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Coordinates: 40°45′24.5″N 73°50′44.5″W / 40.756806°N 73.845694°W / 40.756806; -73.845694
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| operator = New York Mets
| operator = New York Mets
| surface = Grass
| surface = Grass
| construction_cost = [[United States dollar|$]]850 million
| construction_cost = [[United States dollar|$]]900 million
| architect = [[Populous (architects)|Populous]]
| architect = [[Populous (architects)|Populous]]
| design-builder = the architectual pre cast concrete walls were built by International Concrete Products, of Germantown WI.
| design-builder = the architectual pre cast concrete walls were built by International Concrete Products, of Germantown WI.

Revision as of 20:07, 14 April 2009

Citi Field
File:CitiField logo.png
Opening Night at Citi Field, April 13, 2009
Map
Location126th St. & Roosevelt Ave.
Flushing, New York 11368
Coordinates40°45′24.5″N 73°50′44.5″W / 40.756806°N 73.845694°W / 40.756806; -73.845694
OwnerNew York Mets
OperatorNew York Mets
Capacity42,000 + standing room
Field sizeLeft Field - 335 ft(102 m)
Left Center - 364 ft (111 m)
Deep Left Center - 384 ft(117 m)
Center Field - 408 ft(124 m)
Deep Right Center - 415 ft(126 m)
Right Center - 378 ft(115 m)
Right Field - 330 ft(101 m)
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Broke groundNovember 13, 2006
OpenedMarch 29, 2009 (college game)
April 3, 2009 (exhibition game)
April 13, 2009 (regular season)
Construction cost$900 million
ArchitectPopulous
Tenants
New York Mets (MLB) (2009-present)
New York (UFL) (to be confirmed)

Citi Field is a stadium located in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in the New York City borough of Queens. Newly constructed in 2009, it is the home ballpark of Major League Baseball's New York Mets. Citi Field was built as a replacement for the adjacent Shea Stadium, which was itself constructed in 1964 adjacent to the site of the 1964-1965 World's Fair. Citi Field was designed by Populous (formerly HOK Sport), and is currently named after Citigroup, a financial services company based in New York City. The $850 million baseball park is being funded by the sale of New York City municipal bonds which are to be repaid by the Mets plus interest. The payments will offset property taxes for the lifetime of the park.

The first game at the ballpark took place on March 29, 2009, with a college baseball game between St. John's Red Storm and the Georgetown Hoyas.[1] The Mets played their first two games at the ballpark on April 3 and April 4, 2009 against the Boston Red Sox[2] as charity exhibition games. The first regular season home game was played on April 13, 2009, against the San Diego Padres. The Mets are bidding to host the 2013 All-Star Game at Citi Field, which would bring the game to the Mets' home field for only the second time; the first was at Shea in its 1964 inaugural season.[3]

History

Planning

The original plans for what is now Citi Field were created as part of New York City's 2012 Summer Olympics bid. It was originally supposed to have a retractable roof. After plans for a West Side Stadium fell through, New York looked for an alternate stadium to host the opening and closing ceremonies. The Olympic stadium project was estimated to cost $2.2 billion with $180 million provided by New York City and New York State. If New York had won the bid, the stadium would have been expanded to host the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as other sporting events.

Construction

Citi Field under construction, seen prior to a Mets home game at adjacent Shea Stadium.

The projected cost of the new ballpark and other infrastructure improvements is $610 million, with the Mets picking up $420 million of that amount. The agreement includes a 40-year lease that will keep the Mets in New York until 2049.

On March 18, 2006, the New York Mets unveiled the official model for the new ballpark. By July 2006, initial construction of the new park was underway in the parking lot beyond left-field, with a projected finish ahead of Opening Day 2009 in late March. As of April 13, 2008, all of the structure for the Jackie Robinson Rotunda was in place with the arched windows receiving their paneling and glass. By August 2008, the New York Mets and Daktronics installed 12,000 square feet (1,100 m2) of integrated scoring and video boards throughout the stadium. [4] By September 2008, most of the Citi Field signage had been installed. [5] By December 1, 2008, all of the seats and the playing field had been installed. [6]

Firsts at Citi Field

Statistic Opening Day
April 13, 2009
Score San Diego Padres 6, New York Mets 5
Ceremonial First Pitch Tom Seaver to Mike Piazza
First Pitch Mike Pelfrey
First Batter Jody Gerut (Padres) *
First Hit Jody Gerut (Padres) *
First Home Run Jody Gerut (Padres) *
First Mets Batter José Reyes
First Mets Hit David Wright
First Mets Home Run David Wright
First Win Edward Mujica (Padres)
First Save Heath Bell (Padres)

* Home run hit on first at bat.

Features

The new ballpark has a capacity of 42,000 plus additional standing room, over 15,000 fewer seats than Shea Stadium. The exterior facade is reminiscent of Ebbets Field (which was long sought by Mets owner Fred Wilpon, a Brooklyn native). Citi Field joins Coors Field and Safeco Field as modern ballparks with approximate replicas of the Ebbets Field facade.[citation needed]

Citi Field's interior design is primarily influenced by PNC Park, which was the favorite ballpark of Mets COO Jeff Wilpon. Other influences include Tiger Stadium, Great American Ballpark, Coors Field and Citizens Bank Park. [7] Shea Stadium was the only ballpark in the Major Leagues to feature orange foul poles instead of the standard yellow, a unique characteristic that will make its way into Citi Field, along with the Mets' own Home Run Apple (a new apple has been constructed for Citi Field that is more than four times the size of the previous one and was designed by Minneapolis-based engineering firm Uni-Systems[8]).

Delta Air Lines signed a multiyear deal on September 15, 2008, to sponsor an exclusive section in Citi Field. The Delta Sky360 Club is a 22,500-square-foot (2,090 m2) restaurant-cafe-bar-lounge complex that also houses 1,600 premium seats behind home plate stretching from dugout to dugout. [9]

The Pepsi Porch is a 1,284 seat area located in right field and extends over the playing field. A 37 foot by 89 foot Pepsi Cola sign, reminiscent of the one located in Long Island City, sits atop the Pepsi Porch.[10]

Jackie Robinson Rotunda

Entrance to the Jackie Robinson Rotunda

The front entrance of Citi Field features a rotunda named after Brooklyn Dodgers legend Jackie Robinson and honors his life and accomplishments. Engraved into the rotunda’s 160-foot diameter floor and etched into the archways are words and larger-than-life images that defined Robinson’s nine values: Courage, Excellence, Persistence, Justice, Teamwork, Commitment, Citizenship, Determination and Integrity. Robinson’s famous quote: “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives,” is engraved into the upper ring of the rotunda.[11] The formal dedication of the Jackie Robinson Rotunda will be held as part of Major League Baseball's official celebration of Jackie Robinson Day on April 15, 2009.

Amenities and facilities

Behind the center field scoreboard is the 2K Sports FanFest area, an expanded family entertainment area that includes a miniature wiffleball field replica of Citi Field called Kiddie Field, a batting cage, a dunk tank and other attractions.[12]

Citi Field offers a wide choice of eateries. Taste of the City is a food court located in the left center field section of the ballpark. It is run by restaurateurs Danny Meyer and Dave Pasternack and includes a variety of stands, such as Meyer's Shake Shack and Blue Smoke as well as Pasternack's Catch of the Day seafood shack.[13] [14] The World's Fare Market is located on the field level and features sushi from Daruma of Tokyo and sandwiches and pastries from Mama's of Corona. Restaurants and clubs are also available in every level of the ballpark. The 350 seat Acela Club, located in left field on the Excelsior Level, is the dining highlight of the new park and features a full view of the playing field as well as food from the Myriad Restaurant Group, renowned for Nobu and Tribeca Grill.[15]

Access and transportation

Citi Field is located in the borough of Queens, adjacent to the neighborhoods of Corona, which lies to its west, and Willets Point and Flushing to the east. Flushing Bay is to the north, and the rest of Flushing Meadows–Corona Park is to the south. Because it lies within the Flushing postal zone, and because of its location in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, its location is frequently referred to as Flushing.

Citi Field is reachable via mass transit systems such as the New York City Subway using the 7 train at the Mets–Willets Point station, and the Long Island Rail Road station also called Mets–Willets Point. The park is also close to several major thoroughfares, including the Grand Central Parkway, the Long Island Expressway, the Van Wyck Expressway, Roosevelt Avenue and Northern Boulevard.

Citi Field is adjacent to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, where the annual US Open grand-slam tennis tournament is held.

Since the construction of Citi Field began, satellite parking lots in Flushing Meadow Park (access from College Point Blvd) have been opened.

Naming rights

On November 13, 2006, it was officially announced that the ballpark would be called Citi Field, named for Citigroup Inc. Citigroup will be paying $20 million a year for the naming rights to the park over the next 20 years. This made Citi Field the second major league sports venue in the area named for a corporate sponsor, (after Continental Airlines Arena (now Izod Center) in the Meadowlands, but preceding Prudential Center in Newark and the proposed Barclays Center in Brooklyn), officially becoming the first in New York City itself, aside from two minor league ballparks (KeySpan Park in Brooklyn, and Richmond County Bank Ballpark in Staten Island). The deal includes an option on both sides to extend the contract to 40 years, and is the most expensive sports-stadium naming rights agreement ever, subsequently equaled by Barclays' $400 million deal with the New Jersey Nets for their planned arena in Brooklyn. [16]

At the groundbreaking for Citi Field, it was announced that the main entrance, modeled on the one in Brooklyn's old Ebbets Field, will be called the Jackie Robinson Rotunda, possibly due to campaigns to forego naming rights and name the ballpark after Robinson. The Mets are spending more than $600 million for the new ballpark, which New York City and New York state are also supporting with a total of $165 million for such costs as infrastructure and site preparation. On February 24, 2008, the Mets and Citigroup unveiled the new Citi Field logo. [17]

Controversy over Naming Rights

Both Citigroup[18] and the Mets[19] maintain that the naming rights deal is secure, despite Citigroup's economic troubles. This deal has been criticized in light of the economic crisis of 2008-2009 and the $45 billion of taxpayer funds allocated to Citigroup by the US Government in two separate rescue packages, prompting New York City Council members Vincent Ignizio and James Oddo to suggest that the new ballpark be called "Citi/Taxpayer Field."[20] Congressman Elijah Cummings of Maryland, who serves on the United States House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, stated in regards to the Citi Field naming rights deal, "This type of spending is indefensible and unacceptable to Citigroup's new partner and largest investor: the American taxpayer.... I strongly urge Citigroup to find a way out of this contract and instead spend that $400 million on retaining its employees and restoring confidence in its operations."[21][22][23] On January 29, 2009, congressmen Dennis Kucinich of Ohio and Ted Poe of Texas sent a letter to United States Secretary of the Treasury Timothy F. Geithner urging him to scrap Citigroup's $400 million naming rights deal. "We request that you intervene and demand that Citigroup dissolve the agreement they have with the New York Mets," reads the letter. "Absent this outcome, we feel strongly that you should compel Citigroup to return immediately all federal monies received to date, as well as cancel all loan guarantees."[24] [25] However, Geithner rejected congressional demands to cancel the naming rights deal.[26]

The Wall Street Journal reported on February 3, 2009 that Citigroup considered breaking the naming rights deal. Citi has stated that no government TARP funds would be used in the sponsorship deal.[27]

Uniform patch

The original design for the inaugural sleeve patch was given negative critique by fans and media.

On January 14, 2009, the Mets unveiled the Citi Field Inaugural Season sleeve patch, to be worn on the players' right sleeves for the 2009 season. As Major League Baseball rules prohibit corporate names on uniforms, the standard Citi Field logo could not be used.[28] The patch echoes the shape, colors and orientation of the Citi Field logo, with the name replaced by "INAUGURAL SEASON 2009". Reaction to the patch was immediate and negative from Mets fans and critics alike[29], with ESPN Uni Watch writer and blogger Paul Lukas calling it the "worst sleeve patch in MLB history".[30] Several fans have pointed out a resemblance between the sleeve patch and the logo for Domino's Pizza[31], and the patch was mocked on an episode of The Colbert Report.[32]

In February 2009, the Mets unveiled a different patch, to be worn on the side of the caps and featuring the arches of the Jackie Robinson rotunda.[33]

Stadium comparison

Stadium Name Shea Stadium Citi Field
Opening Day April 17, 1964 April 13, 2009
Capacity 57,333 42,500 (approx.)
Seat width 19" to 20", 19" average 19" to 24", 21" average
Legroom 32" 33" to 39"
Average concourse width 21 ft (6.4 m). 43 ft (13 m).
Wheelchair seating 174 830
Luxury suites 45 54
Restaurants (total capacity) 2 (528) 4 (3,334)
Team store 2,600 sq ft (240 m2). 7,200 sq ft (670 m2).
No. of toilets 568 646
Seats per toilet (57333 / 568) = 101 (42500 / 646) = 65.8
Public elevators 4 11
Field dimensions (feet) Left field - 338
Left center - 371
Center - 410
Right center - 371
Right field - 338 		Left field - 335
Left center - 379
Center - 408
Right center - 383
Right field - 330
Fence heights (feet) Entire fence - 8 Left field foul pole - 12
Left field - 15
Left center - 15
Left of dead center - 11
Dead center - 16
Right of dead center - 11
Right center - 8
Right field - 18
Right field foul pole - 8

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Citi Field.

Notes

  1. ^ St. John's Red Storm 2009 baseball schedule
  2. ^ Mets reveal an extended Spring Training schedule and charity exhibition game against the Red Sox
  3. ^ Mets likely to get 2013 All-Star Game
  4. ^ The Official Site of The New York Mets: Official Info: Press Release
  5. ^ Citi Field nearing completion
  6. ^ Shpigel, Ben (2008-12-02). "Citi Field Starting to Look Like a Real Ballpark". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-12-03.
  7. ^ DiComo, Anthony (2008-12-02). "Citi Field nearly ready to open its doors". MLB.com. Retrieved 2008-12-03.
  8. ^ http://www.keyc.com/node/16362
  9. ^ "For Mets' Fans, a Menu Beyond Peanuts and Cracker Jack". New York Times. 2009-03-24. Retrieved 2009-03-24.
  10. ^ http://mlb.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20090330&content_id=4089128&vkey=pr_nym&fext=.jsp
  11. ^ http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/citifield/index.html
  12. ^ http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/nym/ballpark/guide.jsp
  13. ^ "For Mets' Fans, a Menu Beyond Peanuts and Cracker Jack". New York Times. 2009-03-24. Retrieved 2009-03-24.
  14. ^ http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/citifield/index.html
  15. ^ http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/citifield/index.html
  16. ^ Wolf, Barnet D. (2007-04-29). "The Name Game: Company banners flying on more college stadiums, arenas". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 2007-05-20.
  17. ^ "Mets honor Robinson at new home". New York, NY: Daily News. 2006-11-14. Retrieved 2006-11-14.
  18. ^ Brown, Maury (2008-11-22). "Amidst Near Collapse, Cititgroup Confirms Retaining Naming Rights Deal with Mets". The Biz of Baseball. Retrieved 2008-11-22.
  19. ^ Klayman, Ben (2008-11-21). "Citigroup naming rights deal still in place-Mets". Forbes.com/Reuters. Retrieved 2008-11-22.
  20. ^ "Pols want new name for Mets home: Citi/Taxpayer Field". USA Today. 2008-11-26. Retrieved 2008-11-26.
  21. ^ Irwin, Neil (2008-11-24). "U.S. Offers Citigroup Expansive Safety Net". Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-11-24.
  22. ^ Cummings, Elijah (2008-11-24). "Citigroup's Spending Indefensible and Unacceptable". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2008-11-25.
  23. ^ Nasaw, Daniel (2008-11-25). "Baseball stadium named for Citigroup faces scrutiny". Guardian.uk. Retrieved 2008-11-25.
  24. ^ Herbert, Keith (2009-01-30). "Pols call for Mets to scrap Citigroup naming rights deal". Newsday. Retrieved 2009-01-30.
  25. ^ Grim, Ryan (2009-01-29). "Rename Citi Field: Bipartisan Push In House". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2009-01-30.
  26. ^ http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/02/13/2009-02-13_mets_fans_will_have_to_deal_with_citi_fi.html
  27. ^ "Citi Explores Breaking Mets Deal". WSJ.com. 2009-02-03. Retrieved 2009-02-03.
  28. ^ Kepner, Tyler (2009-01-14). "Mets' Latest Off-Season Problem? A Dull Patch". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
  29. ^ Paul, Tony (2009-01-16). "Cause for a pause: Mets' fans, critics reach consensus -- patch needs work". Detroit News. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
  30. ^ Lukas, Paul (2009-01-09). "Ladies and gentlemen, the worst sleeve patch in MLB history". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
  31. ^ "Love 'em or hate 'em? Yankees, Mets reveal 2009 stadium patches". 2009-01-14. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
  32. ^ ""Tip of the Hat/Wag of the Finger"". The Colbert Report. 2009-01-15. {{cite episode}}: Check |episodelink= value (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |serieslink= (help); External link in |episodelink= (help); Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help)
  33. ^ Noble, Marty (2009-02-19). "Mets unveil additional patch for caps". MLB.com. Retrieved 2009-02-27.


Preceded by Home of the
New York Mets
2009 – present 		Succeeded by
current


40°45′24.5″N 73°50′44.5″W / 40.756806°N 73.845694°W / 40.756806; -73.845694

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