Citi Field: Home of the New York Mets

Just beyond the borders of Manhattan, devoted baseball fans bring a one of a kind energy to the gamedays in Flushing at Citi Field, the home of the New York Mets since 2009.

The Mets were introduced as an expansion team in 1962 after two of New York's teams relocated west in the late 1950s, becoming the San Fransisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers. The newly formed team adopted colors of orange and blue, paying homage to both fanbases that had lost their hometown ball club.

The Mets have played in three separate ballparks in their existence. The team briefly played at Polo Grounds before their new ballpark, Shea Stadium was constructed in Flushing, a move that the city of New York hoped would improve the swamp ridden area when the park opened in 1964. After 45 seasons, it was clear the Mets needed a new home. Citi Field was built directly next to Shea Stadium, which was demolished to make room for parking lots surrounding the new ballpark. While many fans have fond memories tied to Shea Stadium, New York Mets Owner Steve Cohen is committed to bringing a championship to Citi Field.

Location/ Scenery/ Amenities (2.15/5)

The ballpark's location leaves a lot to be desired. Surrounded mainly by parking lots and subway tracks, the area offers little in terms of pregame atmosphere or entertainment. Inside, the concourses often feel overcrowded, with long lines for food, drinks, and restrooms. Due to its setting, there’s not much of a view beyond the outfield except for the planes taking off and landing at nearby LaGuardia Airport.

Still, Citi Field boasts the largest jumbotron in Major League Baseball, which adds an exciting element to the fan experience, especially once the sun sets and the screen lights up the night!

Food (3.1/5)

Citi Field serves up quality bites to enjoy while watching the Orange and Blue. During my visit, I tried the Juicy Lucy Burger ($24.39) from Adam Richman’s Burger Hall of Fame, two 3 oz Pat LaFrieda patties stuffed with American cheese, topped with sautéed onions, and served on a Martin’s potato roll. The burger was delicious, but the steep price was hard to justify.

We also purchased the Amazin' Chicken Tenders with Crinkle Fries ($15.79) and a Mister Softee Twist with Mets Sprinkles ($8.70). Like the burger, both were solid options taste-wise, but again, not quite worth the cost.

Beverages weren’t much better as bottled water runs $6, and beer prices can reach as high as $18.99.

Overall, Citi Field seems to take advantage of its isolated location by inflating concession prices, which unfortunately detracts from an otherwise enjoyable ballpark experience.

Entertainment (4.85/5)

Few fanbases in Major League Baseball can rival the passion and energy of Mets fans. The crowd brings a contagious energy that’s felt from the first pitch to the final out, and the stadium knows exactly how to feed off that momentum.

Citi Field amplifies the atmosphere with iconic light shows throughout the game whether it’s an opposing pitching change or it's closing time in the top of the ninth. When the Mets launch a home run, the roar of the crowd rises with the Big Apple, creating a truly electric moment that’s hard to match.

Sam's Score: 67.3/100

Expensive. Overcrowded. Unsatisfying. At the end of the day, Citi Field feels like a missed opportunity. While the Mets fanbase brings undeniable passion and the in-game energy can be electric, the overall experience is weighed down by the ballpark’s frustrating shortcomings. The isolated location strips away any chance for a vibrant pregame atmosphere, and once you're inside, you're met with congested concourses, long lines, and sky-high concession prices that feel more like price gouging than premium value. It’s hard to fully enjoy a game when you’re constantly stuck in a crowd or second guessing whether a $25 burger is worth it. Citi Field has flashes of greatness, but those moments are buried beneath an experience that often feels more exhausting than enjoyable.

Did You Know?

• Games at Citi Field are played between the two iconic orange foul poles that were brought over from Shea Stadium. Citi Field is the only ballpark in the MLB to use foul poles that are not yellow.
• When the park opened in 2009, the baseball world quickly noticed that it was extremely hard to hit home runs with the original dimensions. Before the 2012 season the outfield walls in left field were lowered from 12 feet to 8 feet to encourage more home runs. Two years later, the deepest point of right-center field was reduced to 380 feet.
• The arched exterior of the park was inspired by Ebbets Field, the stadium of the Dodgers that was once located in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Fred Wilpon, the former owner of the Mets, was said to be obsessed with the stadium.

Travel Tips & Tricks

• Citi Field is conveniently located at the Mets-Willets Point subway stop of the 7 line. Trains run often to and from the ballpark. If you end up choosing to drive to the game, expect to pay up to $40 for parking.
• Citi Field sits roughly half a mile away from Arthur Ashe Stadium, the main site of the US Open tennis tournament, the fourth and final Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year, It is the largest tennis stadium in the world with a capacity of 23,771.
• Other nearby landmarks worth a visit include the Unisphere, Westinghouse Time Capsules, Queens Museum, and the Queens Zoo.

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