Reflections on Citi Field

Below is a great review of Citi Field by another muser. As we get this blog started we're still signing folks up. If you like this review, encourage the self proclaimed "Luddite" to sign up.

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OK I got to see Citi Field last night, and my impressions are below. Overall I give the stadium very high marks. They did a fabulous job. These comments are purely about the stadium -- I'll leave out the debates over economics and the necessity of a new stadium for another time:

-- The Jackie Robinson Rotunda is excellent, and I don't see it as a problem or overdone at all. As Mike said, he broke the color barrier in NY. It makes sense for the Mets to honor him since he was on one of the NL teams the Mets replaced. Outside of the rotunda there's nothing else overwhelmingly Robinson. No griping necessary about this, IMHO.

-- There is loads of space. And you really can still feel like you're involved when you go to get food, beer, etc. They're even playing it on the radio in the bathroom (useful when the beer and burgers need a little time to finish making their way through your system).

-- Aesthetically its gorgeous, especially from the outside. I really liked getting off the subway and looking at a beautiful brick facade (with many Mets pictures lining the outside, for anyone worried about nothing celebrating the Mets), flower beds, benches and open space. Beats the crap out of knowing you have to traverse thin walkways around concrete walls to get to a gate that always seem far away. Although I found myself sentimentally pining in the original direction I used to walk.-- I love the bricks laid out with messages from fans.

-- They did lie about obstructed views. There are many. Not a big deal, just annoying that they touted how there were no obstructed views.

-- Beer is really f'ing expensive. $7.50 domestic beers. Ouch!

-- Lots of space, and plenty of room to hang out before and during the game (clearly more conducive to drinking, which of course is why they charge $7.50 a beer).

-- Plenty of food choices, unlike the limited selections of Shea.

-- MUCH easier to walk up a few flights of stairs (I was in the upper deck) than to go up the old Shea ramps.-- Entrances all around and they seem more well-managed.

-- Weird not seeing the subway out in right like you used to; makes it tough to tell when lots of people are coming late or when the seats are clearing during a lousy game (as if any of that matters).

-- Not sure whey they don't have a K-corner scoreboard, unless I just missed it.

-- Gonna be tough to hit home runs, but outfielders will have their hands full when balls ricochet around.

-- When you get to the upper decks there really isn't the incredible legroom they spoke about, but you do have a cup holder for your beer.

That's about it. Glad I got to see the first ever Mets win at CITI Field. Let's Go Mets!