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BEEN THERE: I paid a visit on October 2, 2008, during the final phase of construction.
The more I look at the Mets' future home as construction progresses, the more I like it. The design is unique, with several interesting features, and follows a logical scheme, but is not arbitrary, or a case of "contrived asymmetry." The overall trapezoidal shape, with a large rotunda in the apex behind home plate (below the bottom edge of the diagram), borrows heavily from Ebbets Field, quite obviously. The brick exterior and arched windows are patterned after it as well.
Some design features are rather unusual, if not downright radical. The second-deck overhang in right field pays homage to the Polo Grounds, but it actually bears more resemblance to Tiger Stadium. It is almost the same situation in deep left field, where the second deck extends to directly above the outfield wall, like the right field upper decks in Coors Field. Upper deck fans out there will miss some of the outfield action, but will have good views of the infield -- just like at RFK Stadium. The grandstand upper deck is "split-level," as at most other newer ballparks; it's hard to say whether they should be considered separate decks or not. Between the dugouts is a small deck of seats that extends forward from the elite club suites, and I don't think any other ballparks have such a seating configuration. Another unique feature is the shape of foul territory, which is fairly small and with an angled backstop, not curved. The backstop distance is very short, about 45 feet. Other than Citizens Bank Park, this is the only Neoclassical ballpark like that.
Compared to the Mets' current home, Shea Stadium, most of the seats at Citi Field will be closer to the diamond. It has a slightly larger outfield, especially in right field. Time will tell whether it favors pitchers as much as it appears. The main exterior wall is only ten or twenty feet behind the black screen in center field of Shea Stadium. One drawback is that the main scoreboard / video screen will be significantly further away than the current one at Shea Stadium, and will be angled away from folks on the first base side.
It was in February 2006 that the Mets announced plans to build a new stadium on the east side of Shea Stadium, and after some legal challenges to the project's tax-exempt status, public funding was approved during the summer. At first there was a proposal to have retractable roof, but that idea was abandoned as too costly. Construction began in November 2006, as the name of the ballpark was announced. Under the terms of a 20-year naming rights contract, Citibank will pay over $20 million per year. (In spite of criticism, the recent bailout of CitiGroup by the federal government will not void this contract.) The new stadium was completed on time, and the Mets will play their first game in it on April 13, 2009, hosting the San Diego Padres.
SOURCES: Lowry (2006); Baseball Fever, Zack Hample
FAN TIPS: John Crozier, Brian Hughes
