The LTJ Editorial: “Renovation around Citi Field another step towards success”

“The LTJ Editorial”
Author: Luis Tirado Jr.
Date: 10-18-13
Twitter: @LTJ81
Website: http://www.TheNYExpress.com

“Renovation around Citi Field another step towards success”

For well over two decades now, I've been going to a ton of NY Mets games. I have many fond memories of going to Shea Stadium with my family and friends to see the Mets play while having a great time at the ballpark. I remember wins, losses, the organ music rallying the crowd, and of course, getting ice cream in a small Mets helmet. One of the memories though that has always stuck around when I think back to Shea Stadium was the area around it. It was literally just a dump. I never understood why the surrounding area was always filled with way too many places for tires, car parts, and used automobiles. It stuck out like a sore thumb every single time you walked around the area because it looked dingy and trashy. There was really nothing justifying having all those places around Shea Stadium that had no business with baseball.

Back in 2009, the Mets debuted Citi Field which would usher in new memories for us all. A brand new home for the Mets which featured so many new advancements, I figured they would also open up nice places around it. Nope, it seems they didn't really pay much mind to the surrounding area and left things as is. I always thought how does that look for baseball fans who travel from all over the world to see the Mets and they take a look around the area? If you have tourists coming in, there really isn't anything to see around Citi Field besides Flushing Meadow Park, the subway station, and the parking lot. After most Mets games, I love walking at that park since it's beautiful, especially after a victory. Only thing is, that's pretty much all the options you have. There are no nice restaurants, places to shop, not even any nice hotels around the area if you're visiting from abroad and looking for a place to spend the night. Just literally, tons of places to get an oil change, change your tires, and look at over 50 car shops to get random parts for cars.

I am happy to say though, the Mets and the city of New York finally took note of what I've been writing about and announced a renovation project. I guess it's something about “2014” that will bring a new aura to the Mets and everything they are involved in since we all correlate it with possible success. In addition to doing their best to have an offseason of bringing top talent to the team, they will begin a $3 billion renovation project for the area around Citi Field. It was approved by the City Council of New York and they will fill the area with brand new retail stores, hotels, restaurants, and small businesses to make the area more appealing for tourists and baseball fans worldwide. It will be performed by the Queens Development Group and it couldn't have come at a better time.

It's safe to say ever since the Mets opened up their new stadium, it's been filled with nothing but declining issues. They've steadily gone down in ticket sales, concession money, attendance, and even in team losses. It's a bit sad that the only time the stadium was filled to the brim was when the MLB All-Star Weekend came to town this year and whenever the NY Yankees visit. Every other time, unless it was a Matt Harvey or Zach Wheeler start, was a very light crowd. I'm not saying the area around Citi Field has anything to do with what I mentioned, but it could only add more value to what should be a solid new outlook for the Mets. I don't know if the Mets will be in the postseason next year, but at least they are doing the right steps to achieve better than what we have been getting use to. Getting rid of the nonsense around Citi Field and bringing in more attractive places to visit, shop, and eat is what New York is all about. Nobody wants to travel from a far away state just to look at car part shops in an area around a MLB stadium. People want to eat, shop, and see attractions so they can remember it for a lifetime.

Once the renovation project is done, which I'm sure will take a few years, it'll be a refreshing change to the area surrounding Citi Field. It'll be nice to see it all be transformed so in addition to nice walks at Flushing Meadow Park, I can go sit in a nice place to eat to talk about the game and relax. By then, the Mets will surely have a winning season and more. If not, at least we'll have retail outlets to spend our sorrows away at.