’s Billiards and Sports Bar (111-06 Roosevelt Avenue).
Fans: 5
New York Mets fans are very passionate and knowledgeable about the game and many keep score and follow programs to track the players and the action on the field.
Due to Citi Field’s wide seats and distance between rows, moving up and down rows and aisles is more than ample, so that everyone can enjoy the game without needing to move in and out of their seats more than absolutely necessary.
Mets players appreciate their fans and will sign autographs and take pictures with young fans before and after batting practice.
When batting practice is completed, a message comes over the loudspeaker to advise fans to return to their ticketed seats.
Access: 4
Restrooms and elevators are prominently marked and easily accessible for handicapped persons, and the main entrance into the stadium is in the Jackie Robinson Rotunda which features an escalator to take you to the seating sections.
The Citivision jumbotron as well as the other screens throughout the field feature close captioned messages for hearing impaired fans and patrons.
Return on Investment: 3
The games and concessions are expensive, but that is typical for professional sports and being in New York, the prices are going to be that much higher.
My husband and I attended the game on September 20, 2009; it was the only game we attended all season after being season ticket holders for several of the past seven or eight seasons.
We splurged and bought field level seats about twenty rows behind the Mets dugout, but they were playing the Washington Nationals and both teams had already been eliminated from post season contention, but It was worth it for us to go and enjoy at least one game in our lifetime in field level seats.
Etc: 0
No additional points awarded.
