Tag: Citi Field

State Lawmaker: Delay Citi Field Vote

It’s been widely reported this week that NY state assemblyman Richard Brodsky released a letter on Friday January 2nd requesting that the city Industrial Development Agency delay a vote on additioanl public bonds. Both the Yankees and Mets have requested additional public bonds to help finance their new stadiums.

From MLB.com:

The Yankees are asking for another $259 million in tax-exempt bonds and $111 million in taxable bonds, on top of the $940 million in tax-exempt bonds and $25 million in taxable bonds already granted for its $1.3 billion stadium.

The Mets want another $83 million, in addition to the $615 million already approved for their $800 million park.

Brodsky maintains that the initial public bond funding for the parks was provided without proper public input. Although I find public financing of stadiums somewhat distasteful, it’s become an economic reality.

I’m very skeptical of unknown politicians making a very public stand on issues that are sure to attain media attention. Although Brodsky may have the tax payers best interest at heart, I’m leaning toward this being a grand-standing move to gain public attention. Watch for Brodsky to run for congress representing Westchester County in 2010. You can get Brodsky’s contact information at his state assembly page here if you’d like to make him aware of your feelings on the subject of public bond financing for Yankee Stadium and Citi Field.

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Citi Field Naming Rights A Black Eye For Mets And Citi Group

Citi Group’s announcement that they intend to move forward with their 20 year commitment at $20 million per year with the Mets came this past week. Only days later the company announced that it would lay off more than 50,000 employees.

To those of you that work at Citi, or those of us that have friends and family there these near simultaneous announcements came as a bit of a shock. But they shouldn’t. Citi Group gladly accepted a taxpayer bailout of $20 billion two weeks ago, and our tax money secured more than $300 billion in risky loans and securities owned by Citi.

I understand the Mets desire to keep the deal in place. But couldn’t Citi at least attempt to re-negotiate the deal given today’s economic climate and their own financial failures? That’s the part that really surprises me.

I never expected Citi to give up on their marketing efforts, of which naming Citi Field is a part. They’ve got to make a good faith effort to generate revenue despite their current disposition.

In my opinion the Mets squandered an opportunity to gain some good PR by not announcing their intention to negotiate the naming deal down when Citi accepted the government bailout package. Now the Mets are getting our money on tickets and the naming rights deal.

I want to see a championship product on the field as much as the next fan, but double-dipping us isn’t the way to do it.

Audio: Heyman and Wilpon

Here are a some audio links for you with good information about the Mets off-season plans.

  • Jeff Wilpon joins WFAN’s Mike Francesa to talk about the second Mets collapse, Citi Field, and free agency from October 21
  • Jon Heyman from SI joins Francesa to talk about the World Series, Willie Randolph, and free agents from Oct. 21
  • Heyman again joins Francesa to talk about Jake Peavy, Mets, Yankees, etc. from Oct. 23
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Fan Banned From Citi Field

A fan plead guilty to losing his mind or whatever the charges were for a melee at a Mets game on May 31st. He swatted children out of his way while badgering Mr. Met. Subsequently, he fought with Shea Stadium security guards, spit in their faces, and ended up getting banned indefinitely from entering Citi Field.

Attacking Mr. Met? I might take a swing at the Philly Phanatic, but Mr. Met?

Flickr photo courtesy of tedkerwin

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