Citi Field - My First Visit

The Mets hosted the Marlins on a cool spring afternoon yesterday for my first visit inside Citi Field. Having seen it rise -- and its predecessor Shea Stadium fall -- I was eager to catch a game and sample the ambiance of New York's new home for National League baseball. First, a final farewell to Shea, as the last yards of its former footprint are leveled in preparation to being paved over.

Citi Field's most unique and most discussed twist is the main entrance lobby, the Jackie Robinson Rotunda. Along with outer facade of the ballpark, it is modeled after those at Brooklyn's hallowed Ebbets Field.WFAN colleague Mia Harris, on hand a couple of nights earlier, took the following shot peering down from the top.
While clearly built for baseball, Citi Field is not a snug or cozy as the east coast parks to which it'll be compared Camden Yards (Baltimore) or Citizens Bank Park (Philadelphia).
The stands flare away from the field more than you'd expect, or hope for. Especially upstairs (we sat in the middle 300 level), you don't have a sense of "being on top of the action."

While the Mets have usually been a franchise than emphasizes pitching over home runs, Citi Field might have gone too far. The outfield appears to be too spacious -- a la Petco Park in San Diego. We saw more hits dropping in front of outfielders than in the typical ballpark and certainly what we were used to at Shea.
(Below) Jorge Cantu was one of the Marlins batting stars. He's getting ready to connect on a home run off Mets ace Johan Santana.
Citi Field's outfield fences are high, including a left field a bit reminiscent of the Mets first home, the Polo Grounds. Here's where Cantu's homer landed in left field.
The grandstand that sweeps too far back from the field also results in too much foul territory. It's not Oakland-like, but it's far more than you remember from Shea.
The sense of spaciousness -- along with a heavier percentage of seating in the outfield changes your sense of proportion. Now the fans surround the action, instead of being behind it at Shea.
Below, the Pepsi porch (named for its sponsor) dominates the right field area. A clever idea, supposedly inspired by the grandstand in Detroit's now-gone Tiger Stadium. And below it, Modell's Mo Zone juts out to create a distinctive series of angles and corners for fielders to navigate and evade.
A ballpark can draw its personality from its players. Shea Stadium will always be symbolized by Tom Seaver, Tug McGraw, Jerry Koosman and Doc Gooden on the mound. Odds are the player whose scorecard position is "1" will remain the focus at Citi Field. Here's Mets ace Johan Santana in action:
He also shows fine form in a bunting situation.

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