Baseball is considered the most popular sport in Queens and New York. It is deeply ingrained in the city’s culture, so many people grew up playing the sport in school or in community leagues. Citi Field is a baseball stadium in the Flushing neighborhood of Queens. It was opened in 2009. Now, it is the home of the New York Mets and a gathering place for sports fans. Read more about it on i-queens.
Built on the site of another stadium
In 1964, Shea Stadium was opened at a place of modern Citi Field. It was named after lawyer William Shea, who was responsible for bringing the National League back to New York. It was home to the New York Mets in 1964-2008 and the New York Jets in 1964-1983. It served for various purposes until it was upgraded specifically for baseball in 1983.
Shea Stadium was rearranged in 2009. The first regular season game here was between the New York Mets and the San Diego Padres (California). In addition to sports games, cultural events were also held here. The headliner of the first concerts was the British singer, composer and songwriter Paul McCartney.
In 2013, the New York City Council approved a plan to build the Willets West shopping and entertainment center on the Citi Field parking lot where Shea Stadium was created. However, in 2015, the New York State Supreme Court decided that the area could not be used for commercial development.
Home of the New York Mets
The New York Mets was founded in Flushing in 1962. The team is a member of the National League East division as part of Major League Baseball (MLB). Thirty teams play in MLB, which are divided into the American and National Leagues. The New York Mets boast a huge fan base and their games draw thousands of spectators every year.
The Mets hosted the MLB All-Star Game at Citi Field. This is an annual game featuring the best players, who are chosen by fans, players, coaches and managers. In 2015, the team took part in the World Series, the finals of the MLB championship. The Mets won the first game of the World Series against the Kansas City Royals.
The colors of the Mets are blue and orange. They were chosen in honor of the history of New York’s participation in the National League. These are also the colors of the city that can be seen on its flag. The team’s main logo was designed by sports cartoonist Ray Gotto. It consists of the word Mets in orange, a blue image of the NYC skyline with a white suspension bridge in the foreground and an orange circle with ball-like elements. The players’ home uniforms are white with blue stripes, featuring ‘Mets’ in blue with an orange outline across the chest and players’ names and numbers in block letters.
Since 2020, the Mets have been owned by billionaire Steve Cohen, who purchased the team for $2.4 billion. In 2023, Forbes magazine ranked the Mets as the 6th most valuable MLB team.
Architecture
Citi Field combines National League heritage and urban modern elements through a successful design. A baseball stadium on the north shore of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania PNC Park inspired the New York Mets COO Jeff Wilpon.
Citi Field is the only ballpark in MLB with orange foul poles instead of yellow. This unique feature was inherited from Shea Stadium. The main entrance is adorned with a rotunda named after Jackie Robinson. The rotunda’s floor is decorated with words and images that represent the nine values of a baseball player, namely Courage, Excellence, Perseverance, Fairness, Teamwork, Dedication, Citizenship, Determination and Integrity.
A giant New York Mets logo Home Run Apple was moved from Shea Stadium. When a player hits a home run, it goes up. In modern baseball, a home run is usually achieved by a strong and accurate action by the hitter. As a result, the ball leaves the outfield without entering the foul zone and touching the ground. The new apple is more than 4 times the size of the original. In 2010, it was moved outside the football field and placed near the rotunda.
In 2010, the Mets Hall of Fame & Museum was opened next to the rotunda. The original costume of Mr. Met, the official mascot of the New York Mets team, is kept here. Mr. Met first appeared as a drawing in 1963. When the team moved to Shea Stadium a year later, he came to life as a costumed man with a large baseball for a head. It is said to be the first mascot to appear in human form.
Sports uniforms of famous baseball players like David Cone are also stored here. The museum has plaques in honor of athletes, as well as valuable artifacts from famous collectors, former players and more. There are also interactive touch screens that tell the story of the New York Mets.
In April 2022, a statue of Tom Seaver, an American professional pitcher also appeared here. He played 20 seasons in MLB for the New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox. Seaver is often called the most famous and successful player in the history of the team.
Amenities
Citi Field offers numerous amenities for sports fans and visitors to New York City. For example, there are regular tours that allow you to see the field from the inside and gain access to the most restricted, non-public areas.
Citi Field can hold over 40,000 fans. It offers a wide selection of food and drinks at such food establishments as Shake Shack, Pat LaFrieda Meat Purveyors, Sweet Chick and others. Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options are also available here.
The FanFest area is located behind the center field scoreboard. There, you can play wiffleball (a miniature version of baseball designed to be played in a confined space). In another popular game, one player tries to hit a target that causes the chair to fall, submerging the other player in a tank of water. You will also find kiosks for video games and other attractions here.
There are 6 parking lots around the stadium. You can get to the stadium by car, subway or bus. Citi Field rules require all guests to be screened with metal detectors before entering the stadium. Therefore, it is recommended to arrive at any event a little in advance. Guests must empty their pockets of mobile phones, cameras and any large metal objects. All bags are checked before entry. Guests scan their tickets only after verification.