Citi Field opened to its first visitors yesterday, but the occasion was not a Mets but a NCAA baseball game between St. John's and Georgetown. It was still an unmissable opportunity for Mets fans, though, who flocked to the reported $800 million stadium. Newsday reports, "Not everything was ready - no distances painted on the outfield walls, no retired Mets numbers or championship banners displayed yet, about 10 blank scoreboard advertising panels - and nobody knew their way around. But that was part of the fun for fans who bought $5 tickets or received freebies through area community groups. The announced attendance was 22,397"—and most attendees were wandering around, getting a lay of the land for the seasons ahead.
Besides 42,000 seats, there's a wide array of concession snacks (which are about 6.5% cheaper than they were at Shea). Citi Field may be a pitcher's park, as the NY Times goes over some details, "Even in the few moments it took him to bounce the ceremonial first pitch, the former Mets reliever [and St. John's alum] John Franco noticed the park would play large. Left-center field is 379 feet from home plate, right-center 383, before the fence breaks in sharply near the foul poles." Oh, and there are 646 restrooms, too.
Mets VP of business operations Dave Howard explained many things are still being done, like hanging up signs and retired jerseys or working on the escalators. Howard said, "Overall, a very good day for us," in spite of some kinks—"It is gratifying for us to have the energy the fans bring. That's the one equation we hadn't seen yet." For an in-depth perspective of the ballpark from a fan, MetsGrrl has two invaluable posts: One from a preview ("the SEATING is not cramped") and one from yesterday's NCAA game—"Expect long lines for photo ops at the Home Run Apple and the 42 in the Rotunda... I don’t expect this to let up for the entire first year." She also notes that some people went into Citi Field in their Yankees gears, "Do you always have to be pompous blowhards about your team everywhere you go, every minute of every day?"
More photos of the stadium from wallyg, Lizzy Vegas, MetsGrrl and Yankees_Rule. Unfortunately, the Red Storm lost (final score Georgetown 6, St. John's 4). And some still mourn Shea: One person told NY1, "I miss the blue building. It's sad to see it in rubble over there on the side. It's nothing like being in New York." The Mets' home opener is April 13, vs. the Padres.
