Five Names the New York Mets Could Have Called "Citi Field"

As a longtime baseball fan, the more I read about the funding of the new Citi Field, the more I don't like it. Here's a list of names the New York Mets' new home could have been called; names that better represent what this stadium means to the average fan

Mets Stadium

How about a name that resonates dignity and tradition? How about naming your stadium after the team that will play in it 'til it's outdated. How about doing what your crosstown rivals have done?

I know, it's a money issue and that's OK. Just remember who the first-class baseball citizens are, and who the second-class baseball citizens in this town are!

More for Less Field

The new Stadium has cut down seating capacity from that of Shea Stadium by 25 percent (roughly 15,000 less seats). Even though the Mets' average attendance last year was over 51,000, they decided to build a stadium that holds almost 10,000 fewer fans than those that showed up in 2008.

Do you think they intend to lose money because they cut down the seating? Of course not. They are going to charge more for tickets and effectively get "more for less."

Create more demand for tickets by limiting the seating, charge more money and shut out 10,000 fans. More is less! Make sense to me!

Playpen for the Rich Field

Ticket prices up, Cracker Jacks $4.75, peanuts $5, hot dogs $5.75, a 12 oz. beer for $6, parking, etc.

Can an average fan afford to take his family to a game?  Prices aren't as bad as the Yankees are asking (76 percent increase over last year) but if you take a family of four to a game and you buy them each a drink and a hot dog, what's it going to cost you? $200?, $300? I don't know.

Look at it this way: You're a member of the middle class—if there is one anymore—and you work hard and volunteer two nights and the weekend coaching little league baseball.  You're influence on the game is "priceless."

Maybe you can afford to take a couple of the kids to one game a year. 

Maybe!

Citizens Stadium

That's right! It doesn't sound fancy but close to $200 million of New York taxpayer money was put into this project. This money was handed over to the Mets.

What do they do with the money? They build a stadium that cuts seating and raises ticket prices. Why don't they do something better for the average citizen?

Bailout Ballpark

Citi (formerly CitiCorp) bought the naming rights ($400 million over 20 years) before the economic downturn hit. They claimed they were in trouble and the federal government gave them a $45 billion bailout.

This is no different than those AIG bonuses. At least with AIG, most of the bonuses given to Americans were returned.

So, who's paying for the naming rights to this Stadium; Citi or the American taxpayer? 

Two New York council members had asked the name to be changed to "Citi/Taxpayer Field" earlier this year.