One of the biggest stories of the 2009 Major League Baseball season is the opening of brand new ballpark in New York, specifically in the borough of the Bronx. Largely overlooked by the national media, however, has been the debut of another ballpark in New York, this one in the borough of Queens.
Citi Field, the new home of the New York Mets, was designed by Populous, the architectural firm that has designed a large number of the retro-style baseball parks that have replaced the multi-purpose stadiums in the major leagues today. And Citi Field is every bit a ballpark, not a stadium. And it is a tremendous upgrade over the team's previous home, Shea Stadium.
Outside Citi Field
One of the most memorable features of the new ballpark actually lies outside its confines, in parking lot D. That is the newly paved section of the parking lot that occupies the land where Shea Stadium once stood. Here, the ballclub has inlaid plaques indicating the former sites of Shea's home plate, the pitcher's mound, and the rest of the bases.
The parking itself is well-marked, and friendly attendants help guide you to your parking space. Traffic in and out of the lots is also well organized, and the lot clearly borrows from the design of other ballparks, such as the Texas Rangers' home in Arlington, TX. Larger street signs are needed, however, to guide exiting fans to the Grand Central Expressway, or other road of their choice, to avoid last minute confusion and drastic lane changes.
The Jackie Robinson Rotunda
On the suggestion of the Mets' owner and long-time Brooklyn Dodgers fan, Fred Wilpon, the main entrance of Citi Field is designed to resemble Ebbets Field, the former home of the Dodgers. Inside the entrance is the Jackie Robinson Rotunda, a tremendous tribute to the former Brooklyn Dodger who broke baseball's color barrier. The large, oval lobby contains pictures and quotes from Robinson, and includes a large sculpture of his uniform number 42. The focus on Robinson is so great, that you may forget you are at a Mets game - until you take the elevator from the Rotunda to the main concourse.
The Concourse
Like most major league ballparks built in the last fifteen years, Citi Field's concourse runs 360 degrees around the field. It's loaded with places to get grilled Italian sausage, traditional ballpark hot dogs, seafood, and numerous varieties of beer.
Behind the centerfield scoreboard, the ballpark becomes an amusement park. The kids will enjoy the batting cage, whiffle ball field, and video game booth, where they can sit on a comfy sofa and play MLB2k9 on an Xbox. Kids of all ages can test out their arm at the dunk tank. Throw a baseball in the right spot, and not only will you see the speed of the pitch, but a poor soul wearing the visiting team's jersey will take a spill into the tank.
Next to all the attractions are three big concession stands - El Verano Taqueria (Mexican cuisine), Blue Smoke (Barbecue), and the award-winning Shake Shack (Burgers, and of course, shakes). Above the Shake Shack sits the depiction of the Manhattan skyline that used to reside atop the big scoreboard in right-center field at Shea Stadium.
The Field
The field itself is well-manicured and gorgeous. The stands, which have a capacity of 45,000 people, including standing room, are close to the field, and are angled toward the infield to provide the best sight lines possible. There have been reports of obstructed views throughout the park, however. This is partially due to Citi Field's irregularities.
The Mets wanted to build a ballpark that had distinctive features. Among those are a minimum of playable foul territory, odd angles, and various distances and heights of the outfield wall. For the most part, the outfield wall is deep, going back as far as 415 feet in right center field. The left field wall is 16 feet high, and the Pepsi Porch, the second level of stands in right field, hangs 8 feet out over the playing surface. If a player is strong enough to hit one out over that fence, a brand new home run apple pops out from behind the center field fence.
The park features a large, high definition video screen beyond the center field fence, the main scoreboard in right-center, an out of town scoreboard high above the left field stands, and an auxiliary scoreboard that runs around the facade of the second deck. An old-fashioned Pepsi Cola sign, reminiscent of one in Long Island City in Queens, sits above the Pepsi Porch. Finally, a bridge runs the concourse over the home and away bullpens, allowing fans to take a peek at the life of a major league relief pitcher.
Luxury Amenities
Baseball definitely comes first at Citi Field, but for those who demand a more luxurious experience, the ballpark contains the Acela and Delta Clubs, available to high-end ticket holders. There are plenty of luxury suites, and padded seating behind home plate.
Of course, these high-end amenities come with a price - seats behind home plate can cost as much as $495 a head. However, there are plenty of affordable seats that provide a great view of the game.
Atmosphere
While Citi Field bears resemblance to its midwestern counterparts, such as Coors Field, once the game starts, it is distinctly New York. The fans are as loud and energetic as ever, hanging on every pitch, reacting to every play, and living and dying with their favorite team. Chants of "Let's Go Mets" echo through the ballpark as often as they did at Shea.
Is it Home?
Citi Field is a terrific place to watch a ballgame, and as time passes, and memories are built, it will feel more and more like home to every Mets fan. Until then, every time a passenger jet buzzes overhead on its final approach to LaGuardia Airport, fans can rest assured that they are at a Mets game.
Paul Festa - Paul J. Festa is a freelance writer with a background in the TV business and sports. He works for Avid Technology, giving presentations ...
