Citi Field facts for kids
 Citi Field logo being installed on the stadium 
Citi Field, nearly completed in February 2009
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| Location | 126th St. & Roosevelt Ave. Flushing, New York 11368 |
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| Coordinates | 40°45′24.5″N 73°50′44.5″W / 40.756806°N 73.845694°W |
| Owner | New York Mets |
| Operator | New York Mets |
| Capacity | 42,500 (approx.) |
| Field size | Left Field - 335 ft (102 m) Left Center - 384 (117) Center Field - 408 (124) Deep Right Center - 398 (126) Right Center Field - 375 (115) Right Field - 330 (101) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | November 13, 2006 |
| Construction cost | $850 million |
| Architect | HOK Sport |
| Tenants | |
| New York Mets (MLB) (2009-present) New York (UFL) (to be confirmed) |
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Citi Field is a big baseball park located in Queens, New York City. It is the home stadium for the New York Mets, a major league team. The Mets have played here since the 2009 baseball season.
The stadium is named Citi Field because Citi Bank helped pay for its construction. Building Citi Field began in 2006. It took the place of Shea Stadium, the Mets' old home. Shea Stadium was taken down after the 2008 baseball season. Now, the area where Shea Stadium once stood is a parking lot. Citi Field also hosted the 2013 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
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Building Citi Field
Ideas for a new baseball park in Queens started in the 1990s. The Mets' old stadium, Shea Stadium, was getting old. It did not have many of the cool features found in newer stadiums. So, the Mets and New York City planned to build a new stadium. It would be right next to Shea Stadium.
The plan to build the new stadium was approved in March 2006. Construction started soon after that. Fans could see the new stadium being built from Shea Stadium. This happened during the 2007 and 2008 baseball seasons. Citi Field officially opened its doors on April 13, 2009.
Cool Features at Citi Field
Citi Field has many interesting and special things for fans. The park can hold about 41,000 people to watch a game. The seats are painted green. This makes them look like the seats at the Polo Grounds. The Polo Grounds was another old New York stadium. It was taken down in 1965.
The Home Run Apple
Citi Field has a special "Home Run Apple" in center field. It is not a real apple. Instead, it is a large plastic apple with the Mets logo on it. This apple rises up when a Mets player hits a home run. This is a fun tradition. The old Shea Stadium also had a home run apple. The foul poles at Citi Field are painted orange.
Jackie Robinson Rotunda
Another important part of the stadium is the Jackie Robinson Rotunda. This is where most fans enter Citi Field. It teaches visitors about Jackie Robinson. He was the first black player in Major League Baseball.
Pepsi Porch and Kids' Area
Citi Field also has an area called the Pepsi Porch. It is a place in the outfield where fans can watch the game. The first two rows of the porch hang over the playing field. There is also a smaller field behind the center field wall. Kids can play baseball and other games there.
Museum and Food
The stadium also has a museum. It shows the history of the Mets team. You can also find many restaurants, bars, stores, and food stands. These places are all around the field.
Getting to Citi Field
Citi Field has many large parking lots around the stadium. This allows fans to drive their cars to the game. The stadium also has a train station. You can take the New York City Subway or the Long Island Railroad. Both go to downtown New York City.
Stadium Changes Over Time
Citi Field has had a few changes since it opened. After the 2011 baseball season, the outfield fences were moved. They were brought closer to the batter. Some people thought it was too hard to hit home runs before. The fences were also painted blue and orange.
Images for kids
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Citi Field under construction on September 14, 2007.
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The interior of the Jackie Robinson Rotunda
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Citi Field's Home Run Apple located in center field.
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The original Mr. Met costume is one of the many exhibits on display at the Mets Hall of Fame and Museum.
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David Cone's jersey from his 19 strikeout game on October 6, 1991, housed in the Mets Hall of Fame and Museum
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The Scoreboard Operations booth was visible to fans through a window on the concourse of the Excelsior level. The window was walled up prior to the 2022 season.
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Citi Field is serviced by the IRT Flushing Line at the Mets – Willets Point station.
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In its opening season, Citi Field drew over 3.1 million fans with a game average of 92.7% of seats filled, 4th best in baseball.
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Memorial in the Jackie Robinson Rotunda inside Citi Field, dedicated April 15, 2009
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Aerial view from the north of Citi Field, with the covered Arthur Ashe Stadium behind it, on takeoff from LaGuardia Airport
See also
In Spanish: Citi Field para niños
