Citi Field | Ballpark Info

Citi Field | Must Do

Run the Bases of Old Shea Stadium

Shea Stadium was Citi Field’s predecessor and was located literally right next door. If you arrive early enough, you’ll find bronze plaques in parking lot B marking the bases of Shea Stadium. Lot B is located on the 3B side of the ballpark, just outside of the Stengel Entrance and Left Field gate.

Snap a Photo with the Home Run Apple Out Front, then Watch for the Home Run Apple Inside

When most people think of the New York Mets, they think of the Home Run Apple. Located in the outfield, it rises up whenever the Mets hit a home run. The original apple was moved from Shea Stadium to just outside of the main entrance at the Jackie Robinson Rotunda. Stop there for a quick photo.

Once inside the park, if a Mets player hits a home run, watch for the new Home Run Apple to rise up from the center field batters eye. The apple currently inside Citi Field is 4 times larger than the Shea Stadium version.

Visit the Jackie Robinson Memorial, then the Mets Hall of Fame & Museum

If you enter via the main gate, you’ll find a tribute to Jackie Robinson at the top of the rotunda. Robinson is honored across the MLB, but has a special place in the hearts of Dodgers and Mets fans. Robinson’s career began in Brooklyn before the Dodgers moved to LA, and the Mets do a great job of honoring him at Citi Field. Take the time to study Robinson’s nine values that he lived his life by: courage, determination, teamwork, persistence, integrity, citizenship, justice, commitment and excellence. These are etched around the rotunda.

Once you have enjoyed the Robinson tribute, head behind the escalators to the Mets Hall of Fame & Museum. It’s free to enter and contains much Mets memorabilia, including World Series trophies and rings. The Mets Hall of Fame includes plaques for each of the Hall of Fame members. You’ll have plenty of time to see the Hall of Fame & Museum since it’s open from when the gates open until after the ballgame.

See the Shea Scoreboard Skyline

One of the features of the old park was the famous neon New York skyline that sat atop the main scoreboard. The skyline was originally installed in the 1980s. Following the 2001 terror attacks, the neon was removed from the World Trade Center Towers in the outline, and a red white & blue ribbon was placed over top. When the original scoreboard was demolished, the skyline was moved to the area behind center field and can be found on top of the Shake Shack stand.

Once you get into Queens and approach the ballpark, parking won’t be an issue. It can be difficult to get to Queens though, which is why we recommend taking public transportation to Citi Field. If you do decide to drive to Citi, be sure to leave yourself plenty of time. There’s nothing worse than sitting in traffic on the Grand Central Parkway while listening to first pitch on the radio.

Official Citi Field Parking Lots

There are 5 official parking lots at Citi Field. Parking for each of those lots is $25. If you don’t have a VIP ticket or pre-purchased parking pass, you can only park in Lot A (though the number of general spots is quite small) and Lot E.

There are also 5 remote lots near Citi Field that accommodate game day parking. These require a bit of a walk or a shuttle, but still cost the same amount as the general lots near the park. If you can’t find a spot in Lot A or E, we recommend looking for off-site, non-official parking to save a few bucks.

Off-Site / Free Parking Options Near Citi Field

You can find street parking in the neighborhoods surrounding the ballpark. If you get there early, you might luck out and find free street parking a block or so away from the park. Many places around the ballpark will rent out their spots to third party spot finding services like:

• ParkWhiz
• Spot Hero
• Parking Panda

You can also park in Skyview Center’s garage, which is a nearby mall. Parking is substantially cheaper there, less than $5, and it’s a short half mile walk to the ballpark. If you are attending a night game and it runs long, be aware that the garage may close at a certain time. Look for signage as you are parking.

Public Transportation

Public transportation is the way to get to the ballpark. You’ll want to take the 7 train of the New York subway system, which you can pick up from Times Square, 5th Ave, and Grand Central Station, or transfer to from another line. Get off at the Mets/Willets Point Station and follow the Blue and Orange.

Uber & Lyft

The rideshare lot for Citi Field is just outside of the bullpen gate on Seaver Way. You’ll find Uber signage throughout the park since they are the official rideshare company of the Mets, but Lyfts and taxis can also access that pickup and dropoff location. You might actually be better off calling a Lyft since everyone else will have been staring at Uber signage all day.

If you’re new to Uber, you can use this link to get a discount on your first few rides.

Citi Field | Best Seats

Best Seats for Mets History

Citi has seen its fair share of historical moments since opening in 2009. Mariano Rivera recorded his 500th save there (2009), Johan Santana threw the first no-hitter in Mets history (2012), Garry Sheffiled hit his historic 500th home run to section 132 in left field (2009), and Pete Alonso broke the record for most single season home runs by a rookie (2019).

There are no specifically marked or known seats for those historic events. If you want to revisit history from a seat, we recommend buying tickets to the Subway Series, the interleague play between the Yankees and Mets that happens each year. Called the Subway Series because you can get to each ballpark from the subway, this New York tradition began with the Yankees and Giants in the early 1920s, and continues today with the Yankees and Mets.

Best Seats for Game Views

If you have no problem shelling out $100+ for each ticket, the 300 level is great for game views, especially down the 1B and 3B lines. The seats in the 400 Promenade Club sections (406 – 423) are probably the best value in terms of view vs price. Just make sure to sit a few rows back to avoid hand rails. Depending on how the season is going and who they are playing, you may be able to score lower level seats for less money shortly before a game. Use a service like Seatgeek or Stubhub to scope those out.

Where Not to Sit

If your seats are not on the 500 level, you won’t have much to worry about. Citi Field like many other parks, has plexiglass along the railing of the stairs that take you from the 400 level to the 500 level. There are silver hand railings that run alongside the glass, blocking your view. On top of that, in the first row, you still have the traditional metal railing, so you can end up with a triple obstructed view. Sit a few rows back in the 500 level.

If you sit further back in the 500 sections, you also have the chance of being obstructed by the overhang above. And if you sit further down the line, you’ll lose some view of the outfield corner you’re sitting in.

If on the 500 level, aim for the true middle of any section to avoid most of these problems.

Best Seats for Shade

Day games at Citi Field usually start at 1:10pm, which means the sun will be present for all of the game. Your best bet for shade is the 3B side, specifically the 300 level, which is also protected by an overhang. The last 10 or so rows of any level are usually in the shade thanks to the overhang. Avoid the 1B side and outfield if you can help it.

Best Seats for Foul Balls

Looking to catch a foul ball at Citi Field? According to foulballz.com, your best chances are in 121 – 124 on the 3B side, and 111-114 on the 1B side.

Citi Field is arguably one of the best ballparks for food. Even if you normally eat before the ballpark, you may want to switch it up for this one. There are many options, and most of them are favorably reviewed. The below are just a few of the many options. They also offer 62 beers and 32 wines. If you’re like us, you’ll need to come back for several games just to feel like you’ve scratched the surface of what this place has to offer. For the full offering, take a look here.

The Must Have: The Pastrami Sandwich

The classic New York deli sandwich. Pastrami + rye bread + mustard. Pickle on the side. What more do you need? Sections 126, 318, and 415.

Something Special: The Pizza Cupcake

What is it? Kind of like a pizza slider. The Pizza Cupcake is something you won’t find at any other park. It’s also not huge, so you’ll still have room for more of Citi Field’s offerings. Find it at the Jim Beam Highball Club on the 400 Promenade level.

Something Sweet: Tipsy Scoop

The Mets were planning to proudly debut their new vendor of liquor infused ice cream in 2020. We all know how that went. But it sounds amazing. Flavors include Vanilla Bean Bourbon Ice Cream, Strawberry White Sangria, and Dark Chocolate Whiskey Salted Caramel Ice Cream.

Vegetarian and Vegan Options at Citi Field

Citi Field has an entire food stand dedicated to vegans — Marty’s V Burger in section 105. It includes multiple Beyond burger and sausage options along with a soy peppersteak. This will be your best option if you are very strict, as everything here will be vegan. The soft pretzels (scattered throughout the main concourse) are vegan. Vegan hot dogs are available in sections 137, 321, and 423. Daruma of Tokyo offers a vegetable roll at the Worlds Fare Market.

Bars and Restaurants

We believe that in order to fully experience a ballpark, you should spend some time in the nearby area. We’re also big believers that pre and post game rushes are awful. We suggest you spend some time at these local establishments instead of sitting in traffic or rushing to the train.

McFadden’s Restaurant and Saloon | 36-2 126th St, Queens, NY 11368 | Website | Menu | Click to Call
McFadden’s is actually attached to Citi Field, just steps from the third base entrance. It’s only open during baseball season and only when the Mets are playing at home. Doors open 3 hours prior to first pitch. This place actually has really good food for a sports bar (we like the bavarian pretzel sticks and their sliders) and a lively atmosphere before and after the game.

Lucia Pizza | 136-55B, Roosevelt Ave, Queens, NY 11354 | Website | Menu | Click to Call
At Lucia’s you’ll find a no-frills classic slice of pie, and a darn good one at that. Many locals claim this is one of the best pizza spots in Queens. They offer calzones, heros and pasta as well, but if you’re craving authentic NY-style pizza, this is the place. And it’s only about a 7 minute train ride from the ballpark.

Haidilao Hotpot | 138-23 39th Ave, Queens, NY 11354 | Website | Menu | Click to Call
If you’re feeling adventurous and want a dining experience you won’t soon forget, you have to try Haidilao. Hotpot is a method of cooking in which the entire table gets a communal bowl of simmering hot broth and an assortment of fresh ingredients to dunk or cook in the broth like thinly-sliced meat, vegetables, dumplings, shrimp and noodles. Think fondue but with soup. It’s delicious, fun and perfect for those early baseball season chilly days.

Empanadas Cafe | 5627 Van Doren St, Queens, NY 11368 | Website | Menu | Click to Call
You can’t really visit Queens without having empanadas and this place has the best empanadas, hands down. A large variety of fillings, always fresh, always delicious.

Local Attractions

If you’re traveling with a family or just trying to make the most out of your trip to New York, here are some recommended nearby attractions. Keep in mind that New York boasts one of the greatest cities in the world, and warrants your own exploration! Here are just a few ideas to get your wheels turning.

Flushing Meadows Corona Park | Website
Take the Flushing Meadows Pedestrian Bridge located right outside Citi Field (in the Mets Plaza by the Home Run Apple) over to this expansive, beautiful park. It’s way more than just a park though…you’ll find the Queens Zoo, Fantasy Forest Amusement Park, Arthur Ashe Stadium, the New York Hall of Science, a skate park, bike and boat rentals, historic monuments, a meditation garden, mini-golf courses, a drive-in movie theater, cafés, and that’s not even everything! Safe to say you can spend a whole day in this enormous outdoor green space and then easily walk over to catch the Mets game.

Queens Night Market | Website
Trust us, you won’t want to miss the Queens Night Market if you are in town. It’s a seasonal, large, family-friendly open-air night market in Queens (at the New York Hall of Science in Flushing Meadows Corona Park) featuring tons of independent vendors selling merchandise, art, and food from all over the world. They also have nightly culturally-traditional musical and dance performances. It’s a really cool experience and very authentic to Queens and its diverse communities.

Coney Island | Website
If you’re going to be in New York for a few days Coney Island is a great little day trip, especially if you’re traveling with kids. Ride some rides, walk along the famous boardwalk, visit the New York Aquarium, cool off in the ocean. You could even catch a Brooklyn Cyclones game at MCU Park, just off the Coney Island boardwalk. The views are awesome!

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