Despite Loss, Citi Field Opens to Mostly Rave Reviews

After months and months of waiting, Citi Field finally opened to its first regular season baseball game yesterday evening. Since the Mets lost, the true star of the game was the new stadium. Fans were mostly excited by Citi Field — the only complaints were about the sight lines for some of the seats. Thousands of seats have views that are missing parts of the field, which caused some fans to wonder what the stadium designers were thinking.

As with any grand opening, Citi Field's first game was attended by local politicians including Governor David Paterson and Mayor Mike Bloomberg. The loudest boos of the evening (even louder than those for the visiting Padres) were for Governor Paterson. Mayor Bloomberg (who walked away with a souvenir ball that hit the protective netting in front of his front row seats) was greeted with a mix of cheers and boos.

The new stadium has seen several firsts already: first home run (Jody Gerut off Mike Pelfry's third pitch), first Mets home run (David Wright in the 5th inning) and the first cat incident (an orange cat ran from one dugout to another). One thing Citi FIeld is still waiting for is its first win.

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By tien mao in News on April 14, 2009 10:45 AM

Comments [rss]

McGG

I thought the views were pretty good from just about every angle that I tried out, but I do miss the ramps, getting out of the park really took much longer than it should have.

MaiaW

Two issues I've heard so far are that while the food is supposedly delicious, the lines are insane (and considering the goal is to sell out most games this year, that's going to be a real issue) and to top that off there were very few food vendors (hot dog, pretzel, etc.) walking in the stands yesterday. Secondly, as opposed to Shea, where getting out was simple because there were huge ramps all around the entire stadium, getting out after the game was apparently a gigantic mess...

tien

Yeah, the lines were so long at the places behind center field that I didn't bother.

And to me, the big issue with the stairs replacing the ramps is: What will the drunks do?

TimSPC

Goof on a team and they all start assuming you're a Yankees fan and get REALLY defensive.

Like I said: Napoleon complex.

pal

you dopes have to realize that this stadium was designed and built mostly for luxury boxes and rich folks. this is bloomberg's nyc not yours.

you want to come watch the mets? then squeeze your ass into an "obstructed view" seat.

longacre

I think we all knew that, we just didn't expect them to be so blunt about it.

Novanglus

Here's the national anthem and flyby:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTVVXKJR-X0

The cup-holders are angled and can't hold your beer unless if's half-full.

The field walls are black....one of the many details that make this place feel very un-Mets.

"CitiField" everywhere, but not much Mets stuff at all, unless it's something they are selling.

What a ripoff.

wobbleSmith

of course upper deck outfield seats are going to have restricted views. it's absolute nonsense to think otherwise. mets fans simply aren't used to the concept because there were so few seats at shea like this. (but they were there! i sat in them during the 2006 playoffs.) the real issue is that there are so few seats in citifield that many of the affordable tickets are located there. if these are the only restricted view seats in the stadium, then they've done well.

i'll see for myself this weekend.

go mets!

also, why do the pads own the mets now? 6-2 in their last 8...

bornbrednewyorker

Guess again. There's obstructed views throughout the ballpark, like this beauty.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EcBfXMyQha4/SeIRfAn2kvI/AAAAAAAABzU/DiPYM6DwjeU/s1600-h/citiobstr.jpg

wobbleSmith

jeez, make that 10-4 in their last 14.

wowie zowie.

longacre

The sight lines are fine, but the seats are unconscionably tight, even narrower than those at Shea. If your row is full, you are literally shoulder to shoulder with the people on either side of you, and its not only in the upper deck (sorry, the "Promenade") but in the somewhat pricey $70 Field Level seats behind the right field wall and I'd imagine most of the stadium as well. Think of the most uncomfortable airline seat you've ever been in, then subtract 40%. It's like that.

This is especially infuriating because the key selling point of the new stadium was that it would be roomier and more comfortable for fans, with a few inches of extra room "on average." I'm guessing they added enough room to the $700 cushioned rich guy seats behind the dugouts that there was an "average" increase for the stadium, even if they actually made most of the seats smaller.

Highlight of the game was the introduction of Paterson, Silver and Malcolm Smith, each of whom got booed, followed by Bloomberg who got a cheer.

tien

I too found the seats extremely uncomfortable. I was actually sore from sitting in them when I got home.

Internet Handle

Nice shots, Tien. I'm partial to the hot dog photo, but maybe I'm just partial to hot dogs.

Nick S

You know how I know you're gay?

Internet Handle

Because I enjoy ground meat in an intestinal or artificial casing? I guess the Fourth of July is like a big All-American Gay Pride Parade, and Michael Jordan should be refused a marriage license because of his Ballpark commercials.