Citi Field facts for kids

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Citi Field
Construction

Citi Field in 2019
Citi Field Location in New York City Show map of New York City Citi Field Location in New York Show map of New York Citi Field Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Address	41 Seaver Way
Location	Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, Queens, New York City, New York, United States
Coordinates	40°45′25″N 73°50′45″W / 40.75694°N 73.84583°W / 40.75694; -73.84583
Public transit	Long Island Rail Road: Port Washington Branch at Mets–Willets Point New York City Subway: at Mets–Willets Point New York City Bus: Q19, Q66, Q90
Owner	New York Mets
Operator	New York Mets
Capacity	41,922 (2012–present) 41,800 (2009–2011) 45,000+ (including standing room)
Record attendance	45,186 (2013 All-Star Game) 44,859 (2015 World Series) 44,466 (Regular season, 2016) 43,700 (August 3, 2023; Pink's Summer Carnival)
Field size	Left field line - 335 feet (102 m) Left center - 358 feet (109 m) Deep left center - 385 feet (117 m) Center field - 408 feet (124 m) Deep right center - 398 feet (121 m) Right center - 375 feet (114 m) Right field line - 330 feet (101 m)
Surface	Kentucky Bluegrass
Broke ground	November 13, 2006 (2006-11-13)
Opened	March 29, 2009 (2009-03-29) (college game) April 3, 2009 (2009-04-03) (exhibition game) April 13, 2009 (2009-04-13) (regular season)
Construction cost	US$900 million ($1.23 billion in 2022 dollars )
Architect	Populous (formerly HOK Sport)
Structural engineer	WSP Cantor Seinuk
Services engineer	M-E Engineers, Inc.
General contractor	Hunt/Bovis Lend Lease Alliance II (a joint venture)
Main contractors	International Concrete Products
Tenants
New York Mets (MLB) (2009–present) New York City FC (MLS) (2020–present, part-time)

Citi Field is a cool baseball stadium in Queens, New York City. It opened in 2009 and is the home field for the New York Mets, a Major League Baseball team. Citi Field replaced the old Shea Stadium, which was right next door.

The stadium was designed by a company called Populous. It cost about $850 million to build. Some of the money came from public funds, which the Mets agreed to pay back over time.

The very first game at Citi Field was a college baseball game on March 29, 2009. The Mets played their first official game there on April 13, 2009, against the San Diego Padres. In 2013, Citi Field hosted the 2013 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, which is a special game where the best players from different teams play together.

The stadium's name, Citi Field, comes from Citigroup, a big financial company in New York. They pay $20 million each year for the naming rights.

History of Citi Field

Why a New Stadium Was Built

Since the 1990s, the Mets wanted a new home. Their old stadium, Shea Stadium, was built in 1964 for many different sports. Even though it was changed to be just for baseball, the seats were still quite far from the field. This made it not ideal for watching baseball games.

In 2001, there were plans for new stadiums for both the Mets and the New York Yankees. The idea was for the city and state to help pay for half of the construction costs. However, the new mayor, Michael Bloomberg, decided the city couldn't afford it. He said the teams should pay for their own stadiums, with the city only helping with things like roads and public transport.

The final plans for Citi Field were also part of New York City's attempt to host the 2012 Summer Olympics. If New York had won, Citi Field would have been made bigger for the Olympic events.

Building the Stadium

Citi Field under construction on September 14, 2007

The new stadium and other improvements were expected to cost $610 million. The Mets agreed to pay $420 million of that. They also signed a 40-year lease, meaning they would stay in New York until 2049.

Construction started in July 2006 in the parking lot next to Shea Stadium. By September 2008, most of the Citi Field signs were up. By December 2008, all the seats and the playing field were ready.

Changes Over Time

Over the years, Citi Field has had some updates. In 2010, the bullpen area was changed to give visiting teams a better view. More Mets team colors and logos were added around the stadium. The height of the home run wall in center field was also lowered to encourage more home runs.

At first, Citi Field was known as a "pitcher's park" because it was hard to hit home runs there. So, before the 2012 season, the Mets changed the outfield walls. They built a new wall in left field and moved other walls closer to home plate. These new walls were made blue, matching the Mets' colors.

In 2019, the stadium's address was changed to 41 Seaver Way. This was done to honor Tom Seaver, a famous Mets pitcher whose jersey number was 41.

More recently, in 2023, the right field fence was moved in again. A new, much larger scoreboard was also installed in center field, making it the biggest in any MLB ballpark.

Cool Features of Citi Field

Entrance to Citi Field through the Jackie Robinson Rotunda, with Shea Stadium's Home Run Apple on the right

Citi Field can hold 41,922 fans. It has fewer seats than the old Shea Stadium. Most of the seats are green, which is a nod to the Polo Grounds, an old stadium where the Mets used to play. The outside of Citi Field looks a bit like Ebbets Field, another famous old ballpark.

The inside of Citi Field was inspired by other modern ballparks like PNC Park. Citi Field is special because it's the only MLB stadium with orange foul poles, just like Shea Stadium had.

Shea Bridge

The stadium has a bridge theme in its design, because New York City has many bridges. There's even a pedestrian bridge in the outfield called Shea Bridge, which looks like the Hell Gate Bridge.

Coca-Cola Corner

The Coca-Cola Corner is a section in right field that hangs over the field. It's inspired by the right field porch at Tiger Stadium. It used to be called the Pepsi Porch until 2016.

Delta Sky360 Club

The Delta Sky360 Club is a fancy area with a restaurant, cafe, bar, and lounge. It has 1,600 premium seats right behind home plate.

Jackie Robinson Rotunda

The interior of the Jackie Robinson Rotunda

The main entrance to Citi Field is called the Jackie Robinson Rotunda. It honors Jackie Robinson, a legendary baseball player who broke barriers. The rotunda has words and pictures that show his important values like Courage, Justice, and Teamwork.

A famous quote from Robinson, "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives," is written in the rotunda. There's also a large sculpture of his jersey number, 42. The rotunda was officially opened on Jackie Robinson Day in 2009.

Home Run Apple

Citi Field's Home Run Apple located in center field

A fun tradition from Shea Stadium that moved to Citi Field is the Home Run Apple. When a Mets player hits a home run, a giant apple with a Mets logo lights up and rises from behind the center field wall. The new apple at Citi Field is much bigger than the old one.

The original Shea Stadium apple is now located outside the ballpark in Mets Plaza, near the subway station.

Tom Seaver Statue

On April 15, 2022, a statue of Tom Seaver was revealed in Mets Plaza. It stands next to the old Shea Stadium Home Run Apple, honoring the Mets' Hall of Fame pitcher.

Grimace Seat

In September 2024, the Mets added a purple seat in Section 302, Row 6, Seat 12. This special seat honors Grimace, a McDonaldland character. Fans loved Grimace after the team went on a winning streak when he threw out the first pitch in June 2024.

Food and Fun at Citi Field

Behind the center field scoreboard is the FanFest area. This is a big family fun zone with a mini wiffleball field called Mr. Met's Kiddie Field, batting cages, and video games.

Citi Field has many food choices. The Taste of the City food court offers popular spots like Shake Shack (known for burgers and shakes) and Blue Smoke (barbecue). You can also find Mexican, seafood, and Belgian fries. There are also places for sushi, sandwiches, and Korean food.

There are also restaurants and clubs on every level of the stadium. McFadden's Restaurant and Saloon opened at Citi Field in 2010 and is open to the public all year.

Mets Hall of Fame & Museum

The original Mr. Met costume is one of the many exhibits on display at the Mets Hall of Fame and Museum

David Cone's jersey from his 19 strikeout game on October 6, 1991, housed in the Mets Hall of Fame and Museum

The Mets Hall of Fame & Museum is next to the Jackie Robinson Rotunda. It opened in 2010 and celebrates the history of the New York Mets. You can see plaques honoring Mets legends, the team's World Series trophies from 1969 and 1986, and cool items from famous players.

The museum also has interactive screens and timelines that teach visitors about the team's past.

Mets retired numbers 2022

Getting to Citi Field

Citi Field is serviced by the IRT Flushing Line at the Mets – Willets Point station

Citi Field is located in Queens, New York. It's easy to get to using public transportation. You can take the New York City Subway (the 7 train) to the Mets–Willets Point stop. The Long Island Rail Road also has a station there. Several city buses also stop near the stadium.

The park is also close to major roads like the Grand Central Parkway and the Long Island Expressway.

Attendance Records

Highest Attendance at Citi Field

Here are the games with the most fans at Citi Field. Bold means that team won the game.

Rank	Attendance	Date	About	Notes
Highest attendance at Citi Field
1	45,186	July 16, 2013	National League 0, American League 3	2013 MLB All Star Game
2	44,859	November 1, 2015	Mets 2, Royals 7 (12 innings)	2015 World Series (Game 5)
3	44,815	October 31, 2015	Mets 3, Royals 5	2015 World Series (Game 4)
4	44,781	October 30, 2015	Mets 9, Royals 3	2015 World Series (Game 3)
5	44,747	October 5, 2016	Mets 0, Giants 3	2016 National League Wild Card Game
6	44,502	October 18, 2015	Mets 4, Cubs 1	2015 NLCS (Game 2)
7	44,466	April 30, 2016	Mets 6, Giants 5	Regular season record
8	44,424	April 4, 2019	Mets 0, Nationals 4	2019 Opening Day
9	44,384	April 3, 2017	Mets 6, Braves 0	2017 Opening Day
10	44,287	October 17, 2015	Mets 4, Cubs 2	2015 NLCS (Game 1)

Highest Regular Season Attendance

These are the regular season games with the most fans at Citi Field. Bold means that team won the game.

Rank	Attendance	Date	Game result	Notes
Highest regular season attendance at Citi Field
1	44,466	April 30, 2016	Mets 6, Giants 5
2	44,424	April 4, 2019	Mets 0, Nationals 4	2019 Home Opener
3	44,384	April 3, 2017	Mets 6, Braves 0	2017 Home Opener
4	44,189	March 29, 2018	Mets 9, Cardinals 4	2018 Home Opener
5	44,152	September 21, 2024	Mets 6, Phillies 3
6	44,099	April 8, 2016	Mets 7, Phillies 2	2016 Home Opener
7	43,947	April 13, 2015	Mets 2, Phillies 0	2015 Home Opener
8	43,945	April 4, 2025	Mets 5, Blue Jays 0	2025 Home Opener
9	43,928	September 29, 2018	Mets 1, Marlins 0	David Wright's Last Game
10	43,875	August 10, 2019	Mets 4, Nationals 3

Attendance Records Over Time

This table shows how attendance records at Citi Field have grown. Bold means that team won the game.

Regular Season	Mets	Overall
Progression of attendance records at Citi Field
41,007 – April 13, 2009 Mets 5, Padres 6
41,103 – May 25, 2009 Mets 5, Nationals 2
41,221 – June 25, 2009 Mets 3, Cardinals 2
41,278 – June 26, 2009 Mets 1, Yankees 9
41,302 – June 27, 2009 Mets 0, Yankees 5
41,315 – June 28, 2009 Mets 2, Yankees 5
41,382 – May 21, 2010 Mets 1, Yankees 2
41,422 – May 23, 2010 Mets 6, Yankees 4
42,020 – July 1, 2011 Mets 1, Yankees 5
42,042 – July 2, 2011 Mets 2, Yankees 5
42,080 – April 5, 2012 Mets 1, Braves 0
42,122 – June 23, 2012 Mets 3, Yankees 4
42,364 – June 24, 2012 Mets 5, Yankees 6
42,516 – July 3, 2012 Mets 11, Phillies 1
42,516 – July 3, 2012 Mets 11, Phillies 1		45,186 – July 16, 2013 N.L. 0, A.L. 3 2013 All Star Game
43,947 – April 13, 2015 Mets 2, Phillies 0
43,947 – April 13, 2015 Mets 2, Phillies 0	44,276 – October 12, 2015 Mets 13, Dodgers 7 2015 NLDS Game 3
	44,287 – October 17, 2015 Mets 4, Cubs 1 2015 NLCS Game 1
	44,502 – October 18, 2015 Mets 4, Cubs 1 2015 NLCS Game 2
	44,781 – October 30, 2015 Mets 9, Royals 3 2015 World Series Game 3
	44,781 – October 31, 2015 Mets 3, Royals 5 2015 World Series Game 4
	44,859 – November 1, 2015 Mets 2, Royals 7 (12 innings) 2015 World Series Game 5
44,099 – April 8, 2016 Mets 7, Phillies 2
44,466 – April 30, 2016 Mets 6, Giants 5

Naming the Stadium

On November 13, 2006, it was announced that the stadium would be called Citi Field. Citigroup pays $20 million a year for the naming rights. This made it one of the most expensive stadium naming deals ever.

The main entrance, the Jackie Robinson Rotunda, was named to honor Jackie Robinson. This was a way to recognize his importance, even though the stadium itself was named after a company.

Naming Controversy

There was some discussion about the stadium's name during a financial crisis in 2008. Citigroup received help from the government, and some people thought they shouldn't be spending money on stadium naming rights. However, Citigroup said that no government funds were used for the deal, and the name stayed.

Exciting Events at Citi Field

Aerial view from the north of Citi Field, with the covered Arthur Ashe Stadium behind it, on takeoff from LaGuardia Airport

Memorable Baseball Games

April 13, 2009: The first Mets game at Citi Field. Jody Gerut hit a home run as the very first batter!
April 17, 2009: Gary Sheffield hit his 500th career home run here.
June 28, 2009: Mariano Rivera got his 500th career save, a huge achievement for a pitcher.
August 23, 2009: Eric Bruntlett made a rare unassisted triple play against the Mets.
September 11, 2011: Citi Field hosted a special game to remember the September 11 attacks.
June 1, 2012: Johan Santana threw the first no-hitter in Mets history!
July 16, 2013: The 2013 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was held here, with the most fans ever at Citi Field.
October 12, 2015: The Mets played their first ever playoff game at Citi Field, winning against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
October 30, 2015: Citi Field hosted its first World Series game.
November 1, 2015: The Kansas City Royals won the 2015 World Series at Citi Field.
July 30, 2016: Mike Piazza's #31 jersey was retired in a special ceremony.
September 11–13, 2017: Games between the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays were played here because of a hurricane.
September 28, 2019: Mets rookie Pete Alonso broke the record for most home runs by a rookie.
April 29, 2022: Five Mets pitchers combined to throw the second no-hitter in Mets history.
November 10–12, 2023: Baseball teams from the Dominican Republic played exhibition games here for the first time outside their country.
October 9, 2024: The Mets won a playoff series at Citi Field for the first time.

Soccer Matches

Citi Field before a New York City FC match

Citi Field has also hosted international soccer games. The New York City FC soccer team has played many of its Major League Soccer games here since 2017, especially when their usual home stadium was busy. They are building a new soccer stadium nearby that will open in 2027.

Date	Winning Team	Result	Losing Team	Tournament	Spectators
June 7, 2011	Ecuador	1–1	Greece	Friendly	39,656
July 26, 2011	Juventus	1–0	Club América	World Football Challenge	20,859
August 15, 2012	Ecuador	3–0	Chile	Friendly	31,901
June 2, 2013	Israel	2–0	Honduras	Friendly	26,170
October 22, 2017	New York City FC	2–2	Columbus Crew	Major League Soccer	20,113
October 23, 2019	Toronto FC	2–1	New York City FC	Major League Soccer playoffs	19,829
April 24, 2022	New York City FC	5–4	Toronto FC	Major League Soccer	17,626
May 7, 2022	New York City FC	0–0	Sporting Kansas City	Major League Soccer	15,031
May 22, 2022	New York City FC	1–0	Chicago Fire FC	Major League Soccer	18,823
September 7, 2022	New York City FC	1–1	FC Cincinnati	Major League Soccer	14,248
October 17, 2022	New York City FC	3–0	Inter Miami	Major League Soccer playoffs	18,066
April 15, 2023	New York City FC	2–1	Nashville SC	Major League Soccer	18,687
April 22, 2023	New York City FC	3–1	FC Dallas	Major League Soccer	20,922
May 27, 2023	Philadelphia Union	3–1	New York City FC	Major League League Soccer	22,830
July 5, 2023	New York City FC	1–1	Charlotte FC	Major League Soccer	15,122
July 23, 2023	Club Atlas	1–0	New York City FC	2023 Leagues Cup	22,267
August 20, 2023	Minnesota United FC	2–0	New York City FC	Major League Soccer	18,606
September 20, 2023	New York City FC	2–0	Orlando City SC	Major League Soccer	15,238
October 21, 2023	New York City FC	1–0	Chicago Fire FC	Major League Soccer	23,260
April 6, 2024	New York City FC	1–1	Atlanta United FC	Major League Soccer	21,497
April 20, 2024	New York City FC	2–0	D.C. United	Major League Soccer	21,073
May 5, 2024	Colorado Rapids	0–2	New York City FC	Major League Soccer	19,456
May 18, 2024	New York City FC	2–1	New York Red Bulls	Major League Soccer	30,731
July 3, 2024	New York City FC	2–0	CF Montréal	Major League Soccer	18,209
August 24, 2024	New York City FC	2–2	Chicago Fire FC	Major League Soccer	24,428
November 2, 2024	New York City FC	3–1	FC Cincinnati	Major League Soccer playoffs	19,585
November 23, 2024	New York Red Bulls	2–0	New York City FC	Major League Soccer playoffs	24,891
April 12, 2025	New York City FC	1–0	Philadelphia Union	Major League Soccer	19,897
May 4, 2025	New York City FC	1–0	FC Cincinnati	Major League Soccer	21,611
May 17, 2025	New York City FC	2–0	New York Red Bulls	Major League Soccer	30,804
September 24, 2025	New York City FC	–	Inter Miami	Major League Soccer

Other Sports Events

Lacrosse: In 2013, Citi Field hosted the first Metropolitan Lacrosse Classic, a college lacrosse event.
Wrestling: In 2015, a "Legends of Wrestling" event took place, featuring famous wrestlers.
Cricket: In 2015, Citi Field hosted a game for the Cricket All-Stars Series, with cricket legends from around the world.
Ice Hockey: On January 1, 2018, Citi Field hosted the 2018 NHL Winter Classic, an outdoor ice hockey game between the New York Rangers and the Buffalo Sabres.
Hurling: In 2019, the New York Hurling Classic, a traditional Irish sport tournament, was held here.

Concerts at Citi Field

Citi Field has also been a popular spot for concerts by famous musicians.

Paul McCartney: In 2009, Paul McCartney played the first concert ever at Citi Field. He had also played at the old Shea Stadium with The Beatles in 1965!
Dave Matthews Band: In 2010, the Dave Matthews Band played two sold-out shows.
Beyoncé: In 2016, Beyoncé performed two sold-out nights on her Formation World Tour.
Lady Gaga: In 2017, Lady Gaga also had two sold-out shows for her Joanne World Tour.
BTS: In 2018, the K-pop group BTS became the first South Korean act to sell out a stadium in the United States at Citi Field.
Rolling Loud: This big hip-hop music festival has been held at the stadium several times, featuring many popular artists.
Green Day and Weezer: In 2021, Green Day and Weezer played a sold-out show.
Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe: In 2022, these rock bands performed a sold-out concert.
Governors Ball Music Festival: This music festival has been held at the stadium, with many famous headliners.
Romeo Santos: In 2023, Romeo Santos became the first Spanish-language music artist to sell out Citi Field.
Pink: In 2023, Pink performed as part of her Summer Carnival tour, setting a new attendance record for a concert at the stadium.
Foo Fighters: In July 2024, the Foo Fighters performed here.
blink-182: In July 2024, the pop-punk band blink-182 played at the stadium.
Ateez: In August 2024, the K-pop boy group Ateez performed as part of their North American tour.
Green Day: In August 2024, Green Day returned to perform their classic albums.
Def Leppard and Journey: In August 2024, these bands performed together.
Stray Kids: In June 2025, Stray Kids are scheduled to perform.
Blackpink: In July 2025, Blackpink are scheduled to perform.

Mets Concert Series

From 2012 to 2016, the Mets had special "Mets Concert Series" events. These were concerts held after certain games, and your game ticket included admission to the concert.

Citi Field During the COVID-19 Pandemic

In January 2021, Citi Field was used as a large vaccination center during the COVID-19 pandemic. It helped give over 200,000 vaccinations to people in the city.