Citi Field

From SoSH

Citi Field

Location:	Queens, New York City, NY
Opened:	2009
Owner:	City of New York
Surface:	Grass
Architect:	HOK Sport
Current Capacity:	45,000
Build Cost:	$610,000,000
Tenants:	New York Mets (2009-)

Citi Field, the future home of the New York Mets, is slated to open in time for Opening Day 2009.

1 Initial Plans
2 Design, Construction, and Naming Rights
3 Field Dimensions
4 Wall Height
5 External Links

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Initial Plans

New York City initially drew up plans for Citi Field in a bid for the 2012 Olympics. The park would have been for the Mets' use, but it would have been expandable to host the Olympics and other events, while the Mets would have played their home games at New Yankee Stadium. London ended up winning the 2012 Olympic bid, and New York decided to go ahead with Citi Field as the new home of the Mets.

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Design, Construction, and Naming Rights

Citi Field will have a capacity of approximately 45,000 (41,000 seats and 4,000 standing room). While there is a drop of almost 10,000 between Shea Stadium and Citi Field, Citi Field will feature more leg room, wider seats, and more wheelchair seating, as well as more bathrooms, more elevators, and a larger team store. Its exterior is based on the facade of Ebbets Field, similar to what is seen at Safeco Field and Coors Field. (Mets owner Fred Wilpon is a Brooklyn native and old friend of Dodgers pitcher Sandy Koufax.) The interior will resemble that of modern throwback parks like Camden Yards.

The naming rights have been purchased by Citigroup, Inc. at a cost of $20 million per year over the next 20 years, with a mutual option to extend the contract to 35 years. The entrance to the park will be named Jackie Robinson Rotunda.

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