I closed out my 2018 mad dash at Flushing, Queens’s shiny new-ish toy. And of course, I would pick the opening week of the NFL season and the day of the men’s final of the US Open to do this! Also, SURPRISE, there may have been a drop or two from a cloudy sky. It was time for me to meet, step right up and greet the Metropolitans’ newest house of baseball, Citi Field. New York, take two.
Game Time! (vs. Philadelphia Phillies – 9/9/2018): In this episode of ‘Rain Keeps Trying To Ruin Baseball, But I’m Not Gonna Let It Flood Me Out’, I started my journey at Roosevelt, donning a wrinkly orange long sleeve shirt that had probably been nestled in the trunk of my car for at least 5 years. Apparently, I hadn’t learned anything from my previous trips in 2018 about bringing a proper rain jacket. But hey, Mets colors. Even before approaching the gates, the old-school feel was apparent. Yes, the old Shea Stadium Apple does make an appearance once you enter the lot. However, the exterior screamed of a different era. It is no secret that Citi Field was built as an homage to Ebbets Field, the former home of the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1913 to 1957 (Owner Fred Wilpon is from Brooklyn). Once I finished my Tripper Bocker from Mikkeller, I grabbed my complimentary Mets chip bowl and took my pre-game saunter through as much of the seating chart as I could. Neither the light chilly rain, nor the roaring jet engines from LaGuardia would impede my progress. Admittedly, the latter did not bother me as much as I thought before entering the gates. The game itself was more of a formality, with a Mets team light years away from their 11-1 start to the season, against a Phillies team that was in the beginning of an 8-20 September swoon. The Apple did make its rise on a Michael Conforto home run, and my good pal Dante became a super fan-for-a-day for Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera. So, I guess the magic of baseball and $16 cheese steaks always prevails. And nothing wrong with a victory song from a former member of an iconic rock band to get you to groove home, or in this case, back to Mikkeller (Ya’ betta’ believe!).
Around the Diamond: If an assortment of of beers on tap and organic tots are your thing, Mikkeller Brewery is your place. Although, much like Kansas City, the grounds surrounding the park is essentially a garden of parking lots. And unless you are looking for new tires or to replace your muffler before the game, you will have to get back on the train and head west for any additional New York activities. However, if you pick the right time of year, you can experience a doubleheader of sorts by attending a tennis match at Arthur Ashe Stadium, part of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center where the US Open takes place each year. But you may want to turn a blind eye on the poor reviews of the place if you dare enter.
Home Runs: As with many hot spots in New York, the stadium is very accessible by public transportation, with a direct stop via the 7 train. Of course, Citi Field’s old-school allure is evident and enough to attract purists and casual fans alike. From the Ebbets-like facade, the revival of Shea’s orange foul poles and the green seats reminiscent of the Mets’ original home, the Polo Grounds, Citi Field is as much of a tribute to New York baseball as it is a home for the Mets and their passionate, oft-tortured fan base. Sitting in the bleachers with a great view of the park and a satisfying degree of comfort never hurts, either. Also, out of the parks I’ve experienced so far, Citi Field has the most diverse collection of culinary options from Alpine Brats to ice cream-stuffed egg waffles. Citi Field may also have the greasiest popcorn ever, which for the sake of this article, I will call a plus. And it never hurts to have a Shake Shack on site!
Fly Outs: As you may expect from a New York sporting venue, the concessions don’t exactly have economy-styled pricing. In fact, other than the aforementioned Mikkeller Brewery, there isn’t really anything to pick and choose from in terms of pre-game snacking, which potentially leaves you more susceptible to the heart attack you will get from the money you have to dish out for grub inside, or from the food itself. I feel that a park situated where the country’s top media market resides could have a bit more bells and whistles outside the park to appease the incoming pack. I can’t knock on my game being at half-capacity, considering the raw weather, the competing teams being out of contention and that there were brighter stars shining over the sports world that weekend with what football and tennis had to offer. Lastly, this wasn’t a total negative, but with the Ebbets Field influence and one walk through the Jackie Robinson Rotunda, you can say that the park brings out more of a Flatbush vibe than any home for the Mets.
The Final Play: The one thing I’m learning as I tour all of these venues is that is if park has enough going for it inside, it can make up for the lack of niceties around the park. Citi Field is yet another venue that aptly blends modern times with nostalgia, even if some say it pays homage to the wrong New York baseball franchise of old. Unfortunately, I was never able to experience the distinct charm of Shea Stadium. However, there’s a feeling that Citi Field is similar to a new baseball glove in that it is still being broken in. For example, the Mets have altered the fences on multiple occasions in their stadium’s brief life in order to resuscitate the power numbers of the sluggers on the team. As well, besides from a craft beer bar connected to the stadium, there are not really any distractions to make you stick around the brick walls of Citi Field for very long. I expect this to change as Citi Field ages in years and in charm. Ed Sullivan may not be announcing any super-famous British quartets to a sell-out crowd anytime soon. But with its throwback look and a couple of future Mets miracles in the mix, it’s my true belief that Citi Field can be just as iconic, if not more iconic of a home as Shea was. Now, go Dodg…, I mean Mets!
Well, now you know!: Even though there have been only 10 full seasons at Citi Field, there has been has been plenty to celebrate, including a Midsummer Classic, a World Series, the Mets franchise’s first no-hitter and hosting the Impractical Jokers, a feat Fenway or Wrigley have never accomplished. But did you know that Citi Field is the only park that opened with a home run from its first batter? On April 13, 2009, Padres outfielder and leadoff hitter Jody Gerut slugged a 1-1 pitch over the right field wall to add yet another dubious achievement for a franchise full of them.
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