Mets fans face parking, transportation challenges on Opening Day at Citi Field
Garden City Park's Tricia Rudd and her daughter, Kerri Rudd, of Roslyn Heights. Credit: Newsday/Ben Dickson
The experience getting to Citi Field was, well, different for most fans ahead of Opening Day on Thursday.
The area surrounding the ballpark is undergoing significant construction with the development of a sports and entertainment district, which is limiting the parking options compared to past years.
A lot of Mets fans were bothered by the changes, parking in unfamiliar lots, sitting in traffic to get there and paying more than in the past. While prepaid parking is still $40, trying to park on the day of the game (if available) is up to $50.
Other fans took the changes in stride, taking advantage of new discounts that the franchise is offering and arriving at the ballpark early.
There also was a small number of fans outside the ballpark chanting “No Casino” — referencing Mets owner Steve Cohen and Hard Rock Entertainment’s proposed $8.1 billion bid to transform some Citi Field parking lots into an entertainment complex, which will feature a casino — and carrying signs reading “Trade Steve Cohen” and “Save the Mets.”
Every Mets fan was thrilled to have baseball back, but there were differing opinions of the situation at Citi Field.
“We left at 9:30 in the morning,” said Kerri Rudd, 40, of Roslyn Heights, who was tailgating with The 7 Line Army in their new tailgating spot in the Marina West lot. “We didn’t get into this parking lot until about 10:30, 10:40. It usually takes us 20 minutes.
“And now with the lack of parking that’s going to be in the main lot, everyone’s going to be shifting this way. So that’s why I think it’s going to get a little bit crazier.”
Floral Park’s Ed Laskowski, 65, who also was in the Marina West lot, said: “It was easy. We come early because we tailgate. Everything’s great, but I could see swinging around that a regular game day might get a little challenging. But we have options from trains. You have everything that they’ve sent to us as Met ticket-holders.
“It’s fine. It’s going to be fine.”
The Mets on March 16 revealed new transportation options and encouraged fans to prepay for parking and to take public transportation.
For fans looking to take the train to Citi Field, the Mets collaborated with the Long Island Rail Road for $5 off adult day pass tickets.
Garden City Park’s Tricia Rudd, 66, who went to the game with her daughter Kerri, noted how bad the traffic was getting into the Marina West lot.
“The merge getting in here took as long as it took to get to the merge [off the Van Wyck Expressway], which was really difficult, and there were no cops that were doing the right thing,” Tricia said. “It was no traffic control at all to get us here to this parking lot that we prepaid for, which was a great thing. We got good discounts, from $50 to $35 for prepaying and with The 7 Line [additional discount]. But still the merge, getting here, it was horrible.
“It ruins the experience. I will probably take the railroad from now on.”
Joe Vierling, 60, of Holbrook, and Vito Proscia, 61, of Hauppauge, traveled together to the game and parked in Lot B. Vierling said the “traffic actually was not that bad” but recognized some of the differences from previous seasons.
“I think the traffic pattern around the stadium with all the construction going on is definitely a little more congested,” Vierling said.
Proscia said they did not prepay, and the $50 they were charged was more than expected.
Said Proscia: “But luckily, because we left very early, it turned out fine.”
Ken Wilson, 53, of Wading River, also said his trip “wasn’t too bad.” He parked in Lot B and said he prepaid $30. The fact that he prepaid brought a sigh of relief from his parking attendant.
“I did it through my season-ticket portal and everything, and the lady out front when I showed it to her, she’s like, ‘Oh, thank God, go,’ ” Wilson said. “I guess a lot of people didn’t, and they were expecting more people to prepay.”
John Johnston, 64, of Islip, said it was “easy” getting to the ballpark and prepaid $40 for parking (compared to the $27 he paid through his season-ticket plan in the past). Despite not having any trouble personally, though, he could foresee this season being a problem for many.
“I know they’re trying to get us away from parking in a lot,” Johnston said. “They’re building this little park out here. Not a fan of that at all, really, honestly. Because they’re going to put a parking garage, which is not a win, really. I have a handicap pass. Literally, I can park on the lower lot and get out quicker than most.
“But not a win, though, really.”
Ben Dickson is Newsday Sports' general assignment reporter. He joined Newsday’s high school sports staff in 2023 after graduating from Maryland, where he covered several of the Terrapins' teams.
