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Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

G-Fafif Sep 13 2013 11:54 AM

So I've been appointed Vice President of Tradition & Fan Experience by the team's new owner, the recently enriched and relocated Mets Guy In Michigan. My first act is to elicit suggestions from concerned, knowledgeable Metsopatamians in this thread, as opposed to the "all the things the former owners did wrong" thread. I'm listening...

Ceetar Sep 13 2013 12:04 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

I like the baseball card/name thing. It's neat, it's all inclusive, it's memory and tradition, and hell, it flies in the face of the "True Yankee" nonsense. You play for us, you're one of us. Maybe on the bridge itself? or would that be too busy/in the way? (btw, this is probably exactly what the Mets should do with their blogger outreach program.)

Benjamin Grimm Sep 13 2013 12:06 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Change the façade of Citi Field so that it looks more like Shea than Ebbets Field. Lighter colored bricks, and big corrugated tin rectangles. And what the heck, some neon baseball players too.

batmagadanleadoff Sep 13 2013 12:16 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Change the façade of Citi Field so that it looks more like Shea than Ebbets Field. Lighter colored bricks, and big corrugated tin rectangles. And what the heck, some neon baseball players too. This idea isn't so far fetched, and to a degree, kinda do-able. They could remove random bricks from the existing facade and replace them with pastel colored orange blue and green bricks that match the colors of the old Shea shingles. Those shingles varied in size. The Mets could mimic this effect by installing several bricks of the same color next to each other to create pastel colored rectangular sections of brick in different sizes.

themetfairy Sep 13 2013 12:16 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

I would love to see promotions for all fans in attendance. Not the first 10,000, etc. Let the guy who's caught working late or the family stuck in traffic know that even if they get to the game late they will still get their items.

Ceetar Sep 13 2013 12:18 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

themetfairy wrote: I would love to see promotions for all fans in attendance. Not the first 10,000, etc. Let the guy who's caught working late or the family stuck in traffic know that even if they get to the game late they will still get their items. And then do "promotion gift bags" later in the season with all the extras.

batmagadanleadoff Sep 13 2013 12:18 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Sep 13 2013 12:20 PM

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Benjamin Grimm wrote: Change the façade of Citi Field so that it looks more like Shea than Ebbets Field. Lighter colored bricks, and big corrugated tin rectangles. And what the heck, some neon baseball players too. This idea isn't so far fetched, and to a degree, kinda do-able. They could remove random bricks from the existing facade and replace them with pastel colored orange blue and green bricks that match the colors of the old Shea shingles. Those shingles varied in size. The Mets could mimic this effect by installing several bricks of the same color next to each other to create pastel colored rectangular sections of brick in different sizes. On second thought, I don't know that the replacing bricks idea would work so well. Most of the existing facade is windows and openings instead of wall and surface.

themetfairy Sep 13 2013 12:19 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Let fans purchase seat upgrades when they're available. You see this at concerts all the time - you've bought lawn seats but when you get there you decide that you really want a better seat. Venues will let you pay the difference to get the better seat. As you know Commissioner, we were once in attendance during a cold, stormy day, and the ticket office could not accommodate that kind of request.

batmagadanleadoff Sep 13 2013 12:20 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

themetfairy wrote: I would love to see promotions for all fans in attendance. Not the first 10,000, etc. Let the guy who's caught working late or the family stuck in traffic know that even if they get to the game late they will still get their items. They should make more than enough for every attending fan and sell off the excess at the gift shop. The Mets don't pay to manufacture the giveaways anyways: the advertising sponsor does.

themetfairy Sep 13 2013 12:21 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Ceetar wrote: themetfairy wrote: I would love to see promotions for all fans in attendance. Not the first 10,000, etc. Let the guy who's caught working late or the family stuck in traffic know that even if they get to the game late they will still get their items. And then do "promotion gift bags" later in the season with all the extras. YES! Surprise grab bags in September for the fans who brave the elements to attend games after the team has already been eliminated.

themetfairy Sep 13 2013 12:23 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

batmagadanleadoff wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: Benjamin Grimm wrote: Change the façade of Citi Field so that it looks more like Shea than Ebbets Field. Lighter colored bricks, and big corrugated tin rectangles. And what the heck, some neon baseball players too. This idea isn't so far fetched, and to a degree, kinda do-able. They could remove random bricks from the existing facade and replace them with pastel colored orange blue and green bricks that match the colors of the old Shea shingles. Those shingles varied in size. The Mets could mimic this effect by installing several bricks of the same color next to each other to create pastel colored rectangular sections of brick in different sizes. On second thought, I don't know that the replacing bricks idea would work so well. Most of the existing facade is windows and openings instead of wall and surface. Would replacing some of the glass with orange and blue panes work?

Edgy MD Sep 13 2013 12:24 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

We had a thread dedicated to it years ago, but I suggested a regalia tradition, where a player would wear a half-inch symbolic insignia embroidered into his right sleeve for each official or semi-official award he has won. Subtle. Classy. A gray star for each time a player achieves All-Star status, a pair of crossed bats for a silver slugger award. A gold glove for a GG, natch. A firefighter's helmet for a Rolaids Relief award. Other awards wouldn't be so easy to represent graphically, but in interwoven RC with one in gold and the other in black for a guy who has one a Roberto Clemente Award, and a linked CY for a player who has won a Cy Young. Willie Mays would don his jersey for his occasional appearance, and his sleeve would look like General Patton's uniform, and there would even be the words "Hall of Fame 1979" embroidered onto his left sleeve around the Mets logo. But more importantly, it would lend a quiet dignity to the likes of Angel Berroa, desperately trying to reclaim their past form, barely hanging on to Major League status, but getting dressed every day, seeing a stitched ROY there, and being reminded that, no matter what the flailings and failings of last night's game, he's still the 2003 Rookie of the Year this morning, and nobody can ever take that away. The league office would explode, but I call that a bonus. The right sleeve would be embroidered with a small number, designating the all-time chronological ranking of when the players first appeared, from "1" for Roger Craig to "960" or whatever for Aaron Harang. Once this tradition has been established on the field, mail such a jersey (and hat, of course) to all the retired men whoever wore the uniform. And so engage with the alumni, reminding them that they will always be Mets, and to carry themselves as such. And if they have fallen, accept this jersey a statement that you are worth redeeming.

themetfairy Sep 13 2013 12:41 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

The team has to do a better job of thinking of the fans as partners in preserving the Mets' proud and storied heritage. They have made some steps in this direction, but they need to go further. The fans love the team at least as much as they do, and there's nothing wrong in doing things that the fans enjoy. So what that the MFY's have an Oldtimer's Day? We used to have one also, and it was a popular event - bring it back! Celebrate the anniversaries and bring back the old alumni more often. Remind the fans of the things and people who made us fans in the first place. Let the fans enjoy their fandom instead of making them fight with the team over the concept of preserving it.

themetfairy Sep 13 2013 12:43 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

How about selling tickets to away games? Lower bowl only, general admission, all tickets $10, and the away game on the big screen. Have the concessions open and let the fans hang out together and cheer for the Mets communally.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Sep 13 2013 12:55 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Sep 13 2013 12:58 PM

-- Three words: Winter. Fan. Fest. Virtually every team in baseball does it, with a meet-the-new-signings thing, and some autographs. Outdo them, and do it twice, in November and February. -- In contrast to the Fightin' Trosts uptown, engage the community, instead of steamrolling it. Keep up the community stuff, but go farther, into expanded strategic partnership. Reach out to the Iron Triangle and Flushing, and invite them in to the Game Day experience with subsidized Mets-related specials/fan giveaways in exchange for fan business. Make your own Wrigleyville out of what's already there. Let the elites and carpetbaggers have the Bronx; do the hard work and reclaim the rest. themetfairy wrote: Would replacing some of the glass with orange and blue panes work? Ooh. If done right, this could give the place a hint of Shea's original confetti.

themetfairy Sep 13 2013 12:56 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

There used to be a 5K race in Flushing that began in the Shea parking lot, went through Flushing Meadow Park, and ended at home plate. Bring that back. It used to sell out every year - there's no reason it wouldn't continue to do so. Alternatively, do the 5K within the stadium. It can be done - the MFY's do it (in April the Mets hosted a Spartan Race, which includes obstacles and is geared for a more highly trained population. 5K run/walks are accessible to more people). You can run around the various levels of the stadium, with stairs going up and ramps going down.

themetfairy Sep 13 2013 01:03 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Sep 13 2013 01:04 PM

Get the friggin' oversized Topps lineup card made up for each player the moment they're called up to the team. There's no excuse for this -

Vic Sage Sep 13 2013 01:03 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

concession stands manned by Hooters girls.

themetfairy Sep 13 2013 01:04 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Um, no.

Mets – Willets Point Sep 13 2013 01:16 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

concession stands manned by former Hooters girls who now can work in a position with greater dignity while earning a better salary.

Edgy MD Sep 13 2013 01:18 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Staffed by former Hooters girls, gentlemen. I'd hate to see them manning the place.

Mets – Willets Point Sep 13 2013 01:26 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Edgy MD wrote: Staffed by former Hooters girls, gentlemen. I'd hate to see them manning the place. Nice catch. I missed that word when I edited it to make it more feminist.

themetfairy Sep 13 2013 01:26 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Bring back the Grucci's, and replace the current lameass fireworks shows with something that's worth the trip. Make some of the post-game concerts after day games and feature performers that appeal to kids/tweens/teens. Let them enjoy the show and still be able to get home at a reasonable hour.

Ceetar Sep 13 2013 01:34 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Vic Sage wrote: concession stands manned by Hooters girls. bah, we can do better than that. Set up a whole club, and bury it in the outfield grass with a glass ceiling. It's one of the few areas of seating that hasn't been explored at a baseball stadium yet.

themetfairy Sep 13 2013 01:36 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Expand the Mets HOF. And get rid of that netherworld area that's part exhibit/part ridiculously expensive gift shop.

themetfairy Sep 13 2013 01:41 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Statues. We need statues! A Seaver statue at the very least. What ever happened to the Mets HOF busts that used to be on exhibit in front of Shea's Diamond Club? Bring those back, and add some for the new inductees. They don't even have to be in the HOF - they can be somewhere else in the ballpark. But they should be on display somewhere - preferably somewhere that the average fan can visit. And on that note, is it really necessary for the Caesar's Club and Promenade Club to be so exclusive? Why not open those areas up to the public.

Ceetar Sep 13 2013 01:49 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

themetfairy wrote: Statues. We need statues! A Seaver statue at the very least. What ever happened to the Mets HOF busts that used to be on exhibit in front of Shea's Diamond Club? Bring those back, and add some for the new inductees. They don't even have to be in the HOF - they can be somewhere else in the ballpark. But they should be on display somewhere - preferably somewhere that the average fan can visit. And on that note, is it really necessary for the Caesar's Club and Promenade Club to be so exclusive? Why not open those areas up to the public. There would probably be volume issues if they did. At the very least, let us walk the Excelsior level, even if not into the club.

Zvon Sep 13 2013 01:54 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

themetfairy wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: Benjamin Grimm wrote: Change the façade of Citi Field so that it looks more like Shea than Ebbets Field. Lighter colored bricks, and big corrugated tin rectangles. And what the heck, some neon baseball players too. This idea isn't so far fetched, and to a degree, kinda do-able. They could remove random bricks from the existing facade and replace them with pastel colored orange blue and green bricks that match the colors of the old Shea shingles. Those shingles varied in size. The Mets could mimic this effect by installing several bricks of the same color next to each other to create pastel colored rectangular sections of brick in different sizes. On second thought, I don't know that the replacing bricks idea would work so well. Most of the existing facade is windows and openings instead of wall and surface. Would replacing some of the glass with orange and blue panes work? Original Shea had those orange and blue panels suspended from vertical wires. Don't know how it would look mashing with the current architecture but that can be done in virtually any spot in the stadium. I'd start by making that Citi Field sign blue and orange.

seawolf17 Sep 13 2013 01:59 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

You have giant, open spaces there. Fill 'em with blue and orange panels. DONE.

Edgy MD Sep 13 2013 02:00 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

I'd start by making that Citi Field sign blue and orange. You don't really have to work for the Mets to do that. Some tight, black clothes, a few gallons of paint, and it's done in a night.

metsmarathon Sep 13 2013 02:01 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

you know what we need? a way for kids to run to home plate and then be allowed to enter the goddamn gift shop afterwards. that's what the fuck we need. also the 5k. and any other running-themed fan-friendly things. regarding the confetti, i think that could work. or it could end up awful. one of the two. i think mostly it would be a juxtaposition of two so very different architectural themes that would be simply awful. but somebody should digitally mock it up just in case. i'd like to see some attempt at a return of the neon players. i'm not sure exactly how or where, but it needs to happen. maybe on the backsides of some lighting towers...? or as a permanent art installation around the stadium. hmm. i actually like that. i think a nice thick ribbon of steel formed in teh shape of the neon players, monstrously tall like 30 or 40 feet high, arrayed around the stadium akin to the original shea placement, would be pretty sweet. ... the baseball cards is brilliant. hell, you could even build in a post-game ceremony for newly metted players, or celebrate the addition at the next home game. i wonder if there's a suitable space available for such a tribute... the player regalia is brilliant, too. i would so love to see that. i'm sure paul lukas would love it too.

Ceetar Sep 13 2013 02:07 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Perhaps the Neon players could replace the silhouettes above the entrances?

Benjamin Grimm Sep 13 2013 02:07 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

metsmarathon wrote: regarding the confetti, i think that could work. or it could end up awful. one of the two. i think mostly it would be a juxtaposition of two so very different architectural themes that would be simply awful. but somebody should digitally mock it up just in case. This sounds like a job for Zvon!

Zvon Sep 13 2013 02:12 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Ceetar wrote: Perhaps the Neon players could replace the silhouettes above the entrances? They could also be hung there the same way the panels would. In other worlds, you don't have to close out those openings to achieve displaying something in those dank looking empty spaces Edgy MD wrote: I'd start by making that Citi Field sign blue and orange. You don't really have to work for the Mets to do that. Some tight, black clothes, a few gallons of paint, and it's done in a night. Back in the 70s, maybe even 80s, I would have done it personally. And snuck back and redone it every time they fixed it.

dgwphotography Sep 13 2013 02:15 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Get rid of the Jackie Robinson Rotunda - Lose that ugly 42, and replace it with a statue of Tom Terrific: Make the rest of the Rotunda a celebration of Mets history

Edgy MD Sep 13 2013 02:19 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

They can add this and add that. But they're not getting rid of the Jackie Robinson Rotunda. They're just not.

Vic Sage Sep 13 2013 02:19 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

yeah, 42... they were only off by 1.

Mets Guy in Michigan Sep 13 2013 02:29 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Do they give Citi Field tours? I've been on tours in other parks, and it's a ton of fun. I've been able to go on the field and everything -- at least the non-grass areas. I don't like the ideas of adding the panels to the outside of the stadium -- it really is a beautiful ballpark -- but I like the idea of adding them somewhere inside, like stairwells or interior hallways. I like the Jackie Robinson Rotunda and the 42. Maybe the videos are a little much. We do need statues. (But look at Comerica Park as an example of how NOT to do them.) Replace the people who publish the yearbook. It seems like its the same format year after year. I don't care about the players' favorite breakfast cereal. Open the gates earlier. Let people come in and shop and eat long BEFORE the game so they don't have to miss any of the action. I like watching batting practice.

Zvon Sep 13 2013 02:29 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Benjamin Grimm wrote: metsmarathon wrote: regarding the confetti, i think that could work. or it could end up awful. one of the two. i think mostly it would be a juxtaposition of two so very different architectural themes that would be simply awful. but somebody should digitally mock it up just in case. This sounds like a job for Zvon! As it stands now, without changes and going with the facade the way it now exists, I can say without a mock up that it would look pretty awful bad. I just think the bricks don't suit it. But I still will make one when I find a little time just to see how bad, and I could be wrong. I'd like to see how it looks if they took a section of facade, maybe one gate or a decent square section along the outside (not at the grand entree), and replicated a chunk of old Shea . In detail, from top to bottom. Just a lil patch of Shea there for us. Edgy MD wrote: They can add this and add that. But they're not getting rid of the Jackie Robinson Rotunda. They're just not. Yea, it's almost funny how they are now stuck with that because who's gonna stand for pulling a rug out from underneath Jackie. A rug that he should not have been standing on, but, there it is. The media would have a field day if they ever pulled the plug on the JRrotunda.

themetfairy Sep 13 2013 02:35 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Sep 13 2013 02:49 PM

metsguyinmichigan wrote: Do they give Citi Field tours? I've been on tours in other parks, and it's a ton of fun. I've been able to go on the field and everything -- at least the non-grass areas. Yes, they do have tours. On Edit - tour information is available here. metsguyinmichigan wrote: Open the gates earlier. Let people come in and shop and eat long BEFORE the game so they don't have to miss any of the action. I like watching batting practice. Conversely, they should have more porta potties in the parking lots and be more amenable to tailgate parties. Metlife Stadium makes tailgaters feel welcome, while the current Mets management gives off the opposite vibe. And if they're not going to open the gates earlier, have some kind of pre-game activities outside the park to keep people entertained while they're waiting.

Edgy MD Sep 13 2013 02:37 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Zvon wrote: The media would have a field day if they ever pulled the plug on the JRrotunda. It'd be a lot more transcendent than that, as it would be more than a day and more than the media.

Benjamin Grimm Sep 13 2013 02:44 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

I have no problem at all with them honoring Jackie Robinson. But the whole rotunda idea was way too much. And they shouldn't have made the park look like Ebbets Field. I don't think they should have made it look like Shea either. I would have preferred a new design entirely. Start to define what a 21st Century ballpark looks like. (Like the Nets did in Brooklyn.) But of course, it's too late for that. We're stuck with a Disney Ebbetsland Park.

themetfairy Sep 13 2013 02:47 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Pre-game autograph sessions on weekends with Met alumni. Ed Kranepool/Ed Charles/etc. Let older fans thank them for the memories and younger fans learn a bit about Mets history while the guys are still around to tell the tales. It seems that the team doesn't do a good enough job of publicizing their events. Fans have to reach out to research special events/stadium tours/etc. The team has to do a better job of letting the fans know what's going on.

Ceetar Sep 13 2013 02:52 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

metsguyinmichigan wrote: Do they give Citi Field tours? I've been on tours in other parks, and it's a ton of fun. I've been able to go on the field and everything -- at least the non-grass areas. I don't like the ideas of adding the panels to the outside of the stadium -- it really is a beautiful ballpark -- but I like the idea of adding them somewhere inside, like stairwells or interior hallways. I like the Jackie Robinson Rotunda and the 42. Maybe the videos are a little much. We do need statues. (But look at Comerica Park as an example of how NOT to do them.) Replace the people who publish the yearbook. It seems like its the same format year after year. I don't care about the players' favorite breakfast cereal. Open the gates earlier. Let people come in and shop and eat long BEFORE the game so they don't have to miss any of the action. I like watching batting practice. Yeah, they do. For some reason I still haven't been on one. Although they seem to be missing now. Did they stop doing them? Fire the tour guide? Odd. They've pushed back the gate openings over time. But they open them early..2.5? 3? for Premium games. I wonder if they just weren't getting the crowds.

themetfairy Sep 13 2013 02:58 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

themetfairy wrote: metsguyinmichigan wrote: Do they give Citi Field tours? I've been on tours in other parks, and it's a ton of fun. I've been able to go on the field and everything -- at least the non-grass areas. Yes, they do have tours. On Edit - tour information is available here. On further review, there don't seem to be any tours available to purchase. Bring 'em back!

dinosaur jesus Sep 13 2013 03:26 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Zvon wrote: themetfairy wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: Benjamin Grimm wrote: Change the façade of Citi Field so that it looks more like Shea than Ebbets Field. Lighter colored bricks, and big corrugated tin rectangles. And what the heck, some neon baseball players too. This idea isn't so far fetched, and to a degree, kinda do-able. They could remove random bricks from the existing facade and replace them with pastel colored orange blue and green bricks that match the colors of the old Shea shingles. Those shingles varied in size. The Mets could mimic this effect by installing several bricks of the same color next to each other to create pastel colored rectangular sections of brick in different sizes. On second thought, I don't know that the replacing bricks idea would work so well. Most of the existing facade is windows and openings instead of wall and surface. Would replacing some of the glass with orange and blue panes work? Original Shea had those orange and blue panels suspended from vertical wires. Don't know how it would look mashing with the current architecture but that can be done in virtually any spot in the stadium. I'd start by making that Citi Field sign blue and orange. Something like this?

Mets Guy in Michigan Sep 13 2013 03:29 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I have no problem at all with them honoring Jackie Robinson. But the whole rotunda idea was way too much. And they shouldn't have made the park look like Ebbets Field. I don't think they should have made it look like Shea either. I would have preferred a new design entirely. Start to define what a 21st Century ballpark looks like. (Like the Nets did in Brooklyn.) But of course, it's too late for that. We're stuck with a Disney Ebbetsland Park. Keep in mind, there was a lot of pressure at the time to name the whole park after him. I don't mind the Ebbets thing too much. I know my Dad, who went to games there, really liked seeing it.

themetfairy Sep 13 2013 03:29 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

dinosaur jesus wrote: Something like this? That's not bad. But what if the blue and orange glass panes were interspersed, along with some clear ones?

dgwphotography Sep 13 2013 03:34 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

dinosaur jesus wrote: Something like this? Oh good God, that's ghastly. As much as I would love a return of the shingles, I just don't think it would work with that brick facade...

metirish Sep 13 2013 03:51 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Get rid of the Jackie Robinson Rotunda - Lose that ugly 42, and replace it with a statue of Tom Terrific: Make the rest of the Rotunda a celebration of Mets history This I would rename the stadium Seaver Stadium at Kiner Way....it's a mouthful but can be worked on.

dinosaur jesus Sep 13 2013 04:05 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

dgwphotography wrote: dinosaur jesus wrote: Something like this? Oh good God, that's ghastly. As much as I would love a return of the shingles, I just don't think it would work with that brick facade... Yeah, the orange is too close to the color of the brick. It would have been better to make the brick itself blue and orange. Worked for Nebuchadnezzar.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Sep 13 2013 04:42 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Oh, that blue-and-orange thing may be ugly, but it's good ugly. It looks like an amusement park, which is fine, since it's housing an amusement park. And hell, it's no worse of an external eyesore than the gigantic ad board with scores on it, facing the Van Wyck... and tons more Metly.

Zvon Sep 13 2013 04:56 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

dinosaur jesus wrote: dinosaur jesus wrote: Something like this? Oh good God, that's ghastly. As much as I would love a return of the shingles, I just don't think it would work with that brick facade... Yeah, the orange is too close to the color of the brick. It would have been better to make the brick itself blue and orange. Worked for Nebuchadnezzar. I actually think that's a great start. Citi Field sign looks good like that. Keep the orange and blue in the windows and change the color of the brick to something that would accent the blue and orange well. An off white of some kind.Creme white, blue white? Black is possible but not desirable. I did a few mock ups of the panel look for the card blog. This is an unused one but it does display the colors that would invoke Shea. dinosaur jesus wrote: This intrigues me.

batmagadanleadoff Sep 13 2013 05:03 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

metsguyinmichigan wrote: Benjamin Grimm wrote: I have no problem at all with them honoring Jackie Robinson. But the whole rotunda idea was way too much. And they shouldn't have made the park look like Ebbets Field. I don't think they should have made it look like Shea either. I would have preferred a new design entirely. Start to define what a 21st Century ballpark looks like. (Like the Nets did in Brooklyn.) But of course, it's too late for that. We're stuck with a Disney Ebbetsland Park. Keep in mind, there was a lot of pressure at the time to name the whole park after [Jackie Robinson]. Pressure? From whom? From Fred Wilpon? [youtube]Z_JOGmXpe5I[/youtube]

metirish Sep 13 2013 05:06 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

The NYC media, specifically wankers like Wally Matthews ..Klapisch ...a few others IIRC.

batmagadanleadoff Sep 13 2013 05:15 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box Edited 2 time(s), most recently on Sep 13 2013 08:12 PM

Edgy MD wrote: Zvon wrote: The media would have a field day if they ever pulled the plug on the JRrotunda. It'd be a lot more transcendent than that, as it would be more than a day and more than the media. Yeah, there's no way you can kill that beast at this point. Short of building a new Mets stadium, you can only hope to contain the Jackie Rotunda. If I suddenly owned the Mets though, I'd mothball that Jackie Rotunda in a heartbeat. What I'd do is create an exhibit --somewhere other than in the Rotunda-- honoring NY National League baseball before the Mets existed. It would, naturally, also honor the NY Giants and --hello -- their stadium, The Polo Grounds, first home of the Mets. The Mets! Who never played in Ebbets Field. I'd also include artifacts and history from the Continental League. I'd incorporate the Jackie stuff, including the big stupid 42 into the new exhibit. I could care less if the Jackie Robinson legend is given a disproportionate amount of space in this new exhibit, but I wouldn't have that big centerpiece of a Rotunda dedicated exclusively, or at all, to the former Brooklyn Dodger. It's inappropriate. I doubt that the Wilpons would ever go for this idea. For one, they'd be loath to have to allocate another space to some fan exhibit that isn't generating money from the sale of $10 hot dogs and $45 t-shirts. And as a matter of pride and ego alone, they're not gonna back down from their beloved idea no matter how unpopular it might be. But they wopuldn't have to create a new space for this exhibit. Instead, they could simply scatter the artifacts throughout the stadium, on walls and in the walkways and wherever else space and feasibility allow.

batmagadanleadoff Sep 13 2013 05:35 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box Edited 2 time(s), most recently on Sep 13 2013 08:07 PM

And another thing. That Hall of Fame sucks. It was a day late. And a dollar short. It's tiny and dinky. And now that I've seen it for four seasons running, I can see that, like everything this FO does, it's unimaginative and maybe even somewhat neglected at this point. All of this Mets history, a lifetime's worth, and all the Mets seem to do with their HOF is display a Mookie Wilson jersey that they'll swap out for a Gary Carter jersey come next season. Why don't they contact Syracuse University, which houses the largest collection of Willard Mullin illustrations in the world, for an exhibit on the great cartoonist's Mets work? Why not collaborate with the Daily News for an exhibit of the paper's archives, including reproductions of Mets themed front and back page news stories. Plus an exhibit of Bill Gallo's work, or Bruce Stark's? Rheingold Beer was the Mets' first sponsor and the Mets Rheingold memorabilia and paraphernalia from the '60's is exhibit worthy and could fill up twice the space of that closet the Mets reserved for their HOF. Why not a thorough exhibit on the Mets uniform history? With examples and meaningful textual information? The kind of info that you wouldn't mind looking at and reading even if it took you a half an hour to do so? This is the tip of the iceberg. They hosted the All Star Game this year for the first time in almost 50 years -- a perfect occasion to celebrate the '64 ASG in their HOF -- which they did -- by exhibiting like three or four items (including a game ticket and a print ad that ran in The Sporting News in '64) that you could absorb in 12 seconds. The news articles that the NY papers ran in the week or so before the ASG were a thousand times more informative and visually interesting than what the Mets, with their resources, access and connections, exhibited. It's the 40th annivesary of 1973. What about a Willie Mays exhibit? The Mets should be able to fill up three rotundas worth of Willie Mays stuff. I could go on. They could also fill up three rotundas with Tom Seaver stuff, and without having to include anything that isn't Met themed.

Zvon Sep 13 2013 05:44 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

I think we all would prefer it your way bats. Even the Met fans here who are okay with the JR set up (I would think) would agree that having something a little smaller in another part of the stadium would be fine. We gotta start a board lottery pool and if we win we buy the team. Our group here could run it better than an old nostalgic Dodger fan.

Frayed Knot Sep 13 2013 06:10 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

I'm not much on trying to recreate what went on in the old stadium (aka: the orange and blue tiles) but y'know what would be interesting for the outside of the new place? ... In addition to the 30 or 40 places where it tells you who's paying for the sponsorship of the place, maybe in one or two or three places they could maybe indicate who plays in said stadium. After all, it's not like, after a half-century plus now, that both the orange NY logo and especially the Mets/Skyline/Baseball logo aren't highly recognizable and iconic symbols.

Zvon Sep 13 2013 06:26 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Frayed Knot wrote: After all, it's not like, after a half-century plus now, that both the orange NY logo and especially the Mets/Skyline/Baseball logo aren't highly recognizable and iconic symbols. Best freakin' logo in all of baseball. Don't question it.

Frayed Knot Sep 13 2013 06:33 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Which begs the question of why the owners seem to want to keep the team for whom the stadium exists in the first place a secret. Or is it more a case where the Citi money came with the condition of having nothing else on the building except their brand?

Zvon Sep 13 2013 06:43 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Frayed Knot wrote: Which begs the question of why the owners seem to want to keep the team for whom the stadium exists in the first place a secret. Or is it more a case where the Citi money came with the condition of having nothing else on the building except their brand? It's a rich man imposing his desires. He's obviously more concerned with his own sense of nostogia as opposed to what a Met fan considers nostalgic.

Fman99 Sep 13 2013 07:43 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Lots of good stuff being bandied about here.

Ceetar Sep 13 2013 07:57 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Frayed Knot wrote: Which begs the question of why the owners seem to want to keep the team for whom the stadium exists in the first place a secret. Or is it more a case where the Citi money came with the condition of having nothing else on the building except their brand? Tell me again where on Shea it said Mets? One of the standard shots of Citi Field from the front features the Home Run Apple with the Mets logo. If you're in the back, or on Northern BLVD, you can see the "Home of the Mets" scoreboard. The outdoor areas are really nice, blue and orange flowers, the apple, the player banners on the poles along the main walkways. Oh, and the banners of the players in the LF corner. Also visible from the outside.

TheOldMole Sep 13 2013 08:03 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

I don't know about statues...sports statues tend to be awful. I think I'd prefer Cooperstown-style plaques.

d'Kong76 Sep 13 2013 08:07 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

dinosaur jesus wrote: Worked for Nebuchadnezzar. I have to ask ... how do you know this?

Zvon Sep 13 2013 08:12 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Ceetar wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: Which begs the question of why the owners seem to want to keep the team for whom the stadium exists in the first place a secret. Or is it more a case where the Citi money came with the condition of having nothing else on the building except their brand? Tell me again where on Shea it said Mets? One of the standard shots of Citi Field from the front features the Home Run Apple with the Mets logo. If you're in the back, or on Northern BLVD, you can see the "Home of the Mets" scoreboard. The outdoor areas are really nice, blue and orange flowers, the apple, the player banners on the poles along the main walkways. Oh, and the banners of the players in the LF corner. Also visible from the outside. Well, in a very real sense the blue and orange panels did say Mets, as the neon players on blue did afterwards. Citi says Ebbets/Dodgers, can't deny this. All you say there are nice bright points. It's a brand new ball park. I would hope it has plenty of positive about it and it does. Unfortunately some unsound decisions make the negatives so glaring.

batmagadanleadoff Sep 13 2013 08:16 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

They built a 1990's stadium 20 years after 1990. A 1990's stadium modeled after a stadium that opened in 1913. The Mets are always late to the party. They incorporated black into their uniforms right about when that trend began to wane, and then clung to that hideous mistake for 13 or 14 seasons.

dgwphotography Sep 14 2013 05:54 AM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

batmagadanleadoff wrote: They built a 1990's stadium 20 years after 1990. A 1990's stadium modeled after a stadium that opened in 1913. The Mets are always late to the party. They incorporated black into their uniforms right about when that trend began to wane, and then clung to that hideous mistake for 13 or 14 seasons. I blame the black on Charlie Samuels. I don't think it was a coincidence that they both disappeared at the same time...

dinosaur jesus Sep 14 2013 10:32 AM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Worked for Nebuchadnezzar. I have to ask ... how do you know this? You mean, how do I know this personally, or how does anyone know that Nebuchadnezzar built it? I know it because when I was a kid I read a book that speculated that Nebuchadnezzar's dragon, the one Daniel killed, was actually a kind of dinosaur that lingered into historic times, and that it's depicted on the Gate of Babylon. Fun stuff. And many years later I got to see the gate itself, or the reconstruction of it, using some of the original bricks, in Berlin. And we know Nebuchadnezzar built the gate because he left an inscription saying so: I built this. Nebuchadnezzar Until yesterday I never put it together that the Great Gate of Babylon was colored Mets blue and orange.

Mets – Willets Point Sep 14 2013 01:05 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

I think the panels and coloring may work better on the bland exterior down the baselines rather than the area near the rotunda.

Edgy MD Sep 14 2013 01:39 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Lest it be overlooked, let's end the cold war with the league office over the city agency hats immediately, and wear them in perpetuity on September 11. Or maybe from September 11 to September 21.

Zvon Sep 14 2013 02:00 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Edgy MD wrote: Or maybe from September 11 to September 21. That's a bit much. I think just on the 11th. So that way if I get a baseball card and the players wearing the hat, I know exactly what day that pic was taken on. I know, my reasons don't usually mesh with other adults, but there it is. Also, more than one day will water it down. It really should be special.

themetfairy Sep 15 2013 06:53 AM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Related to the Mets Fan Club for Kids - Back when MK was small, there was a table at Shea where he could check in each game, show his membership lanyard, and receive a gift. Usually something small, like a pencil or a ruler, but at the end of a season he'd sometimes get leftover giveaway items. He enjoyed getting a little something special when he attended the games. The Mets should consider bringing this back as a way to get the Youth of Metsopotamia interested in the Youth of America.

themetfairy Sep 15 2013 06:56 AM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

themetfairy wrote: dinosaur jesus wrote: Something like this? That's not bad. But what if the blue and orange glass panes were interspersed, along with some clear ones? dj - those windows on the top have six large panels apiece. For each window, what if one had two orange panels and one blue, the next two blue panels and one orange, etc. It would keep the overall look more open and airy, but add a blue and orange accent to the windows. There are four smaller panels on the bottom of the top windows - they can remain clear, or maybe add a color accent to one of each four. I'd love to see a Mets logo stained glass design on the middle window on the bottom. The other bottom windows can either remain clear or have a few colored accents - whatever you think works best. The large flat windows on the sides of the building could also have the occasional blue or orange panel as an accent.

dinosaur jesus Sep 15 2013 07:25 AM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

themetfairy wrote: themetfairy wrote: dinosaur jesus wrote: Something like this? That's not bad. But what if the blue and orange glass panes were interspersed, along with some clear ones? dj - those windows on the top have six large panels apiece. For each window, what if one had two orange panels and one blue, the next two blue panels and one orange, etc. It would keep the overall look more open and airy, but add a blue and orange accent to the windows. There are four smaller panels on the bottom of the top windows - they can remain clear, or maybe add a color accent to one of each four. I'd love to see a Mets logo stained glass design on the middle window on the bottom. The other bottom windows can either remain clear or have a few colored accents - whatever you think works best. The large flat windows on the sides of the building could also have the occasional blue or orange panel as an accent. Yeah, I see what you're getting at. That would be more subtle, and more fun, than my version. I won't be at a computer with Photoshop for a while. Z, do you want to take a crack at this?

Zvon Sep 15 2013 11:14 AM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

I can't commit to the when but I'll try messing with it. We are gonna have plenty of down time pretty soon and we can do stuff like this in the off season. Yesterday I tried a mockup of a lighter colored brick. I did this in a few minutes using the magic wand and it's really an awful job (I wasn't even going to share it cuz it came out so bad), but it gives you an idea of how it would look. That's a clown stadium bro! I wonder if I did a tighter job if it would have looked better. It would suck if just a bad presentation like above would take the idea of another color for the brick off the board.

themetfairy Sep 15 2013 03:47 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Yeesh! Yes - the off season is fine. Mess around when you've got the time.

batmagadanleadoff Sep 15 2013 04:13 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

You know that any truly good ideas posted on these threads will probably get stolen by the team up in the Bronx. An exhibit of Daily News front and back pages? Sure? Why not? And the Yankee version of that display could fill up an entire Jackie Robinson Rotunda that the Yankees don't have. A wall of Yankees Topps? You betcha. And their wall would cover the entire history of Topps.

dgwphotography Sep 15 2013 04:29 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Get rid of "Takin' Care of Business" after a Mets win. This team hasn't taken care of business in half of a decade - playing that song is an embarrassment, and I now hate that song...

Edgy MD Sep 16 2013 05:29 AM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

This comes from a favorite FaFiF column, but I'd ask them to embrace a more expansive/inclusive philosophy regarding the Mets Hall of Fame, one that would allow for the inclusion (or at least the consideration) of Jane Jarvis, Marty Noble, and/or Karl Ehrhardt.

themetfairy Sep 16 2013 06:02 AM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Edgy MD wrote: This comes from a favorite FaFiF column, but I'd ask them to embrace a more expansive/inclusive philosophy regarding the Mets Hall of Fame, one that would allow for the inclusion (or at least the consideration) of Jane Jarvis, Marty Noble, and/or Karl Ehrhardt. If not induction, at least a display within the museum commemorating their place in team history. And put Joan Payson's hat back on display. I miss that. If the HOF museum doesn't have room enough to display this kind of item permanently, then the space needs to be expanded. I would actually be in favor of a free standing building near the stadium to house an expanded Mets HOF - perhaps in the plaza between the subway and the Shea apple. Or on the other side of the apple, where tents and displays had been set up for the All Star Game. Something that could open several hours before game time and give early arriving fans something to do while waiting for the ballpark gates to open.

Edgy MD Sep 16 2013 06:30 AM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Sounds good, but I wonder what the admission on that second building would be.

themetfairy Sep 16 2013 06:46 AM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Edgy MD wrote: Sounds good, but I wonder what the admission on that second building would be. Free with a ticket to that day's game or ballpark tour, and $5 all other times.

Lefty Specialist Sep 16 2013 06:51 AM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Cut ticket prices in half. You'll make it up in concessions and parking. Full up those seats behind home plate every game by selecting people from the upper deck to come down in the third inning. Have GOOD giveaways, not crap. Everything's an ad for someone anyway, so the only cost incurred is extra personnel to reach into a box and hand it to people when they come in. Have a contest for a fan age 12-18 to wear a uniform, take batting and fielding practice and sit in the dugout for a game. Yeah, I know it's technically against league rules, but work it out.

HahnSolo Sep 16 2013 07:04 AM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Instead of doing it now, run the free kids ticket offer that they're doing in June/July/August instead. By September, it's cold, school has started, and a lot of fans have moved on from the Mets.

Edgy MD Sep 16 2013 07:27 AM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

themetfairy wrote: Edgy MD wrote: Sounds good, but I wonder what the admission on that second building would be. Free with a ticket to that day's game or ballpark tour, and $5 all other times. As long as you're conceiving the building, you get to set the prices. I like it. Lefty Specialist wrote: Have a contest for a fan age 12-18 to wear a uniform, take batting and fielding practice and sit in the dugout for a game. Yeah, I know it's technically against league rules, but work it out. Keith Hernandez's head explodes.

Lefty Specialist Sep 16 2013 12:35 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Edgy MD wrote: Lefty Specialist wrote: Have a contest for a fan age 12-18 to wear a uniform, take batting and fielding practice and sit in the dugout for a game. Yeah, I know it's technically against league rules, but work it out. Keith Hernandez's head explodes. Only if it's a girl.

Ceetar Sep 16 2013 12:49 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Lefty Specialist wrote: Cut ticket prices in half. You'll make it up in concessions and parking. Full up those seats behind home plate every game by selecting people from the upper deck to come down in the third inning. Have GOOD giveaways, not crap. Everything's an ad for someone anyway, so the only cost incurred is extra personnel to reach into a box and hand it to people when they come in. Have a contest for a fan age 12-18 to wear a uniform, take batting and fielding practice and sit in the dugout for a game. Yeah, I know it's technically against league rules, but work it out. I'm positive they've run the numbers for these things, and have priced the tickets at close to the highest revenue price point. They have all sorts of algorithms for these things. Most of what's keeping people away is not the price. Also, no one cares about the seats behind home plate. That's an empty gripe. Teams would even prefer those fans are back in the clubs ordering food and drink. I'm not sure why anyone cares what other fans are doing, but certainly few of these modern parks were built with the 'sit in your seat and don't move for 3 hours' attitude in mind. Some of the giveaways are decent. bobbleheads, etc. I'm sure they can do more, but then again, is this enough to get people into a park? If they upgraded from a crappy gym back to a quality duffel, is it going to cover the costs (to the advertiser or team?) They've done a lot with season ticket holders, at least comparatively, in recent years. giveaways and taking positions on the field and such. I'd like to see 'dugout seating' as a thing though, in an extra dugout a little further down the line that's simply a seating area. would be neat.

batmagadanleadoff Sep 16 2013 12:54 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Ceetar wrote: Lefty Specialist wrote: Cut ticket prices in half. You'll make it up in concessions and parking. Full up those seats behind home plate every game by selecting people from the upper deck to come down in the third inning. Have GOOD giveaways, not crap. Everything's an ad for someone anyway, so the only cost incurred is extra personnel to reach into a box and hand it to people when they come in. Have a contest for a fan age 12-18 to wear a uniform, take batting and fielding practice and sit in the dugout for a game. Yeah, I know it's technically against league rules, but work it out. I'm positive they've run the numbers for these things, and have priced the tickets at close to the highest revenue price point. They have all sorts of algorithms for these things. Most of what's keeping people away is not the price..... It might be. Isn't this your basic Supply and Demand Economics 101? I'd bet anything that if they sold field level seats for $4.00 say -- what they cost when I was a kid -- the price reduction alone would attract many customers.

Mets Guy in Michigan Sep 16 2013 01:04 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

I saw some of the comments about the Hall of Fame. Keep in mind that the vice president of tradition and fan experience has broad powers, he can't go back in time. While I haven't seen the hall -- my visit to Citi was in its first year -- the photos look pretty neat. I don't know too many teams with better halls. The Reds have an entire building that is incredible. But many of the others -- Indians, Phillies -- have the basic plaque on the wall thing working, and no museum. I know the Braves have a wonderful museum, and the Rangers have something that is basically Cooperstown south. I like the tailgating thing. The Brewers have a permanent concession and restroom building in the parking lot to assist with such things. Since the Mets lack a neighborhood for fans to hang out it, it would be nice to assist with the tailgating to make a party atmosphere.

batmagadanleadoff Sep 16 2013 01:14 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

metsguyinmichigan wrote: I saw some of the comments about the Hall of Fame. Keep in mind that the vice president of tradition and fan experience has broad powers, he can't go back in time. While I haven't seen the hall -- my visit to Citi was in its first year -- the photos look pretty neat. I don't know too many teams with better halls. The Reds have an entire building that is incredible. But many of the others -- Indians, Phillies -- have the basic plaque on the wall thing working, and no museum. I know the Braves have a wonderful museum, and the Rangers have something that is basically Cooperstown south. I like the tailgating thing. The Brewers have a permanent concession and restroom building in the parking lot to assist with such things. Since the Mets lack a neighborhood for fans to hang out it, it would be nice to assist with the tailgating to make a party atmosphere. From what I've seen and read on the web, the Royals HOF is also among the best.

Mets – Willets Point Sep 16 2013 01:15 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Require that any fan who sits in the seat behind home plate most visible on tv to wear a Mets boater hat and roll her arms throughout the game.

Ceetar Sep 16 2013 01:17 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

metsguyinmichigan wrote: I saw some of the comments about the Hall of Fame. Keep in mind that the vice president of tradition and fan experience has broad powers, he can't go back in time. While I haven't seen the hall -- my visit to Citi was in its first year -- the photos look pretty neat. I don't know too many teams with better halls. The Reds have an entire building that is incredible. But many of the others -- Indians, Phillies -- have the basic plaque on the wall thing working, and no museum. I know the Braves have a wonderful museum, and the Rangers have something that is basically Cooperstown south. I like the tailgating thing. The Brewers have a permanent concession and restroom building in the parking lot to assist with such things. Since the Mets lack a neighborhood for fans to hang out it, it would be nice to assist with the tailgating to make a party atmosphere. Cardinals (At least in 2006) was a room inside the Bowling Museum. Was nice, but not much different than Citi Field's right now. I think Citi's is nice, although I do agree that the back end where you basically buy expensive stuff could use some work. Tailgating is decent at Citi, but permanent structures would be cool I wonder if there are city rules restricting that? Obviously if they ever get the mall up or something similar, there will be plenty of party/bar type areas, but that's years away and in the meantime some official nod to tailgating would be cool.

Mets Guy in Michigan Sep 16 2013 01:41 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

I haven't seen the Royals Hall, but the Cardinals' version is indeed outstanding. We visited years ago, and at the end of the museum they had a player signing autographs -- Bernard Gilkey on the day we were there. The Reds and White Sox have nice sections of interactive activities. The White Sox also do some things horribly wrong.

G-Fafif Sep 16 2013 01:56 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

The Orioles HOF, adjacent to OP@CY, is part of a larger Baltimore sports museum and blows minds.

themetfairy Sep 16 2013 01:57 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

I will echo that the Cardinals HOF is magnificent.

HahnSolo Sep 17 2013 09:29 AM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

I'd be satisfied with the overall size of the Mets HOF if they rotated exhibits/displays frequently.

HahnSolo Sep 17 2013 09:31 AM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Alumni outreach that includes players outside of the following: - 86ers - Rusty - Seaver - Piazza - Franco

Benjamin Grimm Sep 17 2013 09:31 AM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

I agree. It's nice that they have that little corner there, but the way it is, there's really little reason to visit it more than once.

Edgy MD Sep 17 2013 09:40 AM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Alumni outreach that includes players outside of the following: - 86ers - Rusty - Seaver - Piazza - Franco I dunno. I think they do a good job (though not great) here. Problem is that when they ask someone like George Foster to show up on the first day of sales at the stadium, they get mocked. (Folks on the line --- as opposed to the snarky folks online --- tend to love it.) Folks seem to rip the Mets for the narrative of failure that they themselves indulge in, and then they rip the Mets for fleeing the narrative of failure. I salute all Felix Millan Days now and into perpetuity.

Vic Sage Sep 17 2013 10:59 AM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

For a franchise with such an inferiority complex, we should have a HOF exhibition highlighting all our "almosts"... 2nd place finishes in the voting for ROY (Hunt, S.Henderson,Koosman), CY (Seaver x2, Koos, Gooden), and MVP (Seaver, Keith, Straw), as well as those 2nd place finishes to the Cards in the 80s and the Phils in the 00s, or how we almost won the championships in `73 and `00. Maybe include the various "almost" no-hitters and perfect games. And how about a plaque commemorating how they almost had a HOF exhibit ready for the opening of CitiField... but then didn't. And a tribute to Shea, our 2nd home field, and to Doubleday & Co, our 2nd owners.

Edgy MD Sep 21 2013 11:43 AM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Two uniform related notions: [list=1:8wow4l8i][*:8wow4l8i]Don't re-assign the numbers of guys still in the system. If a guy goes up, plays for a time and goes down, and he's still grinding at it, what clearer message could there be that he's wasted his time, that the team has lost all faith in him? But moreover, it just undermines the sense of continuity and historical categorization that numbers can represent. In fact, I tend to go radically further and advocate for a player's number to be reserved as long as he's still active and in the league. Yeah, that means a lot of higher-end numbers get cycled through, but it reinforces the notion that when a guy plays for the Mets, he remains a Met spiritually even if we don't need him at the time, and we may yet need him again. When he retires (or utterly disgraces himself to the point of familial disowning, a la Ambiorix Burgos), then the number goes dramatically back into circulation. (Some guy at MbtN accused me of having a "plantation mindset" when I suggested this.) [/*:m:8wow4l8i] [*:8wow4l8i]Play with insignia-free hats during spring training. Maybe after a week, an insignia appears on David Wright's hat, then one by one, as it becomes cclear that you've made the team, you get the NY. But you don't wear the NY until you've made the team that represents NY.[/*:m:8wow4l8i][/list:o:8wow4l8i] Non-uni-related item. [list=3:8wow4l8i][*:8wow4l8i]I saw another team with a lesser broadcast booth pull of this nice move. During the sixth inning or so, you link up the English-language and Spanish-language broadcast booths. Switch to the Spanish at the top of the inning for a five or ten seconds of Spanish at the top of the inning, and then have Howie introduce the Spanish broadcasters. "How are you doing tonight, fellas? What are you talking about? What do you think of the way Mejia is throwing?" In general, get the Spanish- and English-language outreach out of their silos. Don't let the audiences be strangers to one another.[/*:m:8wow4l8i][/list:o:8wow4l8i]

Edgy MD Nov 13 2013 01:33 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

I've been playing with this idea in recent months, of having a stairway entrance to the clubhouse 20 rows behind the dugout, so the players would enter and exit the field through the audience (or at least a small, high-rent sampling of the audience, absorbing whatever glory or shame comes with the walk. The stairs would have to be covered in rubber, and the dugout would almost certainly have to retain a tunnel to the clubhouse to enter and exit between innings, but the entrance and entering at the beginning and end would be compulsory for all dugout personnel.

Lefty Specialist Nov 13 2013 01:54 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

As an every-game routine, I think this can only end badly. They'll be searching fans for eggs and overripe fruit at the entrances. When it's a surprise, it's cool. When it's expected there's a real potential for mayhem.

Edgy MD Nov 13 2013 02:10 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

So they better play well! I figure a walk though 20 rows of the Thurston Howell set is a managed risk. You throw an egg, you risk losing rilly expensive field level box seats.

Ceetar Nov 13 2013 02:11 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Lefty Specialist wrote: As an every-game routine, I think this can only end badly. They'll be searching fans for eggs and overripe fruit at the entrances. When it's a surprise, it's cool. When it's expected there's a real potential for mayhem. bah, NHL does it all the time. (visitors get the John Rocker tent treatment though) Get to high five the players or fist bump or whatever as they head in. They also do the "Three stars of the game" thing after each win, and the players skate a quick circle, toss a puck into the crowd, and retreat again. Not suggesting we mimic that, but Kevin already interviews guys on the field after huge moments, why not every win, ask him a layup question or two, have him wave and toss a baseball, and boom. There's actually already an entrance to the tunnels from behind home plate that passes fans (albeit the rich ones), it's the long way around but I think that was the point you had in mind anyway.

Lefty Specialist Nov 13 2013 07:50 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Ceetar wrote: bah, NHL does it all the time. Sure, just make sure the Mets are wearing pads, gloves, helmets with visors, and are carrying long sticks when they walk out. Then they'll be fine.

MFS62 Nov 14 2013 07:56 AM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Edgy MD wrote: Non-uni-related item. [list=3][*]I saw another team with a lesser broadcast booth pull of this nice move. During the sixth inning or so, you link up the English-language and Spanish-language broadcast booths. Switch to the Spanish at the top of the inning for a five or ten seconds of Spanish at the top of the inning, and then have Howie introduce the Spanish broadcasters. "How are you doing tonight, fellas? What are you talking about? What do you think of the way Mejia is throwing?" In general, get the Spanish- and English-language outreach out of their silos. Don't let the audiences be strangers to one another.[/*:m][/list:o] IIRC, the radio guys would occasionally being Buck Canel into the booth and do that: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buck_Canel Later

Edgy MD Nov 14 2013 08:10 AM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Shortly after each game, raise a flag in centerfield --- blue for victory, gray for a loss. This pole would fly ten flags at a time, representing each of the team's most recent ten games, newest on top, and therefore provide a visual narrative of the recent state of the team. If you want to be un-necessarily dramatic about it, shortly (10 minutes or so) after the end of each home game, the manager could appear in centerfield withe a coach and a player (designated by rotation, rather than the hero/goat-of-the-day status), and raise the new flag and lower the oldest one. Once a decade, the team will get to fly 10 blue flags and that would be cool. And when they raise a championship flag, well, BAM! As for being afraid of fools attacking players, bah. That's exactly what we need to combat. The fans grow more hostile, the players grow more distant, and the fans feel justified in their hostility. We've got to restore good faith between the parties, and the nightly crowd walk (if only at the beginning of games) is just the gesture to get it started. I read yesterday that folks go a hold of the Dolphin's GM's phone number and filled his voicemail with hostile BS. Make it stop.

Ceetar Nov 14 2013 09:49 AM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Edgy MD wrote: As for being afraid of fools attacking players, bah. That's exactly what we need to combat. The fans grow more hostile, the players grow more distant, and the fans feel justified in their hostility. We've got to restore good faith between the parties, and the nightly crowd walk (if only at the beginning of games) is just the gesture to get it started. I read yesterday that folks go a hold of the Dolphin's GM's phone number and filled his voicemail with hostile BS. Make it stop. yes indeed. And the best way to do this is to humanize the players. If they're actually _right there_ it's harder to think of them as the robot representations of our fanaticism. It's part of why Spring Training is such a great experience. Sticking around for post-game "woah, you had a good game!" moments with the walk-off guy is part of that, as silly as the pies are. I think instead of an hour of talking heads yelling at each other before the game, they should just televise batting practice. no host. just stick a couple of cameras there. or stream it to mets.com. We get so much of the business of baseball these days and so much less of the behind the scenes work these guys put in. Watching them mill around on the field, taking grounds, chatting, etc..it's good.

batmagadanleadoff Nov 14 2013 10:00 AM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Ceetar wrote: And the best way to do this is to humanize the players. The best way to humanize baseball players would be to cap their salaries at $100K a year. When Derek Jeter's selling insurance in December, freezing his balls off while waiting for a train in 10 degree weather, then you might be able to relate to him.

Ceetar Nov 14 2013 10:18 AM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Ceetar wrote: And the best way to do this is to humanize the players. The best way to humanize baseball players would be to cap their salaries at $100K a year. When Derek Jeter's selling insurance in December, freezing his balls off while waiting for a train in 10 degree weather, then you might be able to relate to him. well, that's anti-capitalism. I don't want to relate to the guy, just humanize him. (well not Jeter, he's a PED-fed robot)

Edgy MD May 22 2014 08:03 PM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Paint those field level seats orange. They never fail to depress me when I see them empty. When they were empty in the old days, they were not so sad.

Nymr83 May 23 2014 07:05 AM Re: Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

Edgy MD wrote: Paint those field level seats orange. They never fail to depress me when I see them empty. When they were empty in the old days, they were not so sad. i liked the Shea seats so much better. can we alternate rows of orange and blue?