Sources Say Citi Field Suffering From Water Damage, Mold

Citi Field Plagued By Water Damage To Luxury Suites, Flooding In Outfield Seats, Mold

Citi Field has been "plagued by water damage to several luxury suites" as well as "mold, falling signs and concrete, flooding in outfield seats, faulty electrical wiring and shoddy tile work," according to sources cited by James Fanelli of the N.Y. POST. A source said that "perhaps the biggest bungle is a water leak the sprang in early August ... creating mold" in four suites. Other issues include a "nonworking elevator last week that forced Mets owner Fred Wilpon to climb four flights to his office;" an outfield section "flooding in a rainstorm three months ago because drains were clogged;" a four-by-six foot illuminated sign "falling in the field-level promenade during an off day;" electricity in the kitchen "above the ticket booths near the rotunda shorting out;" a piece of the concrete "breaking off;" and air conditioning and heating in the maintenance crew's locker room "that hasn't worked since Day 1." Mets Exec VP/Business Operations Dave Howard "acknowledged some of the problems, but called them minor and not unexpected." Howard: "Any suggestions that Citi Field is less than an elite, world-class entertainment facility is flat-out inaccurate and unfounded. When you open a building with 1.2 million square feet, you're going to have issues like this." Howard "confirmed luxury-suite leaks but said the walls were mold-resistant." He said that Wilpon's elevator had "not failed but was momentarily unusable while technicians tested its backup generator." Howard also "denied that the air conditioning in the maintenance crew's locker room was on the fritz" (N.Y. POST, 9/6).

FLIP THIS HOUSE: In N.Y., Mike Vaccaro wrote if there was "supposed to be one source of solace for the Mets, no matter what else befell them, it was going to be their ballpark, Citi Field." But the facility "has been a lightning rod." Fans were "furious that the place was bereft of Mets history," and for a brand-new ballpark, there "seemed to be an awful lot of seats with obstructed views." People have also "screamed about parking logistics." Now comes the news "no homeowner wants to hear: that your brand-new dream house has a leaky basement and a drafty attic" (N.Y. POST, 9/6).

WITH HONORS: In N.Y., Jack Curry noted the Mets yesterday "dedicated the Plum Room in honor of Jim Plummer, a longtime employee of the club." Plum, who died last year at age 57, worked for the Mets for 31 years. Instead of having a Green Room "for visitors to use, the Mets decided to have a Plum Room that would honor Plummer" (NYTIMES.com, 9/8).