The Uncensored Unoffical Guide To Citi Field

Mets PoliceApr 13, 2009

the turnstiles now have an attached ticket scanner (no more hand held ones)
there is a very large team store located on the ground level with an entrance inside the rotunda to the right (there is also a street entrance as the store is open everyday 10-5)
Two video screens on either side of the rotunda show highlights from Robinson's career. I think Shannon is correct that it will get old fast

Shannon: Center field is definitely one of the best places in the park. Googling God blog has a video of the area.

BIG APPLE SEATS

Osh41: Cool. And there is tons of space behind it to hang out, eat, drink etc. There are going to be tons of homers hit up there. Under the big scoreboard there's tons of space too but its fenced off. This is where I saw they had a chance to add some more seats - I have a problem with only 42.5k. This is NY, you need more seats, bottom line.

Shannon: I'd like sit out there, but at $42 a pop I'm going to have to pass. This could be "the bleachers" but the price will keep it from being that. I disagree with Osh41 about home runs being hit out there...the fence says 415....and you need to hit it over, and when I was there I didn't think the ball carried at all.

THE ACELA CLUB

Dan: It's a nice place....a very nice place. Tables are tiered along five levels - four inside and one outside - offering full and clear views of the playing field for all patrons.

The menus looked good (they were not serving today but had menus posted). Yes, the price of brunch or dinner here is not for everyone ($41 for brunch, $48 for dinner) but the selection seemed decent. I seriously doubt whether we will be dining there during the season - but if any of you think you might be, here are some pictures.

OBSTRUCTED VIEWS

Shannon: Some of these are very troubling. I couldn't believe how bad it was until it happened to me at the Red Sox game. You can see video of another fan's experience here.

The shot on the left is from Row 3 of section 504. It looks like if you're in the lower three to five rows of the Promenade you will be in danger of views like these. However, early reports have the Mets being accommodating about moving people.

You may also want to check out a video from left field below the scoreboard. (thx 'the Ropolitans blog).

Dan: This picture is from Section 529, Row 3. When we got there man was I livid. Almost the entire row has an obstructed view of 3rd Base and the right-hander's batters box.

FOOD

Shannon: I'm both cheap and went on a Lenten Friday, so I haven't had much yet. The concession lines were longer than long, mainly because the wireless credit card systems keep crapping out. My beer and Nathan's onion rings were fine....Dan's hot dog was so cold he returned it. Gothamist has a summary of all the fancy places here. The National hot dog council reports that the Mets are expected to finish second in sausage consumption.

Dan: As Shannon mentioned the registers were all screwed up as the WiFi apparently wasn't working. Additionally some of the food wasn't getting cooked (my first dog was ice cold). Hopefully they will get this worked out - it's why they have exhibitions.

As for options, there are plenty of concession stands all around the park on both levels. It looked like each stand had it's own kitchen area as well - or at least most of them did. This is good news as the food should be a lot fresher. Even the pizza looked good - the ovens were right there.

My one wish is that the specialty items (Blue Smoke, etc) be offered beyond the CF Food Court.

BATHROOMS

Osh41: Very big, waterless urinals - no dividers though - they should have sprung for them. Some folks are going to be have some stage fright issues which will cause delays.

Shannon: The urinals are pretty well spread apart so the lack of dividers isn't as bad as it could have been. They are much bigger than Shea. I notice wetspots develop in front of the urinals. My fellow Mets fans need some better aim. By the seventh you'll need to stand spread eagle.

SOUNDS, SCOREBOARDS, AND SCREENS

Osh41: Looks great, if you're in left field you're going to have a problem seeing it. Didn't sit in the seats that look to be obstructed by it.

Shannon: I found Citi Field to be a refreshing change from the wall of noise that Shea was. Lots of organ music, lets noise and nobody encouraging everybody clap your hands clapclapclapclap. I hope it stays this way.

Dan: "We Built This City" - the worst song in the history of rock was used in a between innings spot to show the construction of Citi Field. I really hope they don't plan on using this throughout the year.

I haven't seen anyone else mention this, but among the so many things that we noticed last night were these huge blank spaces at different areas around the ballpark, specifically around the scoreboard and video screen. The Mets have not sold all their advertising space - and some of it premium spots too. The result is probably the biggest eyesore in the new park. Big gray squares of nothing look bad. I can understand that the Mets may be having a tough time selling the space - it's bad out there right now. But why don't they at least have those spaces a Mets blue, or put up Mets logos - something, anything but that blank gray. There are also blank spots along the Pepsi Porch in RF.

SMOKING

Shannon: Sorry smokers. There's only one area, it's at the left field gate and it's going to take you half an hour to go smoke and return.

STORES

Dan: Can a guy buy a regular cap? I went to 2 team stores looking to replace my old cap with a new one. All they had for sale were ones with a commemorative patch on the side. The logo is a nice one, but caps should not have patches. I left cap-less.

However, beyond my cap issues, there are numerous full stores to browse in - a total of (I think) 4 team stores, A Majestic store, a Players Association store, Alyssa Milano's Touch store, a memorabilia store, and I think 1 or 2 others I'm missing.

One thing you don't see are the old stand alone souvenir concession stands.

CHILDREN'S AREA

Shannon: I haven't made it out there yet - but Mets Today did.

Dan: This is a really nice addition, with a mini T-ball field in the configuration of Citi Field (even down to the retired numbers), pitching and batting cages, and video game consoles. It's not overdone though (ala the ferris wheel at Comerica Park)

126TH STREET

Shannon: 126th street has gone form being the random pavement on the far side of the Shea lot, to being right next to the park. It's ugly, and it won't be there long. There's no way those chop shops will stay.

Osh41: Holy Cow! The chop shops - I always knew they were there and have even patronized some of them. But the view of the area from the park never existed at Shea. It's crazy having this brand new park on one side of the block and this hell hole on the other side. There were pot holes filled with water over there that looked like the reservoir in Central Park.

Dan: We went in the RF gate - which is on 126th Street, right by the chop shops. Memo to Fred - get on the phone to Bloomberg and do what needs to be done to get rid of that area.

LACK OF METS STUFF

Osh41: (this was after the St. John's game) Things I noticed that I hope is something that is being worked on - as you walk around there are no pictures inside the park of any Mets! You wouldn't know what team plays there. In Shea there were the big banners and pictures all around. Mr. Met was on the signs saying 'Thanks for coming' 'Thanks for eating that knish etc.' . Mr. Met wasn't anywhere in signage as far as I saw. I loved seeing the big pics of Tug, Keith and Tom hanging there. This could be something they are working on for the real opening in a few weeks.

Shannon: When I went for the first Red Sox game the exterior had been decorated with flags with pictures of all the "right" players - the list of heroes any Mets fan would make. The inside could get Metsier.

Dan: I mentioned to Shannon at the Red Sox game that it felt we were on a road trip. Right now, beyond the numbers on the wall and the scoreboard, there really is no way to tell you are at the home of the Mets. Definitley need more blue and orange around.

OVERALL

Osh41: I think they did a good job. I'll never be happy until I see a statue of Seaver and them wearing hats and uniforms with no trace of black on them. But for the ballpark - it really is nice and the fans should really enjoy it - and trust me on the burgers.

Dan: It's still really hard for me to believe that this is our new home. I really like it - but it will take some time for me to get fully comfortable. More Mets history (I agree with Osh41 on a Seaver statue) and more blue and orange will go a long way to making it feel like home.

Shannon: It's great. I'm bothered by the obstructed views - how did they not catch it...but other than that, great park. It will be nice to have the better of the city's two ballparks for the next 50 years.

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