Citi Field Preview

Well it's another disappointing October for Mets fans. Once again lack-luster pitching led to a late season breakdown which kept the promising ball-club from making the playoffs.

Oddly enough, this Tuesday I found myself in the epicenter of the Mets breakdown... the right-field bullpen. My Dad invited me to tag along while he visited the construction site for Citi Field which will be the new home of the Mets starting next season. Before checking out Citi Field, we walked over to shea's bullpen. The outfield fence had been removed so I was able to go over and grab some dirt from the warning track to keep as a momento of the Mets days at Shea.


Overall I think Citi will be a great place to watch baseball. They've build a concrete stand for the world famous homerun apple in center field (most likely it will be a newer, shinier apple with the original one located somewhere in or around the stadium).



The shape of the field is quite different from the simple pitchers park layout of Shea. The left field fence is quite high and at dead center it is slightly higher in front of where the apple will be. Right field is especially strange coming in at a strange angle and going back out again with the upper deck hanging slightly over the field. I wonder if this will require any strange ground rules.



All the seats are angled towards the infield with cup holders so no more kicking over your neighbors beer onto someones back. Your average seat at Citi Field will be closer to the field giving the stadium a much cozier feel. It really has been built specifically for baseball and the bathrooms and concessions will be much more plentiful. There's also considerable outdoor space with concessions even in the upper levels. The whole place is interestingly laid out, and the routounda, though still unfinished, makes it feel like your entering someplace really special.

Check out the photos and I'll post some more if I can locate them.