That New Stadium Smell is long gone now in Queens as the Mets head into their 14th season in their third home.
They must sense that the ballpark is aging as they have announced some upgrades to the ” iconic landmark and historic symbol of New York City” that is Citi Field (major eye-roll and more on that in a separate post later today).
The bold in the below is mine, editing the original release.
My two cents: I would be way more excited if the Mets announced they were eliminating digital ribbons and video boards and were creating a throwback experience with a manual scoreboard and a live organ player. I guess the Mets feel Gen Z needs ribbons.
Also, all these images remind me that they probably shouldn’t have made the stadium green and black when it opened. Oops.
Mets Tap Samsung Electronics America to Create Most Technologically Advanced Ballpark in the Major Leagues
RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J. – December 17, 2021 – December 17, 2021 – The New York Mets announced Samsung Electronics America as the ballpark’s official display and technology solutions partner, signing a multi-year deal to deliver a complete transformation of the famous ballpark’s screens to create an interactive fan experience like never before. Samsung – a leader in Digital Signage innovation – will bring the Mets vision of creating a one-of-a-kind ballpark to life with its unique portfolio of displays, content management platform and services.
“Baseball is one of America’s great historical pastimes and thanks to cutting-edge display- and data-driven innovation, we are ushering in a new, exciting era that transforms the ballpark experience and brings fans into the game like never before,” said Harry Patz Jr., Senior Vice President and General Manager, Display Division, Samsung Electronics America. “Technology is central to the way fans enjoy sports, and we are thrilled to bring Samsung’s full display portfolio, solutions and expertise to this new era of fandom.”
From the moment they arrive on property to the final out, fans will experience gameday in a whole new way. Among the enhancements for 2022 that are expected include new ribbon boards and more than 1,300 LCD screens throughout the ballpark to lead fans to the shortest lines and ensure they don’t miss a single pitch. A new larger and enhanced centerfield scoreboard will be installed for fans’ enjoyment for the 2023 season at Citi Field.
“We are excited and proud to partner with such a world-wide leader and iconic brand as Samsung,” said Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer Jeff Deline. “Like Samsung, the Mets have a very loyal and passionate fan base, and the implementation of this state-of-the-art technology is going to provide an enhanced experience and environment for millions of fans that come to Citi Field for many years.”
IMMERSIVE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY & SOLUTIONS
As the complete design and build partner for the Citi Field project, Samsung will deploy the full breadth of its display portfolio and technology solutions throughout the ballpark to create the first connected venue in Major League Baseball.
“Samsung has a rich tradition of innovation and purpose-built technology. Over a two-year period, we’ll transform a once static signage environment to an all-digital experience,” said Mark Quiroz, Vice President Product Marketing, Display Division, Samsung Electronics America. “By seamlessly weaving display technology and sensors into the existing environment, Samsung will create a gateway for connectivity at Citi Field for both the operators and the fans.”
“Our partnership with Samsung is a significant investment from our owner Steve Cohen to bring the most state-of-the-art technology to the ballpark and provide our fans an even better experience at Citi Field,” said Mets Chief Technology Officer Mark Brubaker. “The quality of these upgrades and integration into the daily experience for our fans make Citi Field an industry leader when it comes to the most innovative technological displays.”
WHAT FANS CAN EXPECT
Built for the future, the ballpark upgrade – one of the largest single projects in all professional sports – is slated to take place over the span of two years and will make Citi Field the most technologically advanced ballpark in the major leagues. When complete, Citi Field will feature:
More than 1,300 LCD screens and 4,000 square feet of direct view LED screens in public spaces, enhancing the fan experience at every touch point and even alerting them when their team merchandise is ready for pick up
A ballpark-wide IPTV system that will carry nearly 100 channels of sports and entertainment content
Double the number of slow-motion replay systems and three times as many cameras for increased game coverage
An enhanced and fully upgraded scoreboard to display the latest LED technology and handle 4K video
An iconic landmark and historic symbol of New York City, Citi Field will welcome fans to experience one of America’s favorite pastimes like never before through Samsung innovations. The multi-year technology upgrade is scheduled to begin in 2022.
….
Yawn.
