Mets Dir of Field Operations Bill Deacon said that Citi Field's playing surface in the offseason was "resodded for the first time" in the ballpark's seven-year history, according to Neil Best of NEWSDAY. Deacon: "It’s just one of those things that over time you need to do to keep your drainage and keep the field safe and playable, which is our No. 1 concern." He added that the mild winter "has things in 'great shape' and ahead of schedule." Deacon said that seven years is "fairly typical for a field’s life span" in the Northeast. Meanwhile, Best notes the "most widely discussed offseason change is the Coca-Cola sign that towers over the upper deck in rightfield, formerly known as the Pepsi Porch," which is now "called the Coca-Cola Corner." The 26-foot-by-84-foot, full-color LED sign is "one of the largest of its kind in pro sports and features video that includes simulated bubbles and bottle caps, and that will have displays tied to what is going on in the game." Perhaps even more noticeable than that is "a bright yellow-and-white" Nikon sign that "looms over centerfield from below the main video board, a location previously dedicated to Budweiser." Officials said that the sign is "elevated enough not to be a distraction to batters" (NEWSDAY, 3/31).
FOOD & FEATURES: AMNY.com's Ivan Pereira noted new amenities at Citi Field for the '16 season include "two new food vendors and an entirely new recreational space located above right field." Mets Exec VP & CRO Lou DePaoli said that the 28 participating food offerings at the ballpark "represent a wide variety of tastes from across the city." Pereira noted two favorite N.Y. spots are "joining the food roster: Fuku, which will offer its spicy fried chicken sandwich, and Milk Bar, which will offer signature cookies." Meanwhile, the team "partnered with Nikon and created five photo spots where fans can take scenic shots of the stadium and nearby area." Citi Field crews will "display the photos that use hashtag #NikonMets on the big screen in center field." Other social media posts will be "displayed on a special video screen" in the Coca-Cola Corner. That section will offer a "new, open area for all fans in the upper deck right field." Located under the sign for the soda company, the section "has tables, food stands, comfy booths and turf flooring" (AMNY.com, 3/30).
