Author: Shannon Shark @metspolice

Citi Field is a beautiful ballpark

I am really going to enjoy watching games there

However, it doesn’t feel like home….yet

It felt odd – like we were on a road trip to someplace very close.

I know that will change as I start to get to know the ballpark – where certain stands are, how to get out of the building (both Shannon and I said “How do we get out” at the end of the game at the same time), etc.

As for the park itself, things I really liked:

• Organ music!!!! (I may be wrong but it sounded live)
• For the most part, great site lines
• The upper deck….I mean Promenade….does not feel like a top deck
• The 2 food court areas – the one behind CF with Shake Shack, Blue Smoke, etc is a great place to hang, as is the smaller one on the Promenade level behind home (on top of the rotunda)
• Lot’s of space to move around
• Because it’s mostly closed in, there was hardly any wind. We could see the flags atop the ballpark whipping, but we felt only a slight breeze
• It feels small – yeah I know it is smaller than Shea, but it feel seven smaller than that
• On the flip side that OF is HUGE!!! 416 to Right Center! Not only that, but the OF walls are TALL. Shea was a pitchers park, but Citi is going to be ridiculous. No wind, high walls, and deep fences means a lot of low ERA’s
• That Pepsi Porch looks like a fun place
• No canned video or audio garbage (Everybody clap your hands…)

OK, things that weren’t so great

• We went in the RF gate – which is on 126th Street, right by the chop shops. Memo to Fred – get on the phone to Bloomberg and do what needs to be done to get rid of that area.
• Concession issues – as Shannon mentioned the registers were all screwed upas the WiFi apparently wasn’t working. Additionally some of the food wasn’t getting cooked (my first dog was ice cold). Hopefully they will get this worked out – it’s why they have exhibitions.
• “We Built This City” – the worst song in the history of rock was used in a between innings spot to show the construction of Citi Field. I really hope they don’t plan on using this throughout the year
• Can a guy buy a regular cap? I went to 2 team stores looking to replace my old cap with a new one. All they had for sale were ones with a commemorative patch on the side. The logo is a nice one, but caps should not have patches. I left cap-less
• The new Apple – it actually looks worse than the old one.
• Those obstructed seats. Have to admit, at one point Shannon & I went to sit in my Sunday plan seats, which as it turned out were obstructed- could not see third base or the batter. I was livid – that is until I confirmed that my seats were actually 4 rows further back. I’m no longer pissed, but I feel sorry for whoever has those seats.

I think they can find a solution to the seat issue – it won’t happen til the off-season as the Mets will have to do some retooling, but it can be done. The rest, honestly are me admittedly nit-picking.

I don’t think I have ever really complimented the Wilpons, but in this case, kudos – they did a really good job. People are going to flock here.

I took a bunch of pictures and will post them in the morning.

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@metspolice

I’m back from the game….and absolutely loved the stadium.

I’m not going to break any new ground here.  I give it the same glowing review everyone else did.  

Like Matt Cerrone mentioned on Mets Blog, it’s not very Dodgery at all, even in the rotunda (whew.)  I do think the Rotunda is way overrated – the coolest spot is in centerfield by the shake shack, the whatever we call the space by the new ugly Apple, and the seafood whatever its called.

We had tons of fun stumbling around, upgraded our seats after the rain delay, and had the same reaction at the end of the night which was, “How do we get out?”

The angled seats are nice.  The obstructed ones are not (that post goes live at 7:45am tomorrow).

I love that all that noise pollution from Shea 1990-2008 is gone and has been replaced for the most part by organ music.  Awesome.

Big clean bathrooms are nice but after a few inning syou’ll need to stand spread eagle.  Aim better and shake off boys.

I don’t know what the heck that song is that K-Rod warms up to but I liked it.

They were having food line problems.  Very very long lines because it took forever to pay.  Our cashier told us the registers were on wi-fi and that the wireless wasn’t working so well.  We noticed 3G didn’t work so well.  Minor point.  You don’t need to surf the internet during a game unless you’re an obsessed blogger.

My longer el-cheapo walk to my car in Corona wasn’t so bad once I figured out where the heck the walkway was in relation to the field.

They are calling the big screen “Citi-vision.”  I won’t be.

This place is a cavern.  415 to right center!   The ball didn’t seem to carry at all.  I am predicted that there will never be a home run hit at Citi Field.  

Nobody wants Sheffield.

Really really nice.  Well done Mets.  Really well done/  Just go figure out the plexiglass problem.  We’ll get into that in the morning.  

Tomorrow for me, Yankee Stadium.

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@metspolice