Citi Field will "look different" when the Mets open the '12 season tomorrow as "several new seats have been added as well as a new outfield wall," according to David Satriano of the N.Y. POST. Mets Exec VP/Business Operations Dave Howard said, "We are bringing the wall in and lowering the height to eight feet from foul pole to foul pole with the intention of making the ballpark play more fair, more neutral." Satriano notes the changes also improve the "sightlines for fans in the outfield, which was another design flaw of the original construction." Additionally, the new wall "created more space in the outfield where several seats were added." The additional "left field seats -- called the Party City Deck -- will be on top of the new wall." The 102 seats at the Party Deck will go for $100-200 a ticket. They will "include an all-you-can eat menu as well as soft drinks and beer." Those tickets "only will be available individually for the first homestand, and then will be sold on a group basis for the remainder of the season" (N.Y. POST, 4/4). On Long Island, Jim Baumbach notes in the new left field seats, there is one row of "cushioned seats in front of a row of swivel stools, a design the Mets say was influenced by the seats above Fenway Park's Green Monster." Howard said of the difference between the Mets' and Red Sox' seats, "We have the advantage that we're not quite as high as they are, so the sightlines are a little bit better in terms of field views." Baumbach notes the Mets "also took the opportunity to change the color of the walls, draping them in the same blue that used to be present at Shea Stadium." Changing the color to blue from black "is another nod by Mets officials that they're listening to Mets fans who have been outspoken in their disappointment of how little Citi Field resembles their old home" (NEWSDAY, 4/4).
OPENING DAY TICKET STILL AVAILABLE: Howard on Monday said that “‘several thousand’ tickets are still available for Opening Day against the Braves” tomorrow. However, he noted that the Mets “remain bullish they can fill their 41,800-seat ballpark as they celebrate the 50th anniversary of their first opener.” Howard: “Tickets have been selling well, and since Johan (Santana) was announced as our starting pitcher it has given us a surge of energy. We have a shot at selling out. If not, we’ll be close to it.” For the Mets to get their sellout, Howard indicated that “solid sales would be needed over the next two days coupled with a Thursday walkup of anywhere from 2,000 to 4,000 fans” (N.Y. POST, 4/3).
