Trip to Yankee Stadium and Citi Field

[puck34]

I'm heading to Yankee Stadium in April to see the Twins series and then taking in Citi Field for the weekend series. Does anyone have any tips or suggestions on what I need to see or do at each park? I plan on taking a tour of both stadiums.

[Twins Fan From Afar]

I haven't been to Yankee Stadium, but have been to Citi Field a few times. It's pretty nice with respect to sightlines and the overall feel of the stadium. I've sat in the upper deck in right field, and close to the right field foul poul in the lower deck, and both provided pretty good views.

As far as food goes there, you definitely can't go wrong. There's everything from sushi, to an international beer garden (in center field), to a very popular place called the Shake Shack (also beyond center field).

Best of all, since it's the Mets, I'm assuming that decent tickets will be available!

[puck34]

Thank you Andrew. Enjoy the upcoming season. I can't wait!

 

Scott

[Parker Hageman]

Citi Field is a very nice venue but (and this is going to sound old manish of me) it BLASTS music. I realize that music is apart of the game but it is insane at what decibel they pound the thump-thump music at. New York, amirite? I wholeheartedly recommend a burger at the Shake Shack - unbelievably amazing stuff.

[Twins Fan From Afar]

You're right, Parker, the music is extremely loud there.

I had totally forgotten about that.

[Topperanton]

Shake Shack is a great place -- the lines will be ridiculously long though. You can also get Shake Shack burgers in Bryant Park in Manhattan for cheaper and better and that's the original location so the burgers are actually even better there (maybe I'm an elitist).

 

Check out Blue Smoke at the field (upper deck behind home plate in the beer garden). Less long lines and the food is delicious BBQ.

 

Unfortunately Yankee Stadium food there isn't anything special to speak of. There used to be an amazing Italian sub shop behind home plat at the old stadium, but I haven't found them at the new one yet. I will be at each of the games though, so we should certainly grab a beer there at some point!

[glanzer]

I was at a Mets-Giants game last May at CitiField, and was a little disappointed overall considering the newness of the stadium. I found that we were stuck sitting in our assigned seats, no exceptions, not even to worse seats despite the fact that the stadium was less than half full! The plaza behind the center field wall is really nice with a lot of great food and stuff to do. If your game is applicable, shell out the extra money for the ticket with the hour-long all-you-can-drink pre-game session at the stadium bar! If you can drink more than 4 beers in an hour, it's totally worth your money.

[John Bonnes]

There is nothing to do around Citi field, so I'd say get there early, explore and then stick around the attached bar (which is fun) afterwards. All the advice about CF is dead on.

 

AS for Yankee Stadium, there is a neighborhood around there that will be hopping, so go even earlier. Monument park is supposed to be much easier to view, too.

 

One last tip - a lot of these parks have tours on days that there aren't games. I assume you could to to Citi when NYY are in town and Yankees Stadium when the Mets are around. I bet that would be worth it.

[Sarah]

Hey Puck,

 

I was at the new Yankee Stadium last summer and I have to say I'm not a fan. It didn't even strike me as a ballpark, more like a huge corporate collosus with no soul. Just like the Yankees though...so it fits at least. The tickets are extremely expensive and I agree with one of the other posters who said they don't have any good food options. (Really, they couldn't have had at least one good option after spending a billion?) There were two redeeming things about the place in my experience. Monument Park was pretty cool, get there right when the gates open because it closes about 45 minutes before the game. The line was long when I was there, but it went fast. And their HOF/museum was quite nice. I think that is open during the games too but I can't exactly remember. I didn't make it to Citi Field but one weird thing I remember about their tours is that they were only offered on Saturday and Sunday. I thought that was weird that they wouldn't at least offer them on Friday as well during the season when the team was out of town but maybe there's a reason they are limited to weekends. Hope this helps, enjoy NYC!

[puck34]

Thanhs Sarah. I appreciate all your suggestions. I'm hoping to do the tour of both. Enjoy the season!