Posted by Joe Hamrahi on Sunday, April 26, 2009 at 4:32 pm

As most of you who follow me on Facebook or Twitter know by now, I made my inaugural visit to Citi Field on Friday. A lot has been made of the inadequacies of the New York Mets new home so I was anxious to check things out for myself.

I took my usual route to the ballpark via the #7 subway from Manhattan. It was a glorious sunny day in New York, and the skyline was magnificent. I approached Citi Field with the excitement of a little kid about to witness his very first ball game. It wasn’t long before the #7 express rumbled into the station, and the majestic new palace known as Citi Field came into view. I exited the train at the new-old Mets-Willets Point station and proceeded to walk toward the stadium.

I entered the press entrance at about 3:45 PM and picked up my credentials at the new media desk just outside the press conference room. This is a nice change from the make-shift table that was placed outside the press gate at Shea Stadium. The new area is obviously clean, organized, and armed with telephones. It’s situated perfectly and allows easy access to the tunnels and elevators.

Once my credentials were secured, I made my way to the tunnel and tried to find the field. Apparently security is still trying to figure out where things are because the first three people I asked for directions had no idea where to send me. Pretty understandable I suppose.

I finally found someone who pointed me in the right direction, and I entered the virtually empty park from behind home plate. Most of the Mets were on the field already stretching and tossing the ball around. John Maine was on the mound throwing extra batting practice for Daniel Murphy and Ryan Church. Maine later said he was hoping to find a little rhythm that he feels he’s been missing so far this season.

My first impression of Citi Field from the playing surface was that the stands seemed to really hover over the field. Maybe it’s the “closed” outfield that creates an illusion, but I certainly felt as though the seats were creeping up on me. If I were a player, I’m not so sure this is something that would appeal to me. I certainly felt more comfortable on the field at Shea Stadium. But that could just be me.

I found our good friend and my Metsblog.com boss Matt Cerrone outside the Mets dugout, and spent some time examining the field, the stands, the scoreboard, and all the little intricate details that contribute to the ambiance of the new ball park.

From the onset, it’s hard not to notice the enormous video display board in straight-away center field. The screen is just tremendous. It’s also amazingly clear and an imposing piece of equipment. To the right of the video board, is the main scoreboard which, in its own right, is fascinating. Again, it’s crystal clear and huge. I can see, however, that its positioning may make it difficult to see for some fans on the first base side of the field. But that’s really no different from most stadiums around Major League Baseball.

The out-of-town scoreboard is located above the left field seats and seems much too far away if you ask me. I wouldn’t be surprised, in fact, if they move this board at some point in the future. It just looks out of place right now.

Many Mets fans have complained about the colors around the stadium. Frankly, I have no problem with any of the colors. I like the uniformity of the green colored seats and the black walls look pretty cool. Besides, to me it’s more about the comfort, not the colors when I’m watching a Mets game. As long as the seats and walls aren’t pink or purple, I’m fine with the color combinations.

Getting back to the field, I was able to shoot some video and take a number of photographs during BP (click the links). The sun was beaming, the winds were calm at that level, and it was quite warm down on the field. The players seemed to be content, laughing and fooling around with the fans. Jeremy Reed and David Wright signed autographs while Jose Reyes danced and Omir Santos whittled the black off the handle of his bats (an ENTIRELY different story for another day!). By that time Matt had convinced me that the chicken tacos on the center field “Taste of the City” concourse should be required for a long healthy life. So, of course, that’s where we headed once the home team batting practice was complete.

Matt and I wandered the concourse on the field level as we made our way out to center field, and I got the feeling I was at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. In fact, from the first and third base field level concourses, the view of the diamond seems nearly identical to me in both parks. Many of the concessions are positioned in the exact same places as well. They are either embedded in the far wall or positioned as portable carts outside the entrance at each section.

Fans can stand against railings behind the seats and take in the game from down each of the lines if they choose. Personally, that’s one of my favorite things to do. I like to get different perspectives throughout the game, and I can’t sit still! So it’s perfect for people like me.

As you get closer to the concession stands in center field, it immediately becomes apparent that this is the most popular area to hang out at before the game begins. You can find an assortment of food from a variety of restaurants…from Shake Shack to Blue Smoke and El Verano Taquería to Box Frites.

The 2K Sports FanFest is also located on the Concourse Level in center field. Centered around Mr. Met’s Kiddie Field, a scale version of Citi Field, the 2K Sports FanFest features a batting cage, base running challenge, a dunk tank with someone donning a visiting team uniform, and video game kiosks. Music blasts from the incredible sound system and the fans do their best to avoid trampling on each other. Yes, it is a little crowded in this area of the park, but the sights, sounds and smells are among the best you’ll find in Citi Field. If you plan to head out to the center field concourse before the game, just be prepared to wait in line for just about everything.

Cerrone was true to his word, and the chicken tacos were fabulous. The beer wasn’t bad either, even for $7.50 a bottle. It was good to catch up with a friend who I’ve known for years now, but never really had a chance to spend any time with. Matt…it was a pleasure. Hope we get together again soon.

After Matt and I went our separate ways, I “checked out” the bathrooms at Citi Field and was quite disappointed. I know they’re just bathrooms, but they looked like they had been brought over from Shea! The bathrooms in places like Penn Station and the rest stops on the Jersey Turnpike are a step up from these “new” Citi Field rest rooms.

Moving on, I met up with some friends who had seats in section 506 of the Promenade level. I love the way teams use fancy words to make seats seem better than they really are. The Promenade level at Citi Field is the upper deck, plain and simple. I don’t have a problem with the seats per se. You can enjoy a game perfectly fine from that location. BUT please (Mets marketing department!), don’t tell me the Promenade deck is closer to the field than the upper deck was at Shea Stadium. I certainly can’t tell the difference. You are still plenty far away. The views of Flushing Bay and the planes taking off from LaGuardia Airport are pretty cool though!

After a few innings upstairs, I was getting a little chilly so I decided to make use of my media credentials and roam around the field level of the park for a while.

My first stop was the Jackie Robinson Rotunda. Many people have criticized the Mets for trying too hard to pay homage to the Brooklyn Dodgers. I really don’t get that feeling at all. Sure, from the outside, the rotunda looks like the entrance to Ebbets Field. But inside, the tribute is really all to Jackie Robinson, a key figure in the history of the United States. The rotunda is architecturally appealing and very classy. It also provides fans with a nice indoor meeting place before games.

From the Jackie Robinson Rotunda, I made my way up the first base side on the field level concourse. It immediately became apparent that the lower level of the ball park was much more crowded than the upper levels. The food lines were ridiculously long and people were crowded together trying to get a view of the field from the standing room areas. There appears to be a lot of confusion among the concessionaires as well. Some don’t even know where the lines begin or end. It’s a little odd, but nothing that you wouldn’t expect at a new building I guess.

I thought that the lighting on the concourses could be a little better. It just seemed very dark, particularly in the outfield. In many respects, the food lines and lighting reminded me of Nationals Park in Washington. The good news is that most of these issues are correctable with a little ingenuity.

All in all, I was pretty pleased with Citi Field. Could things have been done a little better? Sure, but they always can be done better. The bullpens are positioned in an odd way and traffic around the park and at the concession stands could be directed better. It’s going to take some time for fans to get used to the Mets new home after almost forty-five years of seeing the team play in Shea Stadium. But give it time New Yorkers, you’ll get used to it. In the mean time, enjoy a chicken taco, take a picture with the old Shea Stadium apple, marvel at the great big video boards, and cheer on Johan Santana. In the end, if the Mets win a world championship, nobody will be complaining about the green seats, the high walls, or the lack of HD televisions on the Promenade level.