Citi Field: Travel Guide for a Mets Game in New York

They may not have performed as well on the field over the years, but the New York Mets beat the New York Yankees when it comes to having the better ballpark. Opened in the same year, Citi Field in Queens provides a more enjoyable to Yankee Stadium in the Bronx because it serves as a baseball stadium and not a museum. With better food and more off-field enjoyment, Citi Field may not be one of the 10 best ballparks in Major League Baseball, but it’s knocking on the door.

Tickets & Seating Areas

There was a lot of concern that Mets tickets would be hard to come by when the team moved to Citi Field, but a decrease in team performance has resulted in plenty of ticket supply. On the primary ticketing side, you can buy tickets through the Mets either online, via phone, or at the Citi Field box office. The primary market on the Mets website allows you to see the dynamic pricing, which adjusts pricing at real-time based on market demand. Tickets start as low as $11 based on date and opponent. There’s plenty of inventory and options for the secondary market. Obviously you have the well-known options like Stubhub and Ebay or a ticket aggregator (think Kayak for sports tickets) like SeatGeek and ‎TiqIQ.

There aren't many bad sightlines in Citi Field, so you'll be able to enjoy your baseball from many different sections. Unlike some other ballparks, I wouldn't say there's truly an area to sit in Citi Field that you would enjoy more than others. (By contrast, Fenway Park has Green Monster seats‎ or the Budweiser deck in right field.). The most unique seats at Citi Field are in the Party City Deck in left field, which was created when ownership decided to move the fences in a few years ago. They’re only available, however, for group sales. There's also the Pepsi porch in right field, which provide the closest thing Citi Field has to bleachers.

Promenade Gold (400 level) behind home plate is the best value in the house. Those seats behind have a good view and are affordable compared to some other seats. You can generally find reasonable prices based on your budget with key areas being the outfield areas in the field level, the Caesar’s Club level, or unobstructed seats in the Promenade level.

Getting There

It's very easy to get to Citi Field. Travelers from Manhattan should take the #7 subway from either Times Square - 42nd Street or Grand Central - 42nd Street, two stops easily accessible via bus, subway, or taxi from other areas of Manhattan. The #7 train makes stops in Queens as it rolls on to Flushing Meadow so you could always hop on that way as well. Those coming from the Upper East Side can take the N or the R subway line and connect in Queensboro Plaza, while those near the E, F, M and R can find the #7 at Roosevelt Avenue. The Long Island Railroad runs a train out to Mets-Willets Point Station from Penn Station, the Woodside Station, or anywhere on the Port Washington line. Should you decide to drive, there's more than ample parking surrounding Citi Field run by the Mets.

Move on to page two for more information about attending a Mets game at Citi Field.

Pregame & Postgame Fun

Unfortunately there aren't many options to enjoy food and drinks around Citi Field. A big renovation is in the area's future, but for now visitors are limited to the McFadden's bar located ‎outside of the park in the left field area. You can't go in and out during the game, but you can enter into Citi Field to go into the game through there. If you're willing to get a little creative, stop at Donovan's in the Woodside of Queens, right off the 7 train, for one of the best burgers in New York City. There's also great Chinese food in Flushing with Hunan Kitchen, Xi’an Famous Foods, and Corner 28 being on the top of the list of places to check out.

At the Game

The best part about attending a game at Citi Field i‎s the food. There are numerous great options connected to the New York City food culture! But you need to prepare accordingly since the lines can get excessively long. For starters there's Shake Shack, New York's #1 local burger chain that's now expanded worldwide. The burgers and shakes are very good, but you'll wait on line for at least two innings. The best way to get Shake Shack is to show up to the game 30 minutes early because the line isn't as long and worst case you'll get your food just as the game is beginning. The newer Pat LaFreida steak sandwich and meatball sandwich stands next to Shake Shack )are also very good, but have the same line issue. Getting on those lines before the game starts Is another good idea. There's also a second location in the Promenade level behind home plate.

Of lines aren't your thing and you couldn't get to the game that early, there are still plenty of good food options. Blue Smoke on the other side of Shack Shack in center field normally doesn't have a long line and offers very good barbecue including pulled pork and wings. Those in favor of seafood should grab a flounder sandwich or a lobster roll from Catch of the Day in right-center field. Mama's of Corona has been a favorite of many for years now with their Italian sub sandwich and cannoli being offered in the food court in right field or in the upper deck behind home plate. The food options continue with Two Boots for pizza, El Verano Taqueria for tacos, and Box Frites for Belgian fries in the center field food area. There's also Empire State Craft in center field and behind home plate in the Promenade area for all your beer needs

There's also a fan fest in center field with plenty of things for the kids before the game or between innings. Between the dunk tank, video games, a batting and appearances from Mr. Met, there's plenty of ways to keep your young ones entertained.

Where to Stay

Hotel rooms in New York are as expensive as any city in the world, so don't expect to catch a break on pricing. They’re cheaper in the summer, but things can get pretty expensive in the spring. There are numerous brand name hotels in and around Times Square, but you might be best served not staying in such a highly-trafficked location. You're not that bad off as long as you're within a subway ride of the 7 train.‎ Travelocity offers last minute deals if you're scrambling a few days before you attend the game. Alternatively, you can look into renting an apartment via AirBNB. People in Manhattan always so apartment availability should be reasonable at any time of the year.