Hey Mets – I know Alex is really excited about her off-season where you guys signed, I think, one player and totally are ignoring you have no starting pitching, and the guys you are counting on pitched 5 and 60 innings last year – so I am not sure how you expect them to throw 200 this summer….but anyway Alex is really really excited about her prize.

As a long time Mets watcher, I would caution you against flying too close to the sun.  Gooden and Strawberry were on their way the Hall of Fame by the end of 1986.  Matt Harvey was the next Seaver.  You guys gushed when deGrom threw 100mph in February despite a blogger warning you what would happen.

So I say this with love.  You’re tempting the gods here, and the gods DO NOT LIKE THE METS.  Good luck!

Oh…and did they really announce “today” – this has been on the Mets social media account for a few days already.

NEW YORK METS REVEAL NEW DOCUMENTARY: “THE PURSUIT”, CHRONICLING THE SIGNING OF JUAN SOTO

The new, two-part series “The Pursuit”, presented by CohnReznick will take fans behind-the-scenes of the 2024 season and the historic signing of Juan Soto

FLUSHING, N.Y., March 12, 2025 – The New York Mets announced today they will debut a new documentary called “The Pursuit”, presented by professional services firm CohnReznick. For Mets and sports fans interested in what goes into the biggest contract signing in North American sports history, the new two-part documentary will take fans behind-the-scenes of the 2024 Mets magical season and will dive into the details of the team’s offseason pursuit and ultimate signing of Juan Soto. Part one of “The Pursuit” launches on Friday, March 14, and part two launches Friday, March 21, with both episodes, as well as bonus content, premiering exclusively on the Mets’ YouTube channel. A new trailer for the documentary was released earlier this week.

“Juan’s signing was a monumental moment in the sports industry, and we couldn’t think of a better topic to be our first foray into producing longform content,” said Mets President of Business Operations M. Donald Scott Havens. “We’ve seen that sports-themed content is an effective tool in reaching both avid and casual fans, and we are excited to share a behind-the-scenes look into what went into targeting a top-tier, generational talent.”

Along with sharing the journey of signing Juan through the eyes of Mets’ owners Steve and Alex Cohen****

Let me jump in here, that Alex is always listed as owner.  When the Mets win the World Series in the first 5 years of new ownership, as her husband promised, she deserves credit.  But when the house of cards falls down, and it will because this is the Mets, let’s remember she has chosen to be on the clock.  Back to our press release…

….Mets manager Carlos Mendoza and Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns, the documentary features brand new interviews with Juan Soto, Mets legends Mike Piazza, David Wright, Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling, as well as current players such as Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo, among others.

“Ever since we signed Juan Soto, the sports world has been buzzing and fans have been seeking more detail on what went into this historic acquisition for the club,” said Bobby Clemens, Vice President, Creative Content & Creative Director for the Mets. “We wanted to tell this story in a way that gave our fans a true, behind-the-scenes look unlike anything they have experienced in the past. From our ownership’s family-first mindset to the detailed and analytical minds of our Baseball Operations group, all the way to our players and alumni, we wanted to capture just how special of a moment this was for our organization and sports in general.”

“The playbooks for success within the trillion-dollar sports industry offer captivating stories and invaluable lessons for executives across all sectors. CohnReznick proudly presents “The Pursuit,” a film that takes viewers behind the headlines of Juan Soto’s historic contract,” said Julie Murawski, Principal and Chief Marketing Officer at CohnReznick. “This film perfectly aligns with our firm’s Business of Sports series, providing a unique opportunity to showcase the complexities of transformational deals. Whether in sports or any of our clients’ industries, understanding the strategic journey fromvaluation to value creation is critical. At CohnReznick, we’re dedicated to delivering insights that help you stay ahead of the curve and give your business a competitive edge.”

Fans can tune in to the Mets YouTube channel on Friday, March 14 and Friday, March 21 for episodes one and two, respectively. The channel will also feature additional bonus content that will drop periodically throughout March.

Hey remember last week when the Mets were trying to be all cool and mysterious on social media, and for a few minutes we were like OOO WHAT IS IT but then someone sleuthed out it was a store thus destroying not only the Mets plans but also a lot of their social media goodwill as we felt Played By Commerce.

Anyway, M. Donald Havens and the gang have admitted its a store.  Yawn.

By the way, Mets House sounds like a place you wind up after doing too much cocaine and maybe finding yourself briefly living in places like Cincinnati, Anaheim and Baltimore before find yourself checking into Mets House instead of Cooperstown.  Speaking of which, I probably should have read ahead here….but it only proves the point.

The New York Mets will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, March 7 at 11 a.m. to open Mets House NYC – their first ever pop-up experience located in Union Square. Mets President of Business Operations M. Scott Havens along with Mets Chief Growth Officer Andrew Grossman will be on site to speak at the event. Mets alumni Dwight “Doc” Gooden and Todd Zeile will also be on site for the grand opening.

Just in time for the 2025 season, this new and exciting multipurpose space will give Mets fans an exclusive opportunity to engage with their favorite team outside of the ballpark. Mets House will feature themed activities, exclusive merchandise, ongoing surprise experiences, including giveaways and special gifts with purchase, and other interactive elements, creating a vibrant and memorable atmosphere for all who visit.

M. Donald Havens totally understands the Mets fan.

“We often hear from our fans that they are looking for new ways to support the team outside of Citi Field and opening Mets House is the perfect way to make that happen,”

Do ya now?

 “Mets House is more than just a pop-up shop – it provides our fans with unique experiences that will change throughout the duration of the activation. It’s also a way for us to reach new fans and get them excited to check out a game at Citi Field.”

Julie Stein, Executive Director of Union Square Partnership. added  “Union Square is the perfect place for residents and visitors alike to come together and celebrate fandom, sports culture, and the game we all love. It’s a home run!”

Yay.

My friends the Mets are excited for you to know the below.  If MLB and the Mets hadn’t spent the first half of the decade ruining the game and building the brand around some unsavory types, I might care.

The Mets will host Family Sundays, along with returning favorite ballpark promotions including Fireworks Nights and Block Parties.

FLUSHING, N.Y., March 3, 2025 – The New York Mets announced today the club’s ballpark promotions schedule for 2025 home games at Citi Field. The Mets are adding to the excitement at Citi Field with the introduction of Family Sundays, which will feature a ticket offer for four starting at $50, with pre-game entertainment on Mets Plaza and family-focused activities throughout the ballpark. Additionally, the Mets are adding a kids meal option this season, which will accompany the return of several fan favorite ballpark promotions including Mets Kids Club presented by Dunkin’, $5 Tuesdays, Fireworks Nights and Block Parties.

<<<Let me break in here.  So 4 tickets for $50 and….and what?  Am I supposed to be excited about $12.50 tickets?  Are there fees?  I tried to click the link and couldn’t get to the actual check-out but I see “Per ticket fees may apply”    

I tried going thru the normal website and saw an offer for $16.50 tickets.  Turns out for those, they had already included the fees!  I think maybe perhaps these are the tickets for the offer.

<<So I’m not sure, but there’s a decent chance its actually 4 tickets for $66.

Back to the press release.>>

These new ballpark promotions come on the heels of the previously announced 30-item gate giveaway schedule for the upcoming season, along with 13 theme nights and four additional specialty ticketed package item games, which can all be found by visiting Mets.com/Promotions.

<<<which reminds me I need to go through that, it’s always fun to goof on>>>>

“Creating the ultimate fan experience and helping our fans make memories with family and friends is a consistent focus when it comes to developing our programming at Citi Field,” said Katie Haas, EVP of Ballpark Operations and Experience. “We had great fan feedback on our ballpark promotions last season and our new programing ensures our fans will have a unique experience no matter what day of the week they come to the ballpark.”

<<<That’s true Katie.  The issues are you’ve built your brand around a vulgar first baseman, and a guy who did this to the customers so until he’s gone, I’m gone>>>>

Returning fan favorites, alongside new additions, will make Citi Field the place to be all season long. Ballpark promotions include:

Family Sundays: The Mets will introduce Family Sundays in 2025. For all Sunday home day games during the regular season, except holiday weekends (May 25 and July 6), the Mets will offer four tickets starting at $50, with pre-game entertainment on Mets Plaza and family-focused activities throughout the ballpark.

$5 Tuesdays: For all Tuesday home games during the regular season, a value menu featuring food and beverage items priced at $5 each will be made available around the ballpark. The $5 Tuesdays menu items will include 12 oz. Coors Light, 22 oz. Coca-Cola fountain sodas, 20 oz. Smartwater, Nathan’s Famous hot dog (Kosher, gluten-free and veggie hot dogs are available), regular soft pretzel and popcorn box. Offer is subject to availability, valid at select locations, and not available for vending and mobile ordering.

Kids Meal: The Mets will also introduce a kids meal in the 2025 season, for kids 12 and under, which includes a kids-size order of chicken tenders and fries served in a souvenir Mets helmet with a Minute Maid Apple Juice for $9.89. The new kids meal will be available every home game at select concession stands.

<<<That’s not the deal you think it is>>>>

Mets Kids Club presented by Dunkin’: The Mets will introduce a free version of the Kids Club in the 2025 season, making it accessible to all young fans. Additionally, prices of paid Kids Club Exclusive Packages have been lowered in 2025. Perks for the paid Kids Club Exclusive Packages include a welcome kit with exclusive Kids Club merch, a fast pass for Mr. and Mrs. Met Dash, and two ticket vouchers redeemable for select games. Following select Sunday games, including April 20, May 11, June 1, July 20, August 3, August 31 and September 21, all Kids Club members ages 12 and under are invited to run the bases postgame (weather permitting) in the Mr. and Mrs. Met Dash. All kids looking to participate in the Mr. and Mrs. Met Dash must be a registered Kids Club member. More information on Mets Kids Club presented by Dunkin’ can be found at Mets.com/KidsClub.

Block Parties: The Mets are inviting fans to kickstart their game day with a Block Party at every Saturday home game. Fans can enjoy pre-game entertainment, including a DJ, games, and appearances from Mr. & Mrs. Met, and the Queens Crew. Additionally, Mookie Wilson will be at most Block Parties, serving some secret family recipes from Legacy Catering, a mobile catering business founded and operated by Wilson and his family.

<<<Again with The Queens Crew?  Did you not pick up that nobody likes them.  Can’t someone talk Alex off the ledge with this one?>>>>

Fireworks Nights: The Mets will host eight Fireworks Nights every Friday home game from May 23 through August 29 (note: July 4 Fireworks will shift to July 3 due to the holiday day game).

Gates to Citi Field will open 90 minutes prior to first pitch, with the exception of select marquee games where gates will open two hours prior to first pitch. Fans are encouraged to check their digital tickets prior to arriving. Additionally, gates will open two hours prior to first pitch on gate giveaway days for fans who have purchased a season ticket membership or flexible membership. Visit Mets.com/Memberships for more information.

The Mets 2025 ballpark promotions schedule, along with the previously announced the gate giveaway, theme games and specialty ticket package items schedule, can all be found at Mets.com/Promotions. Promotion dates, items and distribution are subject to change and/or cancellation. Tickets are currently on sale – including memberships, flex packages, and individual game tickets – online at Mets.com/Tickets or by calling 718-507-TIXX.

QNS.com is reporting: Flushing’s Metropolitan Park casino proposal gets City Planning Commission green light

I asked an AI to help me make heads of tales of what that means as I was getting confused.  Per the AI:

AI: Steve Cohen’s dream of turning the Citi Field parking lot into a Hard Rock-powered casino just got a little closer to reality.

Me here:  Whew, the QNS headline made me think it was already done.  OK AI keep going….

AI:  The City Planning Commission voted overwhelmingly (9-1, with one abstention) to approve zoning amendments for the $8 billion Metropolitan Park project. The proposal would transform the 50-acre parking lot into a full-fledged entertainment complex, complete with a casino, a public park, retail shops, a Taste of Queens food hall, and upgrades to local infrastructure.

This is the first binding vote the project has received in the ULURP process, though it still needs to clear the City Council and Mayor’s office.

Me:.  Bloomberg reported in 2021: Mets Owner Steve Cohen Gives $1.5 Million for Eric Adams’s NYC Mayoral Bid

I will let you form your own opinion on how the Mayor is gonna vote.

AI:  More importantly, the entire plan hinges on winning one of the three downstate casino licenses. With two licenses likely going to existing racinos, Cohen and Hard Rock are facing stiff competition from bids in Times Square, Hudson Yards, Coney Island, and even the former Trump Links golf course in the Bronx.

Metropolitan Park officials are, of course, thrilled, with spokesperson Karl Rickett saying the vote moves them “one step closer to becoming a reality.” But as City Planning Commission Chair Dan Garodnick pointed out, this vote only addresses land use—it doesn’t mean the casino is a done deal. Until Cohen and Hard Rock secure a gaming license, it’s still a high-stakes gamble.

Me: I asked the AI, “Can you explain to the people why this is parkland.”

The AI replied at length below.

AI: The 50-acre parking lot west of Citi Field is legally parkland.   It all goes back to Robert Moses and some old-school political maneuvering.

The History Lesson

Back in the 1930s and ’40s, Robert Moses, New York’s legendary (and infamous) master planner, built what we now know as Flushing Meadows-Corona Park for the 1939 World’s Fair. Then, in the ’60s, he did it again for the 1964-65 World’s Fair, expanding the park and reshaping the area.

When Shea Stadium was built in the early ’60s, the land underneath it—along with the parking lots—was designated as parkland. Why? Because technically, Moses took land from the park to build the stadium and its parking, but legally it remained part of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. Shea may have been the home of the Mets, but the city never officially reclassified the land—it was just leased for stadium use.

Fast forward to the 2000s, and when Citi Field was built right next door, the same legal framework applied: Citi Field and its surrounding parking lots were still considered parkland.

Why Does This Matter?

Because it’s still legally designated parkland, Steve Cohen and Hard Rock can’t just slap a casino there without the city declassifying the land through official zoning changes and approvals. That’s why this project needs a zoning amendment and why the City Planning Commission just voted on it.

Basically, if Cohen wants to turn a so-called “park” into an entertainment complex, the city and state have to officially say, “Okay, it’s not parkland anymore.”

Me:  Look, if Mr. Cohen wants to build a casino, I encourage him to buy some land and apply for a casino.  While I personally don’t think casinos help neighborhoods – see Atlantic City if you need a case study – Mr. Cohen is free to go into whatever business he wants.

If Mr. Cohen is true that he just wants the area to look nicer, perhaps he could offer to build some sort of covered parking area, with a park on top.

As for the notion of handing parkland over to a billionaire?  I propose we hand over Central Park south of 63rd street to Donald Trump to build a casino.  That’s not a crazy idea is it?

I propose Prospect Park be handed over to Michael Bloomberg, to build a casino.

I propose we take Brooklyn Bridge Park and hand it over to some Saudi Investors, so they can build a casino.

I propose we take your home, knock it down, and hand it over to Elon Musk so he can build a casino.

Alternate Idea: A compromise!

Since it seems Mr. Cohen thinks the are would be improved by a casino and a food market and the other stuff – why don’t we knock down Citi Field?  We could put the casino there (on the leased land).  I don’t see any issue with that.  The people who live in the affordable housing next to the new soccer stadium will love it.

The Mets can find somewhere else to play.  I think my compromise makes a lot of sense.  Mr. Cohen gets what he wants, the parkland stays as is, and the neighborhood gets ostensibly better.  I’m confident that the Mets would have no trouble finding a new location to take them in.