Post by Sha-Le Unique on Jan 20, 2015 17:54:23 GMT -5
The Mets will begin their existence by playing their home games in the Polo Grounds, the former home of the Giants. But apparently, this is not intended to be a permanent home for the Mets as well.
At the end of his first press conference as the Mets' GM, Shale Briskin announced that he has discussed with owner Joan Payson and chairman M. Donald Grant on building a new stadium that the Mets will be able to call their own home.
"Over the next few seasons, the Mets' new stadium will be under construction in the Flushing area of Queens. In fact, it will be right near the location of the 1939-1940 World's Fair. We felt this was a great location for a new stadium. There is a lot of open area and isn't too close to Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.
"The fact of the matter is that the Polo Grounds will forever be home as the home of the New York Giants. That was their stadium and it would be better if the Mets had their own stadium to create their own memories than to do so in the former home of another team's stadium. We're also announcing that Citi Bank will make a sizable contribution towards financing this new stadium and because of their generosity, the name of the new stadium will be Citi Field.
"As for the playing field itself, I recommended to Joan that William Shea should be the first person to create Citi Field's new stadium dimensions because it was his efforts a few years ago that really spearheaded the Mets towards coming into existence. Without his efforts, none of this would be possible. If Citi Bank's financial contributions will end up preventing us from naming the stadium after him, the least we could do is get his input on the field dimensions. She and Donald Grant both agreed. Thus, once the exterior of Citi Field is completed, Mr. Shea will submit the exact dimensions and fence heights he would prefer to see in our new stadium," Briskin stated.
The Mets are unsure yet of exactly when the construction will be completed, but one thing that's clear is that the Mets' will still need a lot more money to pay for the entire construction. It's no surprise that with the lowest payroll in HOFFBL, the Mets are very intent on pocketing all the extra revenue they make towards putting together Citi Field. Briskin admitted that as a brand new expansion team, this project could possibly take even five or six seasons to complete, but he is hopeful Citi Field will be ready to go at least before the 1970s. "If we're still constructing by 1970, I will not be pleased," he added.
The Mets seem very excited about putting together a new stadium and hopefully, for their sake, they'll be able to collect all the money necessary as soon as possible to make it happen.
This is what the Polo Grounds look like today. This picture is from the 1950s when the Giants were still around.
At the end of his first press conference as the Mets' GM, Shale Briskin announced that he has discussed with owner Joan Payson and chairman M. Donald Grant on building a new stadium that the Mets will be able to call their own home.
Joan Payson is the Mets' owner and M. Donald Grant is the board chairman. Grant was the man that eventually lured Shale Briskin to become the Mets' first GM.
"Over the next few seasons, the Mets' new stadium will be under construction in the Flushing area of Queens. In fact, it will be right near the location of the 1939-1940 World's Fair. We felt this was a great location for a new stadium. There is a lot of open area and isn't too close to Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.
"The fact of the matter is that the Polo Grounds will forever be home as the home of the New York Giants. That was their stadium and it would be better if the Mets had their own stadium to create their own memories than to do so in the former home of another team's stadium. We're also announcing that Citi Bank will make a sizable contribution towards financing this new stadium and because of their generosity, the name of the new stadium will be Citi Field.
Here is what the Mets plan on having Citi Field look like when it's fully constructed.
Citi Field will also include in Briskin's words, "the best seating and concourse of any baseball stadium to ever exist."
"As for the playing field itself, I recommended to Joan that William Shea should be the first person to create Citi Field's new stadium dimensions because it was his efforts a few years ago that really spearheaded the Mets towards coming into existence. Without his efforts, none of this would be possible. If Citi Bank's financial contributions will end up preventing us from naming the stadium after him, the least we could do is get his input on the field dimensions. She and Donald Grant both agreed. Thus, once the exterior of Citi Field is completed, Mr. Shea will submit the exact dimensions and fence heights he would prefer to see in our new stadium," Briskin stated.
If William Shea decides on relatively neutral dimensions, Citi Field's playing field could look similar to this.
The Mets are unsure yet of exactly when the construction will be completed, but one thing that's clear is that the Mets' will still need a lot more money to pay for the entire construction. It's no surprise that with the lowest payroll in HOFFBL, the Mets are very intent on pocketing all the extra revenue they make towards putting together Citi Field. Briskin admitted that as a brand new expansion team, this project could possibly take even five or six seasons to complete, but he is hopeful Citi Field will be ready to go at least before the 1970s. "If we're still constructing by 1970, I will not be pleased," he added.
The Mets seem very excited about putting together a new stadium and hopefully, for their sake, they'll be able to collect all the money necessary as soon as possible to make it happen.
