Saturday night I met up with fellow bloggers from Metspolice.com, ontheblack.com and readtheapple.com for friendly Mets conversation, and beer. I’ve officially come in as the laziest despite technically being the longest running blog of the four, as they’ve all put up recap posts already and I’m just messing around on Twitter. So go read their recaps, which include what I believe is my video blog premier. (Which made it up much faster than my SNY/Beer Money premier, which was filmed eight months ago and hasn’t aired yet.) Guest starring in the recaps is the infamous and hilarious Eli From Brooklyn.
Left Field Landing Observations
Edit, 3/12/11: The Mets have announced the last two sections of the Left Field Landing have been renamed Mr. Mets Landing, and discounted. Many of the pictures here, and in the full album here, are from this section.
Edit, 4/1/11: And now it’s sponsored and called BJ’s Clubhouse.
Since Citi Field was mostly empty last night due to the team and the rain, I moved all over the Left Field Landing section where my seats were to get a feel for it. I’ve never sat there before, and I was surprisingly impressed with the vantage point. At least from the front six or so rows. Further back and you lose too much of left field for my liking. I ventured out to the farthest section, 339, and it was almost the same as watching it at home, from the center field camera. Actually, I could’ve reached out and touched the camera.
There was this interesting thing out above the Apple, that seems to report wind speed and direction.
Citi Field: Home of the Mets, and only the Mets.
News today confirms what has probably been the plan all along. A shiny new Home Run Apple at the Citi. This is just as it should be, I don’t understand those that want the same old decrepit apple from Shea. It’s worn out and needs to be replaced anyway. Moving it would be as silly as taking the seats from Shea to put in Citi Field.
A lot of stuff about Citi Field hasn’t been decided or released yet. There will be plenty of Shea mementos, and plenty of references to the Mets, despite what some people like to think. For example, the neon guys from the outside of Shea will be featured in one of the clubhouses somewhere, and while we can’t see them, they’ll be there. I’m sure other things will as well. Citi Field is not some Dodger tribute either. The façade of the rotunda will resemble Ebbett’s Field, which I think is a nice touch for the part of the stadium that will be named one of the few baseball players that actually transcends the sport. There are a couple of names for landings and areas that are tributes to old Dodgers and Giants, and you might say it’s a bit too much, and maybe it is. However, there will be plenty of Mets stuff all around, as well as any new memories and additions that happen will likely to Mets related. These Dodger/Giant references are merely the way to recognize and remember the past that led to the creation of the Mets. It’s a way for Mets fans and the next generation to not forget the roots of the team, while we move into a new state of the art facility designed specifically for the New York Mets. Next summer, when the Mets are making memories and leaving their mark all over the place, no one will be thinking about the Dodgers.
Another misconception is that the average fan is being priced out of Citi Field. This is just people overreacting to little snippets of news and expectation. The facts are that there will be plenty of affordable seating at the Citi, and the concessions are likely to be on par with Shea, just with more options and better quality. I’ve heard from a variety of season ticket holders, and while the top prices for the very best seats are obscene, some people are actually paying less than they are this year. There are definitely reasonable priced tickets, and it will be possible for everyone to see a game at the Field next year. I believe the cheapest ticket is going to be $12, compared to $5 this year. There will probably be the occasional special and discount too. And this doesn’t include the Standing Room Only tickets, which they haven’t discussed yet.
Of course, there are some things about the new stadium that aren’t perfect. Despite the ‘good views everywhere’ philosophy, I don’t like the limited seating. Financially I understand why it was done; it would probably take decades to replace the cost of building those extra 10k charging what they’d be worth. While more legroom and closer seats is important, those next 10 thousand people that get left out of the big game would rather be inside than out. However, the Mets rarely average more than the capacity of Citi Field, and the only reason they did this year is because it’s the last year at Shea.
All in all, I’m looking forward to Citi Field a lot. Shea Stadium has a lot of memories, but just like everyone eventually moves out of their first apartment that was falling apart but fun nonetheless, it’s time for the Mets and the fans to move to a better home.
An Apple a Day
Little Bit of Silliness
I am always multi-tasking, so it’s rare when I sit down and just focus on the game. This goes doubly for the commercials, but I saw one on SNY during the game the other day and I was amused. They were advertising Mets tickets and the line was “Come see the Apple at Shea!”. I couldn’t help but think, “What, are the Mets that bad that they don’t say ‘Come see Reyes’ or ‘Come see Wright’ they go with the decrepit Apple?!”