Lil Bit Special Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-metsstadium By KAREN MATTHEWS, Associated Press Writer February 12, 2008 NEW YORK (AP) -- The huge fiberglass apple that pops up when the New York Mets hit home runs will follow them to their new ballpark when it opens next year. "The big home run apple is coming," the team's chief operating officer, Jeff Wilpon, said Tuesday during a media tour of Citi Field, the new stadium. An apple is coming, at any rate. Mets officials said they did not know whether it would be the same fiberglass apple that has popped up like a champagne cork following Mets homers since 1980. But a well to house the apple was visible beyond center field at the new stadium, which Wilpon said is on schedule and on budget -- about $800 million. Some 85 percent of Citi Field's structural steel is now complete, and the tiered concrete that will support the seats and stairways is in place. The Mets broke ground on the stadium in 2006 and announced a naming deal with Citigroup, which will pay $20 million annually, or about $400 million over a 20-year contract. Fans will enter Citi Field through the Jackie Robinson Rotunda, honoring the Brooklyn Dodgers great who integrated baseball. Other references to the long-departed Dodgers will include an Ebbets Club Lounge and a section of Ebbets seats. The new stadium will have a capacity of 45,000 including standing room, compared with 57,333 at Shea Stadium, the team's home since 1964. It's being built next to the old stadium. Wilpon, son of team owner Fred Wilpon, said he won't miss Shea. "I was at Shea Stadium groundbreaking in my mother's belly," he said. "To be here for opening day should be pretty exciting." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kidhuman Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 It would be stupid to leave that trademark behind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rillo Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 It better.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rillo Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 oops on the double post... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barton Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 That thing is so pathetic. Seriously. If the Mets had any sense they'd leave that in the past. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kidhuman Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 That thing is so pathetic. Seriously. If the Mets had any sense they'd leave that in the past. Its the ballpark tradition. It would be like the Yankees leaving the facade behind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toon88 Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 Its the ballpark tradition. It would be like the Yankees leaving the facade behind. or Freddie with the spoon and frying pan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kidhuman Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 or Freddie with the spoon and frying pan. I forgot about Freddie. Damn I need to get to the stadium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thai Jet Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 Glad to here that. Baseball is a very tradition based game and the Big Apple is part of the Mets tradition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faba Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 It is the one thing that the Mets are bringing as a reminder of Shea-nice touch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhinHater Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 As a die hard mets fan, I am very happy to hear this! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 I've only seen it on TV. I've only been to Shea twice and there were no Mets home runs. Pretty cool bit of tradition for you Mets fans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackout Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 Glad to here that. Baseball is a very tradition based game and the Big Apple is part of the Mets tradition. so is losing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
green_blood Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 I still wish Shea wasn't being demolished. Hopefully my sentimentality will go away when I first go to Citi. The only thing I'll miss is buying upper deck seating and going down to empty Mezzanine seats during the 4th inning. Is anyone here selling tickets this season? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GM Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 Its the ballpark tradition. It would be like the Yankees leaving the facade behind. Well, they are leaving it. The NEW facade is being built. A better analogy would have been Monument Park:cheers: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kidhuman Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 Well, they are leaving it. The NEW facade is being built. A better analogy would have been Monument Park:cheers: Last I heard they were taking part of the facade from the old ball park, but Monument park is a better example. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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