We Want a Pitcher, Not an Awkward, Corporate Name for Our New Stadium
I’m sure much has been discussed since the unveiling of the name of the future home of the New York Mets. Let me preface what I am about to assert about my opinion of CitiField’s name with some self-characterization, as this is my first column on MetsMerized.
I am, and always have been, a traditionalist when it comes to baseball. Baseball was my first love, and despite my distaste for it during the first steroid years (and also when I discovered punk rock and was “too cool” for baseball), it will always be an important part of my life. I am not merely a Mets fan, or even a baseball fan, only because I enjoy the thrill of watching the Metropolitans win big games; I love everything about baseball. I love watching it on TV in my apartment in Brooklyn while my female roommates hide in their rooms and complain, I love visiting my parents and watching it with my dad and brother while my mom pretends she knows who Oliver Perez is, but most importantly, I love going to the ballpark.
Going to Shea has been a constant in my life like no other. I first attended a game their when I was too young to even know what baseball was, and I have been going there and loving the experience ever since. Although I wait with bated breath for the Ebbets-like rotunda at the new park, I can’t help but feel a bit cheated. This trend of corporate sponsorship of stadium names is abhorrent. It’s not like we don’t suffer through enough commercials and billboards at the ballpark, we also have to align our favorite team with a company that we may or may not agree with. What’s next? In 10 years am I going to have to root for the Select Dental Mets? The Ben Gay Mets? Is David Wright, who I hope is still on the team in 10 years, going to have logos all over his uniform like he is a NASCAR driver?
But I digress. All I hope is that this new contract for advertising means that the Wilpon family has more money to put into the “fan experience.” After all, it’s our hard earned money that allows this team to even exist.
I remember reading a Sports Illustrated article that ranked each Major League ballpark a few months ago. Predictably, Shea was in the lower echelon, due to higher prices in almost every category, including tickets, parking and concessions. How about in 2009 when Pelfrey and Humber are combined 40 game winners, I can see one of them pitch for $30, which would include price of parking and upper deck reserved ticket, with a hot dog and a beer to match. A boy can dream.
