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so i just got a call from CitiField...

Vic Sage Jul 01 2014 12:11 PM

...well, not from the field, but from a nice young lady in their sales office trying to sell my organization on CitiField as an event space or outing for our organization. Normally, i just hang up on sales calls, but this one was just too ripe with opportunity. My unfortunate condition as a lifelong Mets fan came up for discussion (i likened it to a hereditary genetic disorder), and i blamed her personally for 45 years of pain, interrupted by brief outbursts of joy. She said she'd only just started there 3 weeks ago, but i insisted on blaming her personally, since she was the one that called me. We were both chuckling, and then she wanted to know about my own personal ticket buying history. I informed here that i used to share a season plan, then became a buyer of 6-packs or other smaller packages, then the occasional single game when my kids were interested, but now, not so much... particularly the last few years when her employers were running the franchise into the ground. In fact, if they ever wanted to run their organization like a big-market team again, they should let me know! "oh, i'll pass that message right along" she laughed. But even after my obnoxious behavior and the unlikelihood of an organization like mine ever using them for an event, she invited me to a special VIP tour! So, i said "sure, what the hell." And here's the email she just sent me to confirm (I edited it to protect anonymity): Hi [Vic], It was so wonderful speaking with you today! I am thrilled that you, [little miss Vic and Vic Jr] are going to be coming down for an exclusive, behind the scenes VIP tour on Friday, July 11th at 10:00AM where we will be able to look at all of our seating options for the rest of the 2014 season. Upon arrival at Citi Field, proceed to the Administration Building entrance on 126th Street, opposite 36th/37th Avenues, and check in at the security desk to receive a Visitor's Pass (you will need photo ID). They will send you up to the third level where I will meet you in the lobby and we’ll proceed out to the field. For all driving and/or public transportation directions, go to http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/nym/ballpar ... /index.jsp. You may park in Lot G located on the north side of the stadium, nearest to the Grand Central and Cross Island Parkways. I’m looking forward to meeting you, [Vic]! If you have any questions before we meet, please don’t hesitate to reach out by emailing me, or calling me on my direct line below. I’ll give you a call next Tuesday to confirm. Best, {NAME REMOVED} So, has anybody ever done one of these "VIP tours"? What should i expect? Is there any swag? a stop at Shake Shack without a line!? I need some good ammo to talk my kids into going with me.

seawolf17 Jul 01 2014 12:13 PM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

Neat. I'll pretend to be your kid if they don't want to go.

Edgy MD Jul 01 2014 12:20 PM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

{NAME REMOVED} is my new favorite Met employee.

Ceetar Jul 01 2014 12:25 PM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

wait, cross island parkway? no.. North side of the..no..Lot G is south side, nearer Roosevelt avenue.. 36/37th avenue? no, I think that's McFaddens. [crossout:17tyj3a9]37th/38th most likely, I assume it's the "Metropolitan Hospitality" entrance.[/crossout:17tyj3a9] It's literally like she's looking at an inverted Citi Field. Actually it does look like there is a swirly door entrance between McFaddens and the Center Field gate. I'd ask her to verify which parking lot. G is the south side 'official' lot where the media parks. A is the northside lot where employees park. It's too early for Shake Shack and the players will be (almost) there so I doubt you'll get any clubhouse treatment. You'll probably wander onto the field/warning track, and then trek up to various seating locations? Almost definitely will include a walk through of some of the various clubs.

d'Kong76 Jul 01 2014 01:49 PM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

Those people in the ticket office are pretty slick, I can only imagine some of the stuff people have said to her in her three years there. I'd like to see the broadcast booths and some of the behind the scenes media-type stuff but I suppose a lot of it is in that glass enclosed room you actually can see already.

Edgy MD Jul 01 2014 01:59 PM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

Hey man, she's only been there three weeks.

d'Kong76 Jul 01 2014 02:11 PM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

I don't believe her! I've been through all this many times with them and Jets too ... liars all of them!

themetfairy Jul 01 2014 02:11 PM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

It probably feels like three years to her....

d'Kong76 Jul 01 2014 02:23 PM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

I hope they're paying her. If she's only been there three weeks she may be a college intern ... they're big on free labor!

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 01 2014 02:25 PM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

According to a popular professional social media site {NAME REMOVED}'s been at the job for 2 months, and has worked up from a similar position with the Durham Bulls. Hi, {NAME REMOVED}! {IMAGE REMOVED}

Edgy MD Jul 01 2014 02:26 PM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

No, she's totally on staff {LINK REMOVED}. Fresh-faced and fresh out of school. (Beaten to the punch, here's the photo I was workin' with.) {PHOTO REMOVED}

d'Kong76 Jul 01 2014 02:30 PM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

Looks happy enough, must be old pics.

seawolf17 Jul 01 2014 02:36 PM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

Now I'm DEFINITELY available to be Vic's fake son.

Vic Sage Jul 01 2014 03:07 PM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

she looks EXACTLY like she sounds. cute as a button. But no clubhouse tour? Phooey. i better get some swag at least.

Vic Sage Jul 01 2014 03:08 PM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

seawolf17 wrote: Now I'm DEFINITELY available to be Vic's fake son. what do i do with my real son?

seawolf17 Jul 01 2014 05:22 PM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

Vic Sage wrote: seawolf17 wrote: Now I'm DEFINITELY available to be Vic's fake son. what do i do with my real son? {NAME REMOVED} and I will invite him to the wedding.

Ceetar Jul 01 2014 07:16 PM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

I'd like to see the broadcast booths and some of the behind the scenes media-type stuff but I suppose a lot of it is in that glass enclosed room you actually can see already. this is what the standard tour includes: Clubhouse Field and Dugout Productions Area (scoreboard control room) Press Box Suite Levels (Sterling and Empire) Mets Hall of Fame & Museum I don't know what this special VIP tour entails though. Is it actually a tour or more like a sales pitch? I went to a group ticket pitch at the RedBulls Arena and it was just in a conference room for 95percent of the time. I'd live to fiddle around with the scoreboard control room that you can see on the Excelsior level. Looks neat. Generally these tours are on non-game days though, which is why they include the Clubhouse. I dunno, could be interesting, or {NAME REMOVED} could be the most interesting part.

Edgy MD Jul 01 2014 07:41 PM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

Vic isn't just part of their market for season tickets, but a guy who possibly holds the key to the Mets hosting industry events. "Playwrites Nite," "Dramaturge Day," "Librettist Weekend." The possibilities are endless. I'm sure if he plays his cards right, they'll show him where all the bodies are buried.

Ceetar Jul 01 2014 07:56 PM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

Edgy MD wrote: Vic isn't just part of their market for season tickets, but a guy who possibly holds the key to the Mets hosting industry events. "Playwrites Nite," "Dramaturge Day," "Librettist Weekend." The possibilities are endless. I'm sure if he plays his cards right, they'll show him where all the bodies are buried. Everyone knows they're buried under the Party City Deck. What, you think they moved the fences in for the fans?

Ashie62 Jul 01 2014 08:25 PM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

But Citifield was built on an Indian burial ground...

MFS62 Jul 01 2014 09:36 PM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

Don't take your kids! They will be kidnapped and held until you sign up for at least one box for this year and next. Later

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jul 01 2014 11:21 PM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

Edgy MD wrote: No, she's totally on staff {LINK REMOVED}. Fresh-faced and fresh out of school. (Beaten to the punch, here's the photo I was workin' with.) {PHOTO REMOVED} Creep five! [Holds up groping hand]

seawolf17 Jul 02 2014 03:48 AM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

In all honesty, I'd love to think that a "VIP Tour" like this would show you cool stuff and then send you on your way, but you know it's only a hard sell on a ticket package.

smg58 Jul 02 2014 08:22 AM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

seawolf17 wrote: seawolf17 wrote: Now I'm DEFINITELY available to be Vic's fake son. what do i do with my real son? {NAME REMOVED} and I will invite him to the wedding. What do we do with seawolf's real wife?

MFS62 Jul 02 2014 08:42 AM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

seawolf17 wrote: In all honesty, I'd love to think that a "VIP Tour" like this would show you cool stuff and then send you on your way, but you know it's only a hard sell on a ticket package. The company I work for considers someone a VIP when: 1) their credit card has a balance on it. (mandatory) 2) they have a measurable pulse rate (optional) Later

Bunt the First Two Jul 02 2014 09:01 AM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

[list]Me and {NAME REMOVED} Standing in a Sterling Suite Where the rich are so privileged just to wipe their feet Sweetheart, I'm not the man to give you this You know I'm not that wily Me and {NAME REMOVED} Me and {NAME REMOVED} Back in the productions room Where it all comes alive from a stone cold tomb How do I make the magic apple rise? I ask her kinda shyly Me and {NAME REMOVED} [list]Yeah, {NAME REMOVED} on the Shea Bridge and she's walking with me Don't pass me over for some slick VIP I'm just a mere mortal 'neath Elysian skies But if you go from me now, there's no paradise[/list:u] Me and {NAME REMOVED} In the clubhouse now At the Hall of Fame, where the best take a bow Someone calls to her, she turns from me And I sneak out slyly Me and {NAME REMOVED}[/list:u]

Ceetar Jul 02 2014 09:13 AM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

I do have to wonder if LinkedIn is emailing {NAME REMOVED} with "These people just checked out your profile!" and she's looking at it with horror.

seawolf17 Jul 02 2014 09:16 AM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

Ceetar wrote: I do have to wonder if LinkedIn is emailing {NAME REMOVED} with "These people just checked out your profile!" and she's looking at it with horror. Ha! "Mr. Wilpon? With all due respect, sir, and I know I've only been here for three weeks, but I think we're going to want to cancel these VIP invitation calls." (Let me state for the internet archive record that I have no intention of actually getting divorced and marrying a Mets ticket salesperson, even if she did promise me a VIP tour of CitiField if I pretend to be Vic's son.)

d'Kong76 Jul 02 2014 09:35 AM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

What if she let you work the apple?

seawolf17 Jul 02 2014 09:36 AM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

d'Kong76 wrote: What if she let you work the apple? This made me spit coffee out my nose.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 04 2014 11:47 AM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

[list]Me and {NAME REMOVED} Standing in a Sterling Suite Where the rich are so privileged just to wipe their feet Sweetheart, I'm not the man to give you this You know I'm not that wily Me and {NAME REMOVED} Me and {NAME REMOVED} Back in the productions room Where it all comes alive from a stone cold tomb How do I make the magic apple rise? I ask her kinda shyly Me and {NAME REMOVED} [list]Yeah, {NAME REMOVED} on the Shea Bridge and she's walking with me Don't pass me over for some slick VIP I'm just a mere mortal 'neath Elysian skies But if you go from me now, there's no paradise[/list:u] Me and {NAME REMOVED} In the clubhouse now At the Hall of Fame, where the best take a bow Someone calls to her, she turns from me And I sneak out slyly Me and {NAME REMOVED}[/list:u] applause for btf2 I just called the Mets to work out a snafu with our Kids Club tix (they offer bogos but not clear the seats are listed as half price -- thanks, dynamic pricing) but didn't get {NAME REMOVED} despite being transferred three times. In related news we'll be at Cereal Bowl Day this Sunday (and at batting practice Caps Day in August...)

Ashie62 Jul 04 2014 12:02 PM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

Does {NAME REMOVED} do sex for money?

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 04 2014 12:04 PM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

wtf? Look, there's creepy and there's that.

MFS62 Jul 04 2014 12:49 PM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

That was clever. Is that a song parody? What song? I was thinking Me and Julio Down By the School Yard, but got off track. Later

Edgy MD Jul 04 2014 02:08 PM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

Ashie62 wrote: Does {NAME REMOVED} do sex for money? Are you trying to get the board shut down? Can we, like, start a think-twice-before-we-hit-submit policy? I know it surely might help me.

Bunt the First Two Jul 04 2014 04:39 PM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: applause for btf2 Thanks. MFS62 wrote: Is that a song parody? It's a poem. If you must apply a melody, dream up your own.

d'Kong76 Jul 05 2014 07:37 AM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

Ashie62 wrote: Does {NAME REMOVED} do sex for money? Not easily shocked by what gets posted here. This is a new low, and you've embarrassed the board with your childish stupidity.

Vic Sage Jul 06 2014 09:11 AM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

so did [name removed], or the Mets, contacgt us to get the references to her name and likeness taken down, or was that just our administrators using their own good judgment? either way, i'm sorry i mentioned it in the first place. I wasn't trying to hold her out to ridicule. just the team.

Benjamin Grimm Jul 06 2014 09:12 AM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

It was strictly an internal decision.

metsmarathon Jul 06 2014 09:21 AM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

Well done, internal decision makers!

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 06 2014 10:35 AM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

How about swinging the ban hammer next?

Benjamin Grimm Jul 06 2014 12:56 PM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

Well, at least the person who posted the out-of-nowhere speculation that this young lady (whose name and photo had been visible in this thread) might be a whore has expressed remorse for his post. Oh… wait…

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 06 2014 02:11 PM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

That would require reading the board and not just shitting all over it.

batmagadanleadoff Jul 06 2014 02:16 PM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

Vic Sage wrote: so did [name removed], or the Mets, contact us to get the references to her name and likeness taken down, or was that just our administrators using their own good judgment? The administrators. And not a moment too soon. The FBI and the NSA was probably about to take jurisdiction of this matter. Vic Sage wrote: either way, i'm sorry i mentioned it in the first place. I wasn't trying to hold her out to ridicule. just the team. Pretty soon, those posts'll start disappearing, too.

d'Kong76 Jul 06 2014 02:35 PM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Pretty soon, those posts'll start disappearing, too. Believe what you want to believe, but this is a historically baseless statement.

Ceetar Jul 14 2014 12:45 PM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

So how'd it go?

Vic Sage Jul 15 2014 08:59 AM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField... Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jul 15 2014 10:16 AM

It was nice. My daughter and I got there at noon (it's nice to park in lot G, the VIP lot on the corner of 126th and Roosevelt), and went into the lovely administrative offices (they are next to the bullpen stadium entrance), where the lovely Miss [sales rep] met us and took us around. She's fresh out of college, an economics grad, in her first job, and has a slight southern twang. It was adorable. We saw all the group seating areas, and the various "clubs" for the premiere seats, and sat behind home plate, and then got to go out on the field (not the grass; "nobody goes on the grass", she told us), and sat in the dugout, which was extra cool. We couldn't see the clubhouses because it was a game day. But it was all very nice. Then, she took us back up to the sales office, and started to work me for the kind of package i wanted. I didn't want to be rude, or make her feel like it was a total waste of time, so i worked it out where i could get 2 seats for a 10-game pack, but then move the seats around so i could get 4 seats for 5 games instead. I told her, however, that missus Sage has total veto authority so i couldn't commit and i'd call her. She would hold the seats for a day, but then had to release them. As i expected, and frankly counted on, my wife was not happy to spend near $1000 and commit to a bunch of dates that might not be convenient for her, so we didn't take the package. It didn't really give much of a discount, and i had to go to games i really didn't feel like going to, so those packs aren't really worth it for me. I'd rather buy better seats for 1 or 2 games i really want to see, then see 10 games, at least some of which i don't want to see or on days i'd prefer not to go, for more money and lesser seats. I ended up going on-line and buying decent seats for Aug 2, a Saturday evening game against the Cubs. Its fireworks night, too. I prefer weekend evenings, so i don't have to deal so much with traffic and weather issues.

d'Kong76 Jul 15 2014 09:12 AM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

"Are you one of those guys from that swamp pond web-site?" I forget what it was we went on the field for once and they were very explicit about not touching the grass. Maybe the insurance zone changes or something!

seawolf17 Jul 15 2014 09:17 AM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

d'Kong76 wrote: "Are you one of those guys from that swamp pond web-site?" I forget what it was we went on the field for once and they were very explicit about not touching the grass. Maybe the insurance zone changes or something! They do seem a little anal about the grass. I remember that when MiniWolf did the postgame run around the bases last spring.

Edgy MD Jul 15 2014 09:20 AM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

That's what the deal is. Sometimes you prefer going when you feel like going, and getting a slight discount to get seats in a package deal for when you don't feel like like going isn't a bargain at all, especially when you don't have the energy to come up with a strategy to move the tickets you aren't going to use. Too bad Miss Package Deal doesn't at least get your modest purchase on her ledger. Her job sounds not all that different from entry level jobs in high finance. Hire twenty each year and keep whichever two find a way to hustle sales out of cold calls. I think she had summer jobs with the Durham Bulls or somesuch. I'm rooting for her. You should trade Broadway tickets for Mets tickets with her.

batmagadanleadoff Jul 15 2014 09:33 AM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

Vic Sage wrote: It was nice. My daughter and I got there at noon (it's nice to park in lot G, the VIP lot on the corner of 126th and Roosevelt), and went into the lovely administrative offices (they are next to the bullpen stadium entrance), where the lovely Miss [sales rep] met us and took us around. She's fresh out of college, an economics grad, in her first job, and she's a slight southern twang. It was adorable. We saw all the group seating areas, and the various "clubs" for the premiere seats, and sat behind home plate, and then got to go out on the field (not the grass; "nobody goes on the grass", she told us), and sat in the dugout, which was extra cool. We couldn't see the clubhouses because it was a game day. But it was all very nice. Then, she took us back up to the sales office, and started to work me for the kind of package i wanted. I didn't want to be rude, or make her feel like it was a total waste of time, so i worked it out where i could get 2 seats for a 10-game pack, but then move the seats around so i could get 4 seats for 5 games instead. I told her, however, that missus Sage has total veto authority so i couldn't commit and i'd call her. She would hold the seats for a day, but then had to release them. As i expected, and frankly counted on, my wife was not happy to spend near $1000 and commit to a bunch of dates that might not be convenient for her, so we didn't take the package. It didn't really give much of a discount, and i had to go to games i really didn't feel like going to, so those packs aren't really worth it for me. I'd rather buy better seats for 1 or 2 games i really want to see, then see 10 games, at least some of which i don't want to see or on days i'd prefer not to go, for more money and lesser seats. I ended up going on-line and buying decent seats for Aug 2, a Saturday evening game against the Cubs. Its fireworks night, too. I prefer weekend evenings, so i don't have to deal so much with traffic and weather issues. Vic Sage was played by Jonathan Pryce. The Girl that cannot be named anymore was played by Al Pacino. The part of Jeff Wilpon was played by Alec Baldwin.

Ceetar Jul 15 2014 09:34 AM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

One day, hopefully soon, it'll become a pain to randomly buy tickets to a Saturday game in August and people with plans will benefit by not having to deal with always securing seats. Plus it'll be somewhat easier to offload, at least the good sections, for near face on TicketOak.

Vic Sage Jul 15 2014 10:50 AM Re: so i just got a call from CitiField...

Edgy MD wrote: That's what the deal is. Sometimes you prefer going when you feel like going, and getting a slight discount to get seats in a package deal for when you don't feel like like going isn't a bargain at all, especially when you don't have the energy to come up with a strategy to move the tickets you aren't going to use. Too bad Miss Package Deal doesn't at least get your modest purchase on her ledger. Her job sounds not all that different from entry level jobs in high finance. Hire twenty each year and keep whichever two find a way to hustle sales out of cold calls. I think she had summer jobs with the Durham Bulls or somesuch. I'm rooting for her. You should trade Broadway tickets for Mets tickets with her. yeah, that's her. i didn't want to try and order a single game through her, because that would have been hurtful, i think. And i think she only does groups and packages anyway. She offered my a pair of field boxes for any game, if i bought the package, which was nice. But I can't trade Broadway tix, because i'm not allowed to give Tony tix to anybody, and i have to pay full price additional seats, so its cheaper to just buy decent seats at a game. I bought seats in the Caesar's Box on the Excelsior level (what used to be called the "loge" at Shea). I like it there; it's not that high up and the overhang offers cover without obstructing views, and if you can get the 3 closest sections on either side to the Caesar's Gold seats (behind home), then its an infield view. And you have access to both the Caesar's Club and the Acela Club, which are nice places to have dinner before the game, or to chill between innings, or if it's raining. I think the prices there are the best bang for your buck, in terms of price v quality, ranging from $30-$66. Actually, I prefer the Metro Boxes right below the Caesar's section at field level, but they cost an extra $100/tkt ($159)for "premium" games, and its usually not worth it to me. But I'll spring for Metro boxes if its a "supervalue" game, and they're down to around $80, which is ok. But i have popped for the full $159 on special occasions.