Shea Stadium, the radium, EMD squared

[Frayed Knot]

Seems like Jeffie suffers from PNC envy.

Of course, as the article mentioned, it's never going to have the view. It'll be too far away to see Manhattan (and will face the wrong way to boot) and there's a highway in the way of the waterfront at Flushing Bay.

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

True - the view at PNC is awesome. But it's a very well designed stadium, even without the view -

[Guest cooby]

Too bad those people are standing in the way

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

[Guest ABG]

PNC is breathtaking. Of course, one of the homey things about it is that it seats only about 35,000. I doubt the Mets will go that far in replication.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

That does look like a beautiful ballpark. I just finalized my summer vacation plans the other day, and now I almost regret that it doesn't include Pittsburgh!

[MFS62]

I hope the bathrooms in the new place will be better than the infamous ones in Shea. Then Moen or American Standard will sponsor them as
"The Flushing Toilets".

Later

[Lundy]

If New Shea is anything like PNC, I'll be a happy man. Great ballpark.

This is from a night game in June last year:

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Wow! How do they get the skies so blue for a night game?

[Guest Edgy DC]

Corporate sponsorship.

Hey, if you want to keep corporate sponsors' names off the fa�ade of the new Shea, get F. Scott Shea on your side.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

I'm going to have to check to see when the Mets are in Pittsburgh this season. If it's on a summer weekend I might be tempted to make the trip across the state.

[Frayed Knot]

ABG wrote: PNC is breathtaking. Of course, one of the homey things about it is that it seats only about 35,000. I doubt the Mets will go that far in replication.

Rumors have it that they're looking at something on the order of 42,000 in seating. I think that's too few for NYC. Doesn't have to be another 56,000 monstrosity but it seems to me you'd want something a bit closer to 50K.

]I just finalized my summer vacation plans the other day, and now I almost regret that it doesn't include Pittsburgh!

That might be the first time that sentence has ever been uttered.

[Willets Point]

]One goal is to upgrade Willets Point

Does this mean the Mets will make sure I always fly first class?

[Elster88]

Frayed Knot wrote: ]I just finalized my summer vacation plans the other day, and now I almost regret that it doesn't include Pittsburgh! That might be the first time that sentence has ever been uttered.

More and more these days I've been hearing that Pittsburgh is underrated and is actually a nice place to visit. Camden and PNC are the next two parks that I plan to visit.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Pittsburgh is a nice city. I was there for New Year's Eve in 1994. It's one of those places that looks like a nice place to live, but not a great place to visit. It's livable, but it's not much of a vacation destination.

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

Pittsburgh is a fine weekend destination.

If you like architecture, Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Waters house is about 90 minutes outside of Pittsburgh, and it's well worth the drive.

Make the trip Yancy - it's probably about a 5 1/2 hour drive from where you are. Not around the corner, but not bad.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

I'll have to do that. Maybe not this year, but whenever the schedule looks friendly. I doubt that I'd bother to go if the Pirates are playing anyone other than the Mets.

[HahnSolo]

The yellow bridge in the backdrop is cool.
Could we paint the #7 tracks blue and orange?

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

The Mets are in Pittsburgh Sept. 15-17. It's a weekend, and it's before the Jewish holidays.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

When are the Jewish holidays? If there's a public school holiday around then it might work out. Of course, if I'm going to see the Mets in September they'd better be playing "meaningful games!"

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

Rosh Hashanah begins the night of Sept 22. Yom Kippor begins the night of October 1.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Thanks!

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

No problem

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

The view over the center field fence may improve, but prolly not in time for the stadium's debut.

]City wants proposals for 'Triangle' BY DONALD BERTRAND DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER The future of the "Iron Triangle," a gritty 48-acre cluster of junkyards in Willets Point just east of Shea Stadium, brightened a bit last week. New York City's Economic Development Corp. issued a Targeted Request for Proposals for the redevelopment of Willets Point. The 12-block Iron Triangle is the largest single stretch of garages and junkyards in the city, with more than 80 auto repair shops and salvage yards among its businesses. "This targeted [area] is another step forward in our efforts to transform the underused, underserved Iron Triangle into a new regional destination with a vibrant mix of uses to enhance the area's assets, such as the communities of Flushing and Corona and the Flushing Bay waterfront," said EDC President Andrew Alper. The request for proposals is being sent to a group of developers who were selected from 13 proposals received in response to a Request for Expressions of Interest issued in November 2004. The development corporation would not say how many of the 13 were still in the running. The responses are due May 5. Alper said the goal of the proposal request is to select a development partner or partners to implement what EDC calls "a viable strategic redevelopment plan to be outlined in the upcoming environmental review and public review processes." "The high quality and enthusiasm of the responses we received to the [2004 request] clearly demonstrate the confidence of the development community in the potential of a new Willets Point," Alper said. Last summer the development corporation designated a developer to build a $500 million project that will create a new town square in downtown Flushing, along with 500 residential units, 350,000 square feet of retail space, a hotel and a community center on the site of what is now a municipal parking lot. The selection of the Willets Point developer will be made after the public review process, said EDC spokeswoman Janel Patterson. Over the past year, the development group has conducted environmental, engineering and soil studies, along with infrastructure analysis and site surveys of the area. In the next few months, it will select a consultant to prepare an environmental impact statement and begin the public review process for the redevelopment effort. In addition, a business assistance and workforce development program is being finalized to assist businesses and workers that may be affected by the redevelopment. "This marks a milestone in a decade-long effort to transform this part of Queens into a centerpiece of opportunity and renewal for the entire city," said Councilman John Liu (D-Flushing). "It's fairly exciting, and the EDC deserves credit for moving it along. This ties in well with the planned new Mets stadium."

[Guest Edgy DC]

]Over the past year, the development group has conducted environmental, engineering and soil studies, along with infrastructure analysis and site surveys of the area.

I can only imagine.

[Frayed Knot]

A few more details

Mainly:
- roof idea, retractable or otherwise, scrapped, although a partial covering over some of the seating
- a look inspired by both Ebbets Field and the Hell's Gate Bridge
- 42,500 ("wider and deeper") seating capacity, a number which apparently doesn't include lux-boxes, private suites, some standing rooms, and restaurant seating
- yeah restaurants, two of them

There's a public hearing at Flushing Town Hall on Feb 27th if any of you civic minded types want to go make a nuisance of yourselves.
Still shooting for a 2009 opening.

[metsmarathon]

hell's gate bridge - cool.

that's an excellent architectural reference.