Citifield -- Official Thread

[metfan122164]

Gomez is day to day. This was not a Jose Hammy from a few years ago. He's looking to be back sometime during this upcomming week.

[John F]

Originally Posted by metfan122164

I think one of the funniest parts of this new park is the fact that it is actually closer to the landing/takeoff pattern for LaGuardia than is Shea! Who have thought that it was even possible!

Scary, scary fact that I wasn't aware of.

[John F]

Originally Posted by metfan122164

Another point, John. the new park will have some unique features; the 2nd level of the RF stands will hang on to the playing field by about 10-15 ft (Ebbetts and the Polo Grounds had similar features). Also, speaking of winds, the new park (HP to CF) is almost perfectly perpendicular to that at Shea. Given Shea's winds typically blow LF-RF or RF-LF, this park should play more like Wrigley than any of the other HOK's. The styling and points throughout the park are qunitessential NY; fromt he gothic style parches on the light stands, to the hell's gate brisge inspired walkway in Right Center. This park will be anything but generic; especially in comparson to Shea.

You give me hope for this thing yet

The overhang is what I was thinking of the most with the park -- being a throwback to Ebbetts in the most of it's design, I wondered if Wilpon would have asked for that feature. Wasn't Detroit the last ballpark in the majors to close which had the stands hanging in-play?

[metfan122164]

Originally Posted by John F

You give me hope for this thing yet

The overhang is what I was thinking of the most with the park -- being a throwback to Ebbetts in the most of it's design, I wondered if Wilpon would have asked for that feature. Wasn't Detroit the last ballpark in the majors to close which had the stands hanging in-play?

The Wilpons did some pretty extensive research into many of the new parks when developing this park; looking for elements that really made an impression. The 2nd tier overhang, however, goes back to the original plan of the late 90's, when they were planning a retractable roof. At that point, I read that it was an homage (sort of) to both Ebbetts and the Polo Grounds, as both had that element. I think Detroit was the last, yes.

[John F]

You know, the Wilpons didn't go public with the retractable roof model until the late 1990's but I do recall in the mid 1990's there were published articles about the model being viewable in and around the Mets offices. I can recall Sports Illustrated referencing it when doing a story on Joe Mcllvane and the Mets rebuilding. I think that was 1995?

[John F]

June 2nd:


Side by side:

[metfan122164]

Originally Posted by John F

You know, the Wilpons didn't go public with the retractable roof model until the late 1990's but I do recall in the mid 1990's there were published articles about the model being viewable in and around the Mets offices. I can recall Sports Illustrated referencing it when doing a story on Joe Mcllvane and the Mets rebuilding. I think that was 1995?

I think the Joe McIlvane story was prior to the retractable roof idea; that (from my recollection) was in 98 or 99. The deal was all but completed when 9/11 occurred. They had held off on going public at the request of the city (they were negotiating a deal with the Yankees at the same time). They had an agreement with the city that they would get a new facility before the Yankees- a deal that stretched back to Yankee Stadium's rennovation in the 70's. 9/11 and the subsequent decision by both teams to finance their respective new parks made the agreement moot. If the city and state had financed Citifield, I think it would have been domed closer to the original plan; regardless, it's a moot point now. I think the new park was the best decision; it gives the baseball purests and romatics what they want; a quaint ballbark that ties back to the glory day of NATIONAL league baseball in this city. If you consider the Mets as the present-day torch-bearers of NATIONAL league baseball in the city, which I do, then the new park ties that bond even tighter; the park is heavily influenced by Ebbetts, but has elements of the Polo Grounds (the over-hanging right field porch, as did the Polo Grounds) as well. Like the team colors (Dodoger Blue and Giant Orange), and their logo (the bridges joining the boroughs), the Mets are merely the continuance of that tradition, and the design of Citifield exemplifies this. Now, al we need is a monument park in Citifield celebrating the national league tradition in the city; and maybe a new landing pattern at LaGuardia!

[metfan122164]

John, I also have to compliment you on the pix updates. How does a boy from Tampa bay get these shots?!

[unsung]

June 20th

[John F]

Originally Posted by metfan122164

John, I also have to compliment you on the pix updates. How does a boy from Tampa bay get these shots?!

Not mine. I'm actually hotlinking picture sposted at Stadiumspage.com

[metfan122164]

You broke my heart, Fredo; you broke my heart!

[John F]

Do I run and hide now, Michael, or do you off me here on the dance floor?

All things considered, I'd rather be taking these pictures myself (and in the Tri State area) instead of grabbing them off other web sites.

[metfan122164]

Originally Posted by John F

Do I run and hide now, Michael, or do you off me here on the dance floor?

All things considered, I'd rather be taking these pictures myself (and in the Tri State area) instead of grabbing them off other web sites.

I've promised myself to be content with a couple of seats at Shea towards the end of the '08 season, and a few more for citifield in '09.

Don't ask me about my business, kate.

[John F]

Brickwork has already begun on the citifield facade.

[John F]

Originally Posted by metfan122164

Don't ask me about my business, kate.

BTW -- her name is KAYE. Not Kate