A guest post from Mike:
It seems to me that Mets fans have lost focus on what it means to a “Met Fan”. I know the team spends more money these days, and not always in the right places. The communication between the team, fan base, and media has been terrible at best. Between collapses, injuries, and “know what I’m sayins” the past three years have been hellish, but come on let’s look at the brightside, it’s spring, the sun is shining, and we know we’re not bandwagon fans.
For the first time in years the team has a few potential stars that are not quite ready, but will be soon. The roster is filled with likeable, hard nosed players who are easy to root for. (even Castillo)
I want to start an anti-booing campaign for the first 30 games of the season. Some Mets fans have turned into a bunch of embarrassing, whiny jerks . The past few years have been terrible, but there is no reason to boo your team in the beginning of the year unless a lack of hustle or mental error occurs.
If people hate this team already they’re not true fans they should go away. This team needs to be given a chance, and they need support. Mets fans are definitely passionate, and for the most part well informed, but the negativity needs to stop. We need to take a page from the Cardinals fan base, I’m not asking people to clap for the other team, but the Mets need to be appreciated and given the benefit of doubt that they are in it to win it.
It’s been a ridiculously long off season, and the actual season is a grind. ENJOY it. It could be a lot worse, you could actually have to listen to whatever your wife, girlfriend, side piece, etc., is saying for an additional 18+ hrs a week.
Enjoy the team., Don’t boo our players.
LETS GO METS!!!
Mike
Agreed. That’s pretty much the philosophy behind Optimistic Mets Fan. (stop being whiny pathetic jerks)
The only person i’d consider booing is Manuel. I’ve always said booing should be for failure in the moment, not failure in the past. (don’t boo guys cause they took a called strike 4 years ago..)
You gotta give these guys a chance to get going. There is a lot of baseball to be played and anyone that says the Mets have no chance hasn’t done the research.
I’d agree with you except for the fact that the team owners don’t care as long as they’re making money. They don’t care if we sell the building out to Phillies fans, they don’t care if we lose 100 games. Of course they’d rather win, but as long as they are making as much of a profit as possible, then all else doesn’t matter.
You pay exorbitant prices for seats, boo all you’d like.
Tickets down the block for the World Series Champions are cheaper or in line with Mets prices. Something is not right about that.
Scott – you’re right that a ticket sold is a ticket sold, but the value of the team is much more than that. TV ratings, radio rights, in-park advertising, merchandise, licensing, goodwill – it all adds up. A fanbase that beloves its team can be very valuable.
I couldn’t agree more. Well said. Good post.
I’ll still be booing, but the OPPOSING team!
Mike – I’ll go one better: Having now been to a dozen or so other major league parks and based on the fans’ behavior, we should NEVER boo, not even when there’s a lack of hustle or mental error occurs, especially the later.
I’m sure there are other parks where this does happen, but it is ultra-prevalant at the NY venues. It’s rediculous and that’s being mild.
Boo the umpires if you don’t like a call, boo the manager if you don’t like a change, boo the singer if they really wreck the national anthem, boo the people who don’t kiss when the Kiss Cam comes on (really, if it’s your brother or sister, kiss them on the cheek, idiots), boo the people who get the really easy trivia questions wrong and even boo the bulldozer and lightstand race, because it’s weak (2 race entries, that’s the best you could do?).
There, I’ve given you a ton of people and things to boo at the ballpark. I promise you, booing a guy because he’s batting .270 instead of .300 really isn’t helping anyone.
Scott..come on. That’s just wrong. First off, the Yankees tickets are not comparable at all. They’re a lot more expensive, especially if you want to have be as close as you are at Citi.
Second, all teams would rather make money than win. Even George (and definitely his kids). Did you ever notice that it wasn’t until they started raking in the revenue AFTER the 90s World Series runs taht they went over $100 million? Just because they spend so much doesn’t mean they’re not still making money and making that a priority.
Of all my complaints with things that have been done by ownership and so forth, nothing ruins my enjoyment of a game more than sitting next to one of these whiny jerks. It is not the players fault your tickets are expensive. (Not directly anyway) Sure there is a correlation but that exists regardless of performance. Why do people feel now that this gives them right to be an ultra jerk. Does acting like an ass help you squeeze some added value? I really wish people would just stay home if they think the prices are too high. I would rather be in a stadium with 15,000 Mets fans who are there to watch the game and support the team than sit there amongst the 45,000 hyper critical jackasses that populate the seats at Citi these days.
Thank you Shannon. Have never understood booing the players especially in April. It just makes the fans look and sound like entitled jerks. Of course you have the right to boo but it’s a bit like yelling @ the valet after the mechanic screws your car up. Nonot a great analogy but you get the point Yes the valet has to take it but how’s it his fault? The players are trying. If they’re not good enough that’s management’s fault. Boo the box, or better yet show your displeasure by not going or paying. I did. I had season tickets, canceled them and bought a 4 pack instead. Now of couse I’m stil going 3x in the first week but I’m bracing myself for 2 or 3 losses. Regardless I won’t be booing. I may be jaded and upset but if I can’t have fun AT THE BALLPARK I’ll start watching soccer not booing
Sorry thank you Mike. One more thought. If you’re really that upset & you’re enttled to boo why wait for the game? Don’t like your hot dog? BOOOOO. Wait too long @ Shake Shack? ” YOU SUCK ARAMARK. GET OUT OF THE BUSINESS MEYER!”. Beer not quite cold enough? “booooo crap vendor”. Hey it’s your right
I agree….Fans that boo their own team are silly. I am a Mets fan and go to games to have fun, root for me team and watch my favorite sport….not to hear some jerk boo, mumble and complain the whole game.
I had a ticket plan at Shea next to one of these guys and it made the season almost a chore…why watch if it gets you that upset?
That being said, I enjoyed this post until “It could be a lot worse, you could actually have to listen to whatever your wife, girlfriend, side piece, etc., is saying for an additional 18+ hrs a week.” – Really? I’d boo you, but….
High ticket prices do set fans up to boo.
If you love the Mets you’re going to pay the outrageous prices simply because you love the team. You do it, but you’re slightly bitter to begin with, knowing just a few years ago tickets were waaaaay more affordable (and you could see the whole field).
When you pay those high ticket prices it raises expectations of what you’ll see on the field. In most other businesses, the more you pay, the better the quality you receive (think hotels, restaurants, the yankees, etc..) so when the Mets don’t perform on the field your slight bitterness turns into full on annoyance…hey, you did your part, you paid tons of money… You feel cheated. Thus the boos.
I’m not saying it’s right and I don’t boo the Mets, but I can see where it comes from. To pay top dollar to watch subpar baseball doesn’t feel fair.
That’s why I sit in the Promenade, with a big smile on my face, enjoying the game, win or lose.
I think the booing gets ridiculous but I don’t know about never booing. Say someone blows an 8 run lead, or a guy from Atlanta decides to have the worst inning of his life just when you needed him most. Booo.
Or if you’re at a game and they have just traded Tom Seaver to Cincy. Boooooo.
Ed Q.. I know you’re being sarcastic, but there are people like that.
I saw some blog complaining about the angle of the cup holders last year.
Eric,
That’s right. Take a look at a team like the Ducks, Cyclones or SI Yankees. You rarely hear people booing the home team there, as it is reasonably priced and generally a quality product.
Ceetar,
If you compare the reasonably priced (read: cheaper) tickets (where most of the Mets fans are sitting judging by the fact that they sell the most tickets there and don’t discount them), it is actually the same, or cheaper to go see the Yankees whom typically have somewhere around 50-100% the payroll and much more success. Like I said, the owners could care less if you boo as long as your ticket wasn’t comped and you have bought a beet and a hotdog. When they start accepting credit cards at the parking booths, something is completely messed up with that!
I don’t think ownership doesn’t care about winning as long as they’re making cash, I just think they are clueless and throw money at problems that don’t fix the problem. The only time I booed a Mets player was Bobby Bo, Rickey Henderson, Matsui and Mo Vaughn. Those guys deserved it. Yeah it’s nice, the weather is getting better and baseball is back BUT…this spring only showcased how bad our rotation is. I’m pessimistic for sure and I love my Mets but can a Mets fan truly be optimistic all year round? I mean this isn’t the 80’s anymore.
In theory I agree with this. True fans support a team through thick and thin. Sure, we may issues with ownership or management from time to time, but we shouldn’t transfer those issues to the players on the field.
Now that said, if I see a player who isn’t hustling, or who isn’t really trying and it’s obvious (not running out a ground ball, “lolly-gagging” in the field) well then I will boo them. But to boo a guy just because he struck out? Babe Ruth struck out – a lot – and I don’t think I would have ever booed him.
You want to break it down Scott? it depends on what you consider ‘reasonable’.
Bleacher seats at Yankee stadium are $14. I know Shannon, or someone, has mentioned they really like the RF bleacher seats. fine. but $14 is the cheapest seat in the park, they’re still bleacher seats without backs and you run the risk of not seeing half the field. (jokes about obstructed views at Citi aside, nothing’s as bad as sitting next to the steakhouse at Yankee Stadium)
Grandstand outfield is $22. Citi Field (and closer views) is $11-$27.
Grandstand infield is $29, Citi is $15-$35.
The next cheapest ticket, Terrace Outfield (one deck down) is $48.
This is where it gets sticky with the Mets million pricing schemes, but we’re talking LFL and regular Ceaser’s club (OF down the RF line. Pepsi Porch is a completely different experience, but comparible) LF Landing is $24-$56, or $36-84 for front rows.
Sure, the Mets make you pay for the platinum games, but in terms of just seeing them play, there are way more affordable seats. You can’t even sit on the Field level at Yankee stadium, ever, for less than $100.
So the Grandstand at Yankee Stadium seems comparible to a Gold game at Citi field in the Promenade. So 77 games at Citi Field are on par or cheaper.
Don’t forget to add that the Yankees bleacher seats are $5 when obstructed. The Mets do not discount for their obstructed seats. Bleacher seats or not, they are comparable to the same thing the Mets have in the outfield, minus a chair back. That skews the value of both parks significantly as the Mets don’t even have close to a comparable “value” option.
Once you move up to the grandstand for either team, you are talking $100 + to bring a family of four to 1 game for tickets and parking, no food. That is what most would call the borderline of reasonable. Anything beyond that and it gets absurd to astronomical. A majority of people don’t find anything beyond the upper deck reasonable, which is why the upper deck sells out and the lower level is eventually discounted or empty.
Yes, the grandstand is listed as cheaper at Citi for many games, but the Yankees also discount the grandstand significantly ($5 games and other discounts) several times throughout the season which without a doubt throws that average in favor of them and well below $22 a seat which is the listed price. The mets only discount their overpriced seats and that is after the season has already begun and people are not purchasing them.
The listed pricing is comparable. Much in favor of the Yankees if you buy a season plan and slightly in favor of the Yankees on the low end factoring in the bleachers and low end discounts. Slightly in favor of the Mets on the high end factoring in no legends seats and the higher end discounts.
The Yankees cater more towards their low end families, while offering options for their upscale clients at the same time. The Mets for some reason felt like they had those upscale clients to fill big $ seats… oops.
I’m a Mets fan but I go to games less and less now. It’s just not reasonable anymore. If the owners were more interested in winning, isn’t home field advantage such a huge deal? If so isn’t it in their best interest to sell the place out every game? Pricing real fans out of areas, especially the areas closest to the field HURTS your chances at winning.
Let’s face it. Even with all pricing being about equal, do you feel like you are getting a better bang for your buck than the Yankees are?
Both these teams did more than just build luxury suites, they built entire luxury tiers that prevent a family from getting a good seat to a game. Remember when luxury suite meant you used to get the “worst” seats up top with the best amenities? I believe they used to call them the skybox.
Until the Mets (or any other team) care about their fans, I will boo who I feel like it. It’s not like I am an invited guest who got comped. You don’t like the booing, create a more successful product and don’t tell me “we don’t have the money to do it”.
How many millions did the Mets make last year? How much of that profit did they reinvest to make the product better?
Both the Mets and the Yankees reinvested profit towards making the team and stadium (not sure the Yankees did this) better. Neither has spent money out of their own pockets (maybe for the stadiums?) at all.
The Mets have in the past, thought not last year that I saw, discounted seats in the upper decks. The Yankees definitely do not cater towards low end families, because except the bleachers everything is as you said, over $100 for a family of four and it’s not like they have any cheap food either. Those $5 seats barely show half the field. no seat back, etc. But at least they let you in right? There are just so many more Promenade Reserved tickets to Value and Bronze games priced from $11-$15 and possibly discounted due to various deals that the Mets may again pick up on (LIRR, Wendy’s, Pepsi, have all done it in the past) That’s on par with a movie ticket btw, which is another form of entertainment.
The Yankees do have some $5 games. Uppers on the wings (which is a poor seat in that place) but at least you’re inside.
The new Yankee bleachers are great of you’re on the outsides (toward the poles) and awful if you’re closer to CF.
I do feel my Mets ticket is better valued actually, yes.
Sitting close to the field hasn’t been affordable in over a decade in NY. Sad truth of the baseball and sports economy.
Thank you for this. I’ve booed one Met in my life (and believe me, Robbie Alomar deserved it that day). But the whiny nonsense has got to stop. Met fans, by nature, are supposed to be passionate and hopelessly optimistic. Booing our own players suggests a sense of entitlement. Any fan who thinks he’s “entitled” to anything should go to the other side of town.
Yes, ownership is terrible. Yes, Luis Castillo is not worth $24 million. But for goodness’ sake, give it a break. These guys are going out there 162 times over the next six months, win or lose, and giving us something to do for three hours of our life. For a Met fan, them taking the field should be good enough.
“[T]here is no reason to boo your team in the beginning of the year unless a lack of hustle or mental error occurs.”
Agreed 100%, but let’s no pretend that a large portion of the frustration coming from the fans isn’t rooted in those two very things. Just off the top of my head from last season, there was Church missing 3rd base as the winning run, Beltran refusing to slide and throwing to whichever base he felt like was a good idea at the time instead of the proper one, and Castillo loafing on an easy fly ball. An honest, focused effort across the board would go a long way to stopping all the so-called whining.
Guys I don’t think it’s a price point thing which gives you the right to boo. It’s about being a loyal baseball fan. If the price bothers you don’t go. If you hate the Wilpons send them a letter. All of you probably were Mets fans before you even knew that baseball teams even had an owner. If they show the Wilpons on the big board go nuts, boo them, cat call, smoke em if you got em. Support the players.
Sparks, I agree with you about Beltran and Castillo from last year, but Church missing the base was a physical error, sh*t happens, and from that point on it did. I’m not opposed to booing 100%, if the team shows that they are lazy and don’t respect the game, they should be booed, this is New York. I’m saying give this team a chance to establish an identity (30 games), before ripping into them.
This team is a lot different than last years where the two elder statesmen were lazy, “me” guys. Getting rid of Delgago and Sheff changes the dynamic of this team. I’m hoping that change equals hard nosed ball. Can somebody PLEASE run over a catcher!
It really just comes down to a simple decision. Pay the money and shut up about it or stay home and watch on TV. I wish my tickets were cheaper but having to listen to someone bitch about it doesn’t make me feel better.
I’ll put it another way. I love the NY football Giants. I LOVE the Giants. I can’t afford to go to the meadowlands. I watch at home and root for my team. I am priced out of football. Whining about it won’t change anything. It is not my God given right to be able to go to sporting events. Perhaps the day will come when I am priced out of Mets games. While that is sad, life will go on. There are lots of things in life I cannot afford. Accept it.
This is the Yankee fan from Subway Squawkers. One of the big issues on my blog in the summer of 2006 was how many fans felt justified to boo A-Rod when he was struggling. It made no sense to me – all it did was make him press more. And it made the fa nbase look foolish.
As for the whole “I paid a lot for my tickets, I have the right to boo,” does that mean you can go to a Broadway show, spend hundred of dollars of tickets, and boo if an actor messes up his lines? Or go to a nice restaurant and yell to the chef that he’s a bum if you don’t like the food?
Here’s the other thing – home field advantage is huge. Why are you going to give it away by booing and tick off your home team in the process (You think they don’t get angry that their own fans boo them? I beg to differ!)
One of the things (perhaps the only thing!) that I admired about Red Sox fans was that last season, when David Ortiz was struggling, they never booed him. In fact, they went out of their way to cheer him, no matter what. More fans should try to emulate that.