Citi Field Overview

Wait, you haven’t experienced Citi Field, yet? Great! Then I don’t need to break you of any bad habits and we can get right to the best of the best. 

First of all, Citi Field is by far the best baseball stadium in New York City. Yes, Yankee Stadium III opened in 2009 — the same year as Citi Field — but the two stadiums could not be more different. And given that Citi Field opened several days before Yankee Stadium, it is clearly the more historic ballpark. Sure, they can have their monuments and their pinstripes — we have the Mets, a giant Tom Seaver statue out front, and by far the best food in MLB! Game over.

Before you step off of that main entrance escalator, the smell of Premio sausages, Nathans’ french fries, and cinnamon churros, all combine to proclaim “Welcome to Citi Field!”  And when you are in your seats, you will be treated to the largest scoreboard in the majors, and three times larger than the scoreboard it replaced. Sports Illustrated called it, “laughably gigantic (and beautiful!)” 

I look forward to seeing you at Citi Field this season! I will be the one in the Mets’ cap!

Our five-part guide to Citi Field will help you plan the perfect trip to see baseball in Queens. We’ll cover:

1. Travel: Getting to New York City
2. Lodging: Where you should stay
3. Local Transit: How you should get around
4. Ticketing/Seating/Premium: Where to sit, how to buy, and whether to opt for premium seating
5. Gameday: What to do before/during/after the game

We hope you enjoy our Citi Field insider guide. Please be sure to sign up for our free newsletter to keep informed about events, schedules, onsales, ticket deals, and everything else you need to know to plan the best fan experiences.

Why you should visit Citi Field

How many games should you see?

If your travel plans allow it, try to see at least two games at Citi Field, if for no other reason than experiencing more of the outstanding food options. The starting time for night games is 7:10pm, and weekend day games begin — for the most part — at 1:40pm. Nationally televised day Saturday games often start at 4:10pm. There are also 24 promotional dates scheduled in 2024, in addition to the four Friday fireworks nights. Citi Field is very close to LaGuardia Airport, one of NYCs three major airports, so you can easily catch an early evening flight out of town after a day game on the weekend.

When should you go to Citi Field?

There are pros and cons to attending Citi Field throughout the season. In April and early May, night games are going to be cold — sometimes really cold — but you will have your pick of seats. So if you are ok bundling up in order to sit really close to the field, April and May will work for you. The best months to head to NYC are June through September, when the weather should be at its best. July and August can get hot, but it’s summer, and it’s baseball, and there are plenty of air-conditioned clubs and covered seats to escape to and cool off.

In terms of opponents, the Mets have a nice assortment of non-divisional teams that will visit Citi Field in 2024, including the Yankees, Dodgers, Astros, Orioles, and Red Sox. Obviously those nearby teams and marquee opponents will make tickets more scarce and more expensive, so start shopping for tickets on the early side for those matchups. But even though the Mets have sold really well in the last few years, this year’s lackluster team have put a damper on attendance, so tickets have become easier to come by.

Where Citi Field is located

Citi Field is located in the borough of Queens, one of the five boroughs that make up New York City, and in the neighborhood of Flushing, which has been called one of NYC’s “most dynamic outer-borough neighborhoods” with some of the best Asian restaurants in the city. It can take about 40 minutes in a car or subway from midtown Manhattan, and just a 10-minute drive from LaGuardia Airport, one of New York City’s three major airports. If your travels take you through JFK International Airport, the drive will be around 30-60 minutes, depending on traffic.

About your Citi Field Insider

Hi, I’m Brett Topel and have been a Mets fan for nearly 50 years. I have written five books about the Mets, including Miracle Moments in New York Mets History, When Shea Was Home, and New York Mets Firsts, which was published in February, 2024. I have not missed attending at least one Mets’ game in a season since 1977, with the exception of 2020, when COVID kept us all away. 

I have watched Citi Field be transformed from a cold, unwelcoming home of the Mets in its debut year into a truly great stadium experience. The loudest I ever heard Citi Field was the 2015 World Series against the Kansas City Royals, the capper of a season in which we watched Yoenis Cespedes — who was acquired just months earlier — carry the entire team on his back to the Fall Classic.

I love talking Mets baseball, I love writing about Mets baseball, and I love being a Mets fan. Through the ups and downs, the wins and losses, the triumphs and heartbreaks, it takes true love to be a Mets fan. For me, that love is everlasting. Except for when I hate them.

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