Citi Field

Over the last few years, New York has been the beneficiary of two brand-new ballparks. Citi Field in Flushing, New York, is the most recent and in my opinion, the nicest of the two. For those of you who have not been to this new park, all I can say is: “WOW”. Citi Field has modern amenities combined with a nostalgic look that offers the consumer dynamic entertainment and culinary delight. The aesthetics are amazing. Whether it be the “Ebbets Field” style brick facade, the life accomplishments listed within the “Jackie Robinson Rotunda” or the “Shea” walking bridge, you’ll experience a connection with the past. 

Citi Field’s inaugural season was 2009. On April 13th, the Mets hosted the Padres in front of an Opening Day crowd in excess of 41,000 fans. Citi Field holds approximately 15,000 fewer fans than the team’s previous home, so the surroundings are more intimate. The approximate cost was $850 million dollars and funded by the sale of New York City municipal bonds. 

Even though the opening of Citi Field showed tremendous promise for a team hoping to make a big leap, the numbers do not suggest success. The team was 89-73 in 2008 at the old Shea Stadium with attendance of approximately 4 million. In 2009, overall revenue was approximately $180 million, with an average of 39,000 fans per game and $99.3 million in ticket sales. Advertising sponsorships equated to approximately $47 million and suite sales sold out at approximately $16 million. The team finished the 2009 season at 70-92. Over the next four seasons, the team has averaged 76 wins and attendance has dropped by approximately 1 million fans. Additionally, overall revenue continued to decline each year and was approximately $119 million in 2013. Ticket sale revenue was cut in half by the forth year and the average attendance shrunk to approximately 18,000 fans per game. Suite sales and advertising sponsorships diminished as well. 2012 figures reveal suite sales at approximately $7.5 million and advertising sponsorships at $44 million. 

So, why are the Mets less-than-amazing right now? In a perfect world, you would think a team with a new stadium and a big market would hit a home run; the “honeymoon” glow should shine for a few years regardless of team success. Well, not exactly. It flickered out like a candle in the wind. Not just any wind. It was the perfect storm. The financial catastrophe associated with Bernie Madoff coupled with multiple losing seasons tarnished that “Big Apple”. The Wilpon’s took a bite, but couldn’t pay for it. The team has been cash strapped, causing a ripple effect throughout the organization. Bad personnel decisions coupled with bad investments have created an unbearable hardship. This hardship has affected the quality of baseball in Queens. In today’s modern game, it appears that a direct correlation exists between a competitive franchise and the overall economics behind it.