The Mets Police

We've finally made it. Tonight our brand new ballpark opens another season of Mets baseball. The Mets Police were fortunate to visit the stadium a few times between the St. John's & exhibition games, and the workout. So with some help from Mets Policemen Osh41 and Dan Twohig...here's the uncensored unofficial guide to Citi Field.

It's a great great park. There's so much to love. We discovered a few troubling things, but overall it's fantastic.


THE ROTUNDA

Osh41: Getting off the subway - it was jarring walking down that ramp and not seeing Shea. There was a physical and emotional jolt not seeing it there. I hate comparing things to 9/11 for obvious reasons but when you went downtown after it happened there was a hole in the sky where the buildings were. You saw them there for so long, they were so big, you'd never imagine them not there. So coming down the ramp and seeing nothing?? Very strange and that will I think be something a lot of fans will have to get used to.

Getting in - kind of seemed like Shea! Long lines, check your bag. Everyone looking up instead of ahead. Long line at main gate for obvious reasons - 1st day, everyone wants to go in the main door. There are other entrances so for future games I'll go to more seat specific gates. Rotunda - very nice, still not finished, looks like they are going to hang some more pictures of Jackie up. Huge #42 behind the escalator will be a photo op for a generation of kids. Huge Mets Clubhouses shop right behind the escalators.

Shannon: I found the rotunda to be overrated. It's nice enough, it's big...but there's nothing Mets about it, and the Jackie Robinson video is going to get quite old fast.

Dan: The entrance to the ballpark is magnificent. Coming off the subway you are lead right towards the Rotunda. The landscaping around the park is still in progress but you can already tell that once it's all completed it will look really nice. They already have blue, orange, and white flowers planted out in front, and the trees are going in along both sides if the park.

The rotunda itself is not nearly as obnoxious as I thought it was going to be. It honors Robinson, but in a very tasteful manner. A few things to know:

• 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

One thing that Shannon and I noticed when we were there was that as we walked around the Field Level and went out by the Rotunda, it really did feel like we were outside even though we were still inside. I can see the balcony becoming a big hangout place during rain delays


FIELD LEVEL

Osh41: At top of escalator we went in and made a left, nice wide concourses. Felt it was kind of dark in there, lights looked to be there but not set to go yet. Bathrooms, concessions all there. Spotted pics of Ebbets Field and saw the Ebbets Club entrances are on that level. You keep walking and then boom on your right, concourse opens up to the field. Looks great, grass is green, dark green seats etc. Seen pics of it but to see in person for the first time was great.

Dan: This is really the best part of Corporate Field - the Field Level concourse wraps all the way around the ballpark. You can't see the field when you are behind the home plate area (the Delta Club is located there), but once you get past there the concourse opens up to the field.

There are 2 Ebbets Clubs on the Field Level, one along each baseline. Truthfully they really aren't that special, just small interior areas with a bar, some tables, and private bathrooms.


THE CAESARS CLUB LEVEL

Dan: This is the small mid-level area (kind of like the Loge Level at Shea). Unlike the Field and Promenade Levels, The Caesars Club Level is only accessible to those holding tickets to this level.

The level includes several food options as well as two full bars with seating, one on each base side. In addition, there is also the Caesar's Club, an expansive area located above the Rotunda with leather chairs, tables, bar seating, and many food options, including salads and wraps.

Here are a few pictures taken from the level and inside the Caesars Club.


THE PROMENADE LEVEL (AKA UPPERS)

Osh41: Let me tell you the trip wasn't half as long as it took to get to the uppers at Shea. Quick trip, could have taken an elevator if I wanted.

The promenade is great. Huge upgrade over Shea. You feel much closer to the field. The upper deck is split in half so you can walk down or up. Lots of room to stand around and watch the game. No more craning your neck to see a TV to know what's going on, just turn your head and the field is right there.

Dan: Yes there are some obstructed seats (see below) but it's amazing how much closer to the field you are here compared to the top deck at Shea. The incline isn't that steep so no sense of vertigo, and the seats really are all angled towards the infield.

The concourse up here is huge - in some areas it seemed even wider than the concourse on the Field Level.

Above home plate is the Promenade Club. No specialty foods or beers, just an enclosed area with tables, a bar, and windows looking out onto the field. Admittance will be to only those holding specified tickets.

Behind the Promenade Club along the concourse is the Promenade Level Food Court. Here is where you will find Mama's of Corona, as well as other staples (burgers, dogs, etc.) Several picnic tables and benches ensure that this will be a popular hang out area.

The thing I liked the most about the Promenade Level though was the lack of wind. Shannon and I were up there during the Friday night Boston game, and even though we could see the flags on top of the park whipping in the wind, we felt little more than a breeze. Granted it was only one night but I don't think early Spring and Fall games will be as bad to handle here as they were at Shea.


CENTERFIELD / THE PEPSI PORCH

Osh41: Osh41 is of the middle class. He is an upper deck/bleachers guy. I would sit in these Apple seats in center ahead of 95% of the park. They are fantastic. You're right behind the pitcher, its like watching it on TV. You walk out behind you and you have the food, drinks etc.

I didn't know anything about the Shake Shack until the past few weeks but their burgers are terrific. $5.75 for a great cheeseburger - I didn't feel violated on the price either. I think I ate 1 burger in 30 years of going to games at Shea - for a reason - they were awful. This stand is going to be mobbed every night. They should use half the parking lot as a grazing field for cattle because they will need to keep the beef coming.

Dan: Out beyond center field at Citi Field is Taste of the City- the concession area that everyone (from the Times to NY Magazine) is talking about. This is where you will find Danny Meyer's Shake Shack and Blue Smoke stands,as well as Box Frites and Nona's Deli. During the open house workout the missus and I sampled the Blue Smoke Pulled Pork Sandwich. At $9 not cheap - but considering it was as filling as 2 hot dogs it's overall a cheaper (and tastier) meal.

But for me, the happiest moment on Sunday was when I met Will. Will is the man in charge of Big Apple Brews, a beer oasis that will make any beer aficionado smile. A 4-sided,12 door refrigerator stocks dozens of micro and imported beers - and the selection is constantly changing based on sales and consumer feedback. I met Will while gazing at a bottle of Longboard Lager from Hawaii's Kona Brewing Company. According to Will it was a big seller over the weekend. Not so much the Kirin or Tiger (which only sold "maybe 4 bottles").

Fortunately the forecast for tomorrow's opening night (damn you Padres) game isn't as bad as it could be.  I was quite concerned after feeling that winter chill this morning.

from weather.com (updated 10am Sunday morning)

5 pm

56°F
Mostly Sunny

53°F

10%

25%

From W
13 mph

Top 10 Courses

6 pm

55°F
Mostly Sunny

52°F

10%

27%

From W
11 mph

7 pm

53°F
Partly Cloudy

50°F

10%

30%

From W
8 mph

Travel Top 10 Lists

 Sunset 7:33 pm

8 pm

51°F
Partly Cloudy

49°F

10%

33%

From WSW
6 mph

9 pm

49°F
Partly Cloudy

46°F

10%

38%

From WSW
6 mph

Travel Top 10 Lists

10 pm

48°F
Mostly Cloudy

46°F

10%

39%

From W
5 mph

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@metspolice

As I mentioned a few weeks back, it's now official.

TOM SEAVER WILL THROW OUT THE FIRST PITCH AT CITI FIELD!!!

Hooray.   The Mets get one right.

From no less a source than mlb.com:

Tom Seaver and Mike Piazza, who teamed up to close Shea Stadium with a "final pitch," are expected to be together again for the Mets' home opener, this time for the ceremonial first pitch at Citi Field's first regular season game.

Awesome.  The correct move.

www.metspolice.com

As of right now the Mets are still planning on opening Corporate Field with a night game on April 16th. And as discussed earlier, they still don't have a National Anthem singer.

Really not ideal.

But what would an ideal - a PERFECT - Opening Day be like? Here's how I see it (at least things I could control)

1. Opening DAY - This is the easy one. The game would be played with a 1 pm start time. No late nights, no freezing temperatures. Day baseball. Period.
2. Seaver Statue - During the Opening Ceremonies the Mets would unveil a statue honoring the man that will always be known as The Franchise to be placed outside the ballpark in
3. William A. Shea Plaza - Bill Shea is responsible for the Mets existence. He no longer has a ballpark named after him - at least honor him by naming the plaza for him
4. Sey Hey Seats - The Wilpons have gone head over heals in honoring the Brooklyn Dodgers, but as has been mentioned here many times before, where's the love for that other NY NL team? Announce that the bleacher seats would be named in honor of a Giant that actually played for the Mets
   
5. A Good National Anthem - Little 8 yr old Betsy is cute and is fine on May 12th - but not for Opening Day. Give me Billy Joel (or someone similar)
   
6. First Pitch - Open the new ballpark the same way you closed the old one, with Tome Seaver throwing the first pitch to Mike Piazza
7. Blue Hats - Start the year right - start the new ballpark right. Blue hats and pinstripes.
   

Are there other things I'd like to see? Of course - friendly ushers, a Mets win- but these are things that cannot be controlled.

With 2 1/2 weeks to go, all of these except the Seaver statue are still possible. Come on Jeff and Fred, let's make this one really memorable.

www.metspolice.com

As we have been mentioning, we are encouraging all Mets fans to unite in an effort to get Opening Night changed to a day came.   Read that article to find out how you can help,

One of the things we suggested is that it will take much more than this blog to get this to even the discussion level.  We need bigger fish - the bigger blogs, the newspapers, the local news.   We've asked that all bloggers write about it in their own words, and that Mets fans reach out to the various local publications and message boards.

We humbly appreciate the big response so far and invite you to do the right thing and visit those blogs and sites who have supported the cause.   My apologies if anyone is left out, please let me know if you too have joined the cause.

Thanks to (and please go visit):

Amazin' Avenue

The Eddie Kranepool Society

the 'Ropolitans

NJ.com

and it looks like at least one of the NY newspapers.    I'm writing this on Thursday night so I haven't seen the paper today - might be in there, might be in there soon.  Fingers crossed.

Please continue to get the word out .  Again, this isn't about trying to get cheap hits for Mets Police - write your own articles in your own words.

Thanks guys!!

www.metspolice.com

So, I'm trying to rally all Mets fans to make enough noise to get the Opening NIGHT game changed to a 1:05 start.

To recap, the reason it's a night game seems to involve the Padres unwillingness to play in the afternoon.

As a fan, I think the new park should open with a day game.

Although it's a long shot, it's not as if game times never change (for severe weather, for ESPN, for a NFL playoff game) so let's not assume it cannot be done.

Here's how it might work:

We need to get big-time executives (higher-ups at MLB and the Mets) to take notice of a groundswell.

How could that happen?  Big-time execs get media clippings every day.   Someone in the PR department puts together snippets of everything being said about their company.  Believe me they get read.  All we need is ONE executive to say to an underling "what's this thing about the night game?" and we're off and running.

To get in the media clippings, I need your help.  

If you have a blog, write about this yourself.  In your own words.  I'm not trying to get hits or links.  I don't want the credit.  I just want the game time changed for all of us.

We'll need the bigger blogs to motivate their readers.   Amazin' Avenue has said they would help.  Matt Cerrone at Mets Blog, we need you.  Any of the other numerous blogs, join in.   If you are a blog reader, post on their message boards to get them to write about it.

We need the mainstream press to write about it.  Believe me, they do Google searches to look for things to write about, so blogging will help.   Email the papers.

Phil Mushnick we need you.   I'm looking for Mushnick's email (I have it somewhere) but try sports@nypost.com and hope the assignment desk hands it to someone.   Phil isn't in today's or yesterday's Post but it's either phil.mushnick@nypost.com or pmushnick@nypost.com

Try Neil Best at Newsday:   neil.best@newsday.com

Wallace Matthews likes to bring it:  wallace.matthews@newsday.com

Hit the Mets message board 


Try the Unofficial WFAN message board. 


Call WFAN.  718-937-6666.  Don't sit on hold waiting for Francesca to blow you off.  Call Somers, Call Carton at 6:10 in the morning when they have open lines.   Call at 3am.  Call on Sunday when they are dying for calls.

Contact SNY.   I hear the TV guys talk about blogs often, and they tend to get loose late in games.  Try these:
askthebooth@sny.tv

 thewheelhouse@sny.tv.
dailynewslive@sny.tv.


Bug the office of major league baseball.  Email:  fanfeedback@website.mlb.com

Maybe even call!
The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball
Allan H. (Bud) Selig, Commissioner
245 Park Avenue, 31st Floor
New York, NY 10167
Phone: (212) 931-7800

Believe me, everyone is looking for content and a good story.  It's worth an email.  No form letters, write these guys in your own words.

A few arguments will be thrown back at us:


1.  It is unfair to people who expected a night game.   If they mention this then how dare they ever again move a Sunday game to 8:05.

2.  It's too late.  Hogwash.  Rain-outs happen.  Game times change.   The internet exists.  People won't show up at 7:05 disappointed.

3.  It would be unfair to the Padres.  You've never had to wake up early for your job?  Maybe we can compromise and play at 4:05?

4.  Our TV partners can't change their schedule.  Again, ESPN seems really adept and dealing with changing start-times. I am confident they can handle it.  So can SNY.

My dopey blog isn't big enough.  It's time to rally the troops.   Off you go, and good luck to us all!  Go forth and multiply!


www.metspolice.com

Why oh why is Opening Night not a day game?  I need your help.

I know the official reason is that the Padres don't want to fly cross-country to play a day game.   Why do the Padres have to play the Mets the second week of the season?  I never remember the schedule being like that.

Why couldn't Bud Selig use his powers of baseball to make the Padres play a day game?  Why couldn't the Mets play Tuesday and risk the rain out?  It's not like they won't  make us sit there for hours anyway (see Yankees, Opening Day 2008?)

It's a new stadium, a new beginning and it's already annoying.   If you're interested enough to read my dopey blog then I'm sure you had been to Shea in April for a night game.  It's miserable.  Even if it's 81 degrees at noon, it will be in the 40s at 8:30.

The Mets are selling "Opening Day" packages.    Sunset for Monday April 13, 2009 is scheduled for 7:32pm.  Unless the Mets have a deal with God worked out, or they plan to get the game in in under 22 minutes, I think they lie.


Maybe if enough people bitch we can pressure Selig into stepping in.  


Mets Blog, Amazin' Avenue...anyone from ESPN read my silly site?  Mushnick? Neil Best? Carton?  Help!  Pass along, steal the idea...retweet this.   Let's play at 1:05!




www.metspolice.com

We all knew that the April 13th home opener versus San Diego was not going to be the first game played at Corporate Field. The Mets have scheduled 2 exhibition games against the Boston Red Sox on Friday, April 3rd and Saturday April 4th.

But wait - it turns out that April 3rd game will not be the first baseball game to be played on the Mets new $632 million field.

Thanks to New Stadium Insider for pointing this out - the St. John's Red Storm baseball team will christen Corporate Field with a game against the Georgetown Hoyas on Sunday, March 29th. (This according to the St. John's schedule).

And, if this wasn't bad enough, Met fans and season ticketholders won't even get first crack at tickets for the game. According to the post on New Stadium Insider tickets will be offered to St. John's students (and I presume alumni) for $5.

Meanwhile people are paying $200 for Opening Day tickets on StubHub, in what really will be the 4th game played at Corporate Field.

Seriously, who is advising the Wilpons? Is anyone?

www.metspolice.com

Even if you don't want to attend the game, I can tell you first-hand that you can get $200 for a not-great ticket to opening day (on the official home of MLB scalping, Stubhub).

No I'm not in the ticket business, but if I can go alone on Opening Day and take $200 off my $1200 in tickets I'm doing it.

You can too..

NEW YORK -- The Mets launch their online registration for purchasing tickets for Opening Day at Citi Field on Tuesday at 10 a.m. ET on Mets.com and LosMets.com. (really, come on).


The registration for the online random drawing runs through Tuesday, Feb. 24. Opening Day, the first at Citi Field, is Monday, April 13, against the Padres at 7:10 p.m.


Fans registering automatically become eligible for the random drawing. No fee or purchase is necessary to register. A limit of one entry per person is in effect. No guarantee exists that those who register will gain an opportunity to purchase tickets. All purchases are limited to four tickets. The opportunity to purchase tickets is non-transferable.

A limited number of fans will be selected in the online random drawing. They will be notified via e-mail by Feb. 27. Ticket prices start at $27 each. All purchases must be made using a major credit card. Per ticket and per order fees apply.

Season tickets are on sale now at Mets.com and LosMets.com. Information regarding the sale of single-game tickets for the inaugural 2009 Mets home season at Citi Field will be announced shortly.



www.metspolice.com

Passing along this information.

Mets launch Online Ticket Registration for Opening Day at Citi Field Tomorrow, February 17 at 10 A.M on Mets.Com and Losmets.Com

FLUSHING, N.Y., February 16, 2009 - The New York Mets today announced the launch of an online registration for the opportunity to purchase tickets for the inaugural Opening Day at Citi Field, starting tomorrow, February 17 at 10 a.m. at Mets.com and LosMets.com. The registration for the online random drawing will run through Tuesday, February 24. The Mets open their 2009 home season Monday, April 13 against the San Diego Padres at 7:10 p.m. at Citi Field.

April 13th - where the average low in Central Park is 44 degrees.

www.metspolice.com

(I'm writing this on Monday afternoon so if the Mets have updated their website between now and then, fine they got me.)

Why are the ticket prices at Citi Field a state secret?

Sure we've heard some anecdotal evidence from Mushnick and a few others, mainly from folks who are renewing their ticket plans.

A visit to Mets.com provides absolutely zero information.   I can leave a deposit for $250 for a partial-plan, but that seems insane to do, there's no mention of how many games I would get or where the seats are.  What if the Mets offer me the one-game behind a pole plan?

There is of course a link to Stubhub, the official home of MLB scalping.   I can tell you the cheapest listed ticket for Opening Night is $189.   Nearly two hundred bucks to sit outside on a cold April night.  Heaven forbid they play a day game.