Mets Vacate Shea Stadium; Facility To Be Torn Down Gradually

Mets To Have Demolition Of Shea Stadium Completed By Opening Day

Shea Stadium "will be torn down slowly and meticulously, without the help of any dynamite," according to Jim Baumbach of NEWSDAY. Mets Exec VP/Business Operations Dave Howard said, "It will be dismantled. There won't be an implosion and there won't be any wrecking balls. It will sort of be strategic cutting and dismantling section by section." Howard added that the process is "going to begin in less than two weeks." Baumbach notes all Mets employees have "now officially been moved to Citi Field." Now that the team is no longer occupying Shea Stadium, Howard said that they have "15 days from the final game to clear the stadium of everything they want to save." Howard: "It's being prepped for demolition. We're pulling out all salvageable stuff and memorabilia items. It's a very active site, with regards to both the Mets and the Parks Department." Howard said of the demolition of Shea Stadium, "It will be gradual. The goal is to have it down by Opening Day next year for Citi Field, which is April 13. That will be a challenge, and it will be dependent on a lot of things, including what the weather is like this winter. But that's the goal" (NEWSDAY, 10/1).

THE MEMORIES REMAIN: The Yankees have decided to extend fan tours of old Yankee Stadium "until the end of the year." The tour includes visits to the press box, dugout, locker room and a "chance to walk across the field to Monument Park" (N.Y. POST, 10/1).