Dept. of Tradition & Fan Experience Suggestion Box

[G-Fafif]

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]

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]

Change the fa�ade 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]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Change the fa�ade 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.

[Guest themetfairy]

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]

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]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Benjamin Grimm wrote: Change the fa�ade 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.

[Guest themetfairy]

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]

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.

[Guest themetfairy]

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.

[Guest themetfairy]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: Benjamin Grimm wrote: Change the fa�ade 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]

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.

[Guest themetfairy]

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.

[Guest themetfairy]

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.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

-- 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.

[Guest themetfairy]

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.

[Guest themetfairy]

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]

concession stands manned by Hooters girls.

[Guest themetfairy]

Um, no.

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

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

[Edgy MD]

Staffed by former Hooters girls, gentlemen.

I'd hate to see them manning the place.

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

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.

[Guest themetfairy]

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]

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.

[Guest themetfairy]

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

[Guest themetfairy]

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]

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]

themetfairy wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: Benjamin Grimm wrote: Change the fa�ade 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]

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

[Edgy MD]

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.