A Trip To The 'Citi'

I had the chance Saturday to go to the Mets' exibition game against the Red Sox. Once I got past Oliver Perez' hideous 2/3rds of an inning (which, after all didn't count) I came away with some impressions of the ballpark:

The Jackie Robinson Rotunda is SPECTACULAR. What a view when you walk in there-particularly off the subway. The photos and 9 'Core Values' highlighted in the Rotunda remind you that Robinson was more than just a ballplayer, but a man who's social impact cannot be underrated. The marble #42 stands out. As Ron Darling pointed out in a recent telecast-people can say, "I'll meet you at 42", and you'll know exactly what they mean.

There's LOTS of room to roam. Shea could be cramped quarters from the bathrooms to the spaces in between the rows. I knew as soon as I walked into one of the heated bathrooms bigger than my apartment that this wasn't Shea Stadium.

I always go to a game just to see a game, but if you have kids with you that won't sit through 9 innings, the kids' mini Citi Field and dunk tank-even video games-gives the youngsters plenty of activities. Me? I want to teach the kids the game-to me the idea of needing 'distractions' to get there (exception below) is a stretch. Once the game starts, I'm there to watch. But not everyone feels that way. To each his own.

Citi Field is VERY accessible for the physically challenged. Those who know me are aware of my mobility issues. The Mets' new digs are FAR superior to Shea for the elderly and disabled. Wheelchair seating is superb; unobstructed views throughout the park. The usher staff, particularly Frank in section 137 is great. The Mets did it right in getting staff there who WANT to help you. I was happily surprised. Wheelchair tickets are a bit more affordable at Citi than many of the other seats. Those with challenges need NOT be discouraged from going to games. Plus, if you have trouble getting around but DON'T use a chair, railings extend throughout the rows in every section. With the wider stairs and rows, you can get around. Many more elevators too. I even saw staff assisting people in wheelchairs. By far the best part of the day from the perspective of my limited mobility.

Seats are close, particularly in the infield, There is a much more intimate feel, a la what Ebbets Field must have been like, The outfield seats for the most part are good, though in left you may lose Daniel Murphy if you're sitting in the last few rows of a section. However, there are TV's spaced in many sections so you can keep track-even gthe bathrooms and walkways pipe in the TV sound.

Negatives/Things I'd like to see:

A Mets/National League Baseball Museum: There are banners stretched out beyond the left and rright field entrances. Great, but they should be INSIDE-in the Robinson Rotunda or alongside in a Mets Museum. I understand the Mets haven't been around as long as the Yankees, but they DO have history. Where are the videos of Tom Seaver's Imperfect Game, Robin Verntura's Grand Slam Single, or Endy Chavez' great catch in the 2006 NLCS?

There's plenty of Taxpayer, er Citibank/Citigroup logos all around. But the METS play there. You can make a safe bet that the Mets will still be in the park even after another corporate sponsor takes the name of the field. Check San Francisco for Pac Bell/AT&T Park. Remember too, the Mets take their tradition from the Dodgers AND Giants. The Mets should carry that legacy, not two teams on the West Coast who abandoned the Big Apple. Willie Mays, Carl Hubbell, Christy Mathewson, Gil Hodges (WHERE's HIS STATUE) Don Newcome and other greats MUST be remembered. I'd spend some time there-obviously before the game. But a Museum/Hall of Fame is something fans could see every day, even with the team on on the road. Remembering the past builds an interest for the future. There's more to the Mets' history than the old Home Run Apple on display near the right field bullpen.

On windy days, it will be cold. Debris littered the field. Whether it will be as cold as Shea was, we'll have to see. It's one of the drawbacks of being by Flushing Bay. I only felt warm when I sat behind the Mets dugout in the 9th inning, Candlestick Park, anyone?

IMy biggest beef: t's expensive, maybe not so much as Yankee Stadium, but it ain't cheap. Even after 'only' $40 for two exibition tickets combined, I spent $40 for an 'official' Mets cap, $30 for a T-Shirt, nearly $30 for food. You get the idea. Having 'tiered' tickets (Platinum, Gold, Silver, etc) depending on the quality of the opponent and access only to certain restaurants depending on your ticket price, is wrong, period. You hope that the Mets will learn that baseball should be a unifier of people, not a chance to designate class systems based on how much you spend. What would Jackie Robinson think of that?

Overall, it was a fun day. Citi Field IS a world class facility. Here's hoping ALL Mets fans get to enjoy it soon.