The New Stadiums
Citi Field
(Click to Vew)
Both of the two
New York City baseball teams have built and
opened brand new stadiums this year. I have
visited both venues several times to watch
games in the last two months.
I've written this article to contrast and compare both the New York Mets' new Citi Field and the New York Yankees' new Yankee Stadium.
I've written this article to contrast and compare both the New York Mets' new Citi Field and the New York Yankees' new Yankee Stadium.
Yankee Stadium
(Click to Vew)
The stadiums have a nice, old-fashioned feel to them, with retro-ballpark designs. This retro design aesthetic is now common in the newer major league baseball stadiums. It began with Baltimore Orioles Park at Camden Yards in 1992 and continues with the Pittsburgh Pirates' PNC Park, the Cincinnati Reds' Great American Ballpark, the Colorado Rockies' Coors Field and Philadelphia Phillies' Citizens Bank Park.
There are differences in the two new stadiums' approach and design. I highlight some of those below as well as discuss some of the highlights.
Click on either of the stadium logos below for photo slideshows of the two stadiums.
Citi Field
All About the Fans
The New
York Mets owe much to New York City's
failed 2012 Olympic bid, as the
original plans for what is now Citi
Field were created as part of that
bid. The stadium was originally
supposed to have a retractable roof
and was to be built on Manhattan's
West Side. The plan was for the new
stadium to host the opening and
closing Olympic ceremonies.
The exterior brick facade of the new stadium mimics the old Brooklyn Dodgers' Ebbets Field. The interior of the stadium is influenced by some of the other retro stadiums in major league baseball
The entrance to Citi Field features the beautiful Jackie Robinson rotunda. The rotunda honors the Brooklyn Dodgers legend and his life and accomplishments. Throughout the area are engravings and etchings highlighting the words and images depicting Robinson’s nine values: Courage, Excellence, Persistence, Justice, Teamwork, Commitment, Citizenship, Determination and Integrity.
Also, Robinson’s famous quote: “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives,” is engraved into the upper ring of the rotunda.There is also a 8 foot 42 number, which was Jackie Robinson's number.
Some of the new venue's amenities include the Delta Sky360 restaurant-cafe-bar-lounge behind home plate stretching from dugout to dugout. In addition there is an area called The Pepsi Porch in right field which extends over the playing field, as wells as a large Pepsi Cola sign, similar to one located in Long Island City.
Food is a real highlight at Citi Field. There is a food court in left center field that features Blue Smoke, Shake Shack, El Verano Taqueria, Box Frites and Catch of the Day. There is also an area on field level with sushi from Daruma of Tokyo and sandwiches from Mama's of Corona.
The exterior brick facade of the new stadium mimics the old Brooklyn Dodgers' Ebbets Field. The interior of the stadium is influenced by some of the other retro stadiums in major league baseball
The entrance to Citi Field features the beautiful Jackie Robinson rotunda. The rotunda honors the Brooklyn Dodgers legend and his life and accomplishments. Throughout the area are engravings and etchings highlighting the words and images depicting Robinson’s nine values: Courage, Excellence, Persistence, Justice, Teamwork, Commitment, Citizenship, Determination and Integrity.
Also, Robinson’s famous quote: “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives,” is engraved into the upper ring of the rotunda.There is also a 8 foot 42 number, which was Jackie Robinson's number.
Some of the new venue's amenities include the Delta Sky360 restaurant-cafe-bar-lounge behind home plate stretching from dugout to dugout. In addition there is an area called The Pepsi Porch in right field which extends over the playing field, as wells as a large Pepsi Cola sign, similar to one located in Long Island City.
Food is a real highlight at Citi Field. There is a food court in left center field that features Blue Smoke, Shake Shack, El Verano Taqueria, Box Frites and Catch of the Day. There is also an area on field level with sushi from Daruma of Tokyo and sandwiches from Mama's of Corona.
Yankee Stadium
All About The History
The New
York Yankees had desired a new
stadium for a very long time and
spent more than twenty-five years
lobbying and campaigning for one.
Various financing proposals and ideas
were considered by the team over the
many years, including moving the team
to New Jersey. It wasn't until
mid-decade that hotly-debated and
controversial agreements were made to
finally begin construction.
Much of the new stadium borrows its design from the original Yankee Stadium when it first opened in 1923. It features the building's name in V-cut and gold-leaf lettering above each gate.
The interior of the stadium has hundreds of photos and banners that capture the rich history of the Yankees. The roof features a replica of the architectural frieze that was a trademark of the original stadium before it was renovated in 1974. The Great Hall is an immense area that is lined with banners of past and present Yankees superstars.
The Yankees Museum displays Yankees' memorabilia including the "Ball Wall" which has hundreds of balls autographed by past and present Yankees as well as a tribute to Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series with statues of Larsen pitching to Yogi Berra.
Monument Park is located in center field except it is now beyond the fences as opposed to on the field as it was in the original 1923 stadium until the 1974 renovation. The center field scoreboard is one of the largest high definition scoreboards in the world.
The Yankees are not outdone when it comes to food: There is a Hard Rock Cafe, a steakhouse called NYY Steak, as well as above Monument Park in center field is the Mohegan Sun sports bar. The food court on the field level offers deli sandwiches, pizza and sushi.
Much of the new stadium borrows its design from the original Yankee Stadium when it first opened in 1923. It features the building's name in V-cut and gold-leaf lettering above each gate.
The interior of the stadium has hundreds of photos and banners that capture the rich history of the Yankees. The roof features a replica of the architectural frieze that was a trademark of the original stadium before it was renovated in 1974. The Great Hall is an immense area that is lined with banners of past and present Yankees superstars.
The Yankees Museum displays Yankees' memorabilia including the "Ball Wall" which has hundreds of balls autographed by past and present Yankees as well as a tribute to Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series with statues of Larsen pitching to Yogi Berra.
Monument Park is located in center field except it is now beyond the fences as opposed to on the field as it was in the original 1923 stadium until the 1974 renovation. The center field scoreboard is one of the largest high definition scoreboards in the world.
The Yankees are not outdone when it comes to food: There is a Hard Rock Cafe, a steakhouse called NYY Steak, as well as above Monument Park in center field is the Mohegan Sun sports bar. The food court on the field level offers deli sandwiches, pizza and sushi.
So which one do I like better? Hard to
say, as I really enjoy both.
They are two different kinds of experience.
However...
I find that
Citi Field has the better overall
fan-based ambience.
In other words, it is probably the better place to just simply watch a game and have a meal.
The food is tasty and almost every seat has an excellent view of the game and anywhere you go you are still reminded that you are at a ball game. Citi Field is all about the fans having a great time.
In other words, it is probably the better place to just simply watch a game and have a meal.
The food is tasty and almost every seat has an excellent view of the game and anywhere you go you are still reminded that you are at a ball game. Citi Field is all about the fans having a great time.
Yankee
Stadium felt like I was visiting a
museum or a monument.
It's akin to going to the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, or St. Patrick's Cathedral.
It's a place with historical significance and you feel a measure of reverence as you make your way through the Great Hall and the various other areas within the stadium.
It's akin to going to the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, or St. Patrick's Cathedral.
It's a place with historical significance and you feel a measure of reverence as you make your way through the Great Hall and the various other areas within the stadium.