Exterior view of Citi Field, Home of the New York Mets 

Our staff was excited to finally visit Citi Field when we visited on June 13th, 2017 for a home game vs. the Chicago Cubs. “The New York Yankees are the better team but Citi Field is a better ballpark”. We had heard those same words from local New Yorkers over and over again during our trip to New York City and have come to the conclusion that they were correct (read our Yankee Stadium review). Citi Field is located many miles from the hustle and bustle of Manhattan and in working class Flushing Queens, New York. However, it is a gem of a ballpark with a much more raucous fan base than that of the New York Yankees.

Citi Field, Home of the New York Mets

Our seats for the game were in section 109, row 12, seats 3 and 4. These seats are down the first base line and right where the infield dirt meets the grass. The view of the field was excellent from those seats and we only paid $25 for them thanks to Stubhub. Our seats also provided standard comfort, leg and elbow room along with an excellent view of the scoreboards in center field. The rowdiest and most animated fans are the Mets fans in outfield sections 140-142. These fans have their own chants and seem to pay closer attention to the action than the fans in the rest of the stadium.

You won’t have a difficult time finding affordable tickets for New York Mets home games although the team does operate on a dynamic pricing ticket model. For example, tickets for a home game vs. the New York Yankees or Washington Nationals will cost much more than the same seats vs. the Milwaukee Brewers. The cheapest seats can be found on the promenade level (upper level) and they’re all numbered in the 500's.

Jackie Robinson Rotunda at Citi Field

Upon entering Citi Field, you’ll immediately notice the large “homerun apple” in front of the stadium. This is the homerun apple from Shea Stadium which has since been demolished and is a popular photo opportunity for New York Mets fans. Inside the stadium, you’ll instantly see the escalators leading up to the main level which is similar to the main entrance at PNC Park, home of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The main entrance is called the Jackie Robinson Rotunda and pays tribute to the former legend of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Inside the Rotunda is also the New York Mets Hall of Fame which offers free admission for fans attending the game. The design of Citi Field is supposed to resemble Ebbets Field; former home of the Brooklyn Dodgers, although we doubt many people would be able to make that connection.

Shake Shack at Citi Field

The food options at Citi Field are vast. Shake Shack, located in the food court behind the center field scoreboard, is perhaps the most popular concession offering at Citi Field. Shake Shack will require a long wait in line so get in line before the game starts or in the 8th inning. Their shakes, cheeseburgers and fries are to die for. Blue Smoke BBQ, located behind Homeplate, is also a food option you can’t go wrong with. For the concession stands that offer traditional ballpark fare like hot dogs and nachos, the wait was 5-10 minutes on average. There is a Kosher stand for individuals that choose to follow Jewish dietary traditions. For sausage enthusiasts, there is a sausage stand offering Italian sausages and brats behind home plate on the concourse of the main level. Pepsi products are offered at all concession stands. Stella Artois and Bud Light were the main draft offerings at Citi Field and I’m sure those selections change each season.

Mets-Willets Point stop in Queens, New York

The train ride to Queens will take a good 45 minutes to an hour if you’re coming from Manhattan or Brooklyn. You’ll want to take the 7 train to the Mets-Willets Point stop and you’ll see the stadium upon exiting your train. Citi Field is adjacent to Arthur Ashe Stadium (home of the US Open). As of 2017, a week-long MetroCard costs $32 and offers unlimited rides on the New York City subway system. There are express trains available after games that will transport you from Citi Field to Manhattan rather quickly. There are virtually no bars or restaurants outside of Citi Field. Instead, you’ll find chop shops and junkyards but hey! You’re there to watch a baseball game! Donovan’s Pub on Roosevelt Avenue in Woodside is a popular locale for a post-game meal and is just a short subway ride away. Other than that, you’ll be required to shell out the money for the ballpark food and it is not cheap by any means.

Shea Bridge at Citi Field

One of our favorite features at Citi Field was the Shea Bridge in center field. The bridge pays tribute to the old Shea Stadium; the home of the New York Mets from 1964 to 2008. In front of the Shea Bridge is the Citi Pavilion at Shea Bridge, which is a seating area for large groups of people and can be rented out for home games. Other premium seating areas at Citi Field include the Delta Sky360 Clubs, the Foxwoods Club, the Honda Clubhouse, Porsche Party Suites and the Hyundai Club. For fans with standing room only tickets, your best spots for watching the game are either the Pepsi Porch or the Bridge Terrace; both are located in right field.

In the parking lot, they’ve got the locations of the Homeplate and bases from Shea Stadium marked which are also excellent photo opportunities for fans that have memories of the old ballpark. There are no statues of New York Mets hall of famers at Citi Field; a common feature at many Major League ballparks. However, if the New York Mets organization were to erect statues of players in the future, the most likely candidates will be Mike Piazza, Tom Seaver or Jackie Robinson.

Citi Field Parking Lot in Queens, New York

On a final note, we loved everything about Citi Field aside from it’s location in Queens, New York. I can only imagine how fun New York Mets games would be if the ballpark were located in Midtown Manhattan near all of the other tourist attractions. There’s not enough real estate for a ballpark in an area that densely populated, however. Citi Field offers a family friendly atmosphere and plenty of affordable seating options for fans and our staff would love to return for a New York Mets home game in the future.

  

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