Citi Field is the rare ballpark where the food is a legitimate reason to buy a ticket, with Shake Shack, Pat LaFrieda and the Taste of the City stands lining the outfield concourse. A Brewers series in late August lands squarely in the wild-card scramble, so the Promenade cares about every at-bat. Add the Home Run Apple and a 7 train that empties onto the boardwalk and it is the easiest big-league night in Queens.
What to expect
You come off the 7 train onto the boardwalk and into the Jackie Robinson Rotunda, then have the run of an outfield concourse full of food stands before first pitch. The Home Run Apple rises after every Mets homer, and the crowd is a loud, self-deprecating Queens mix. Games run about three hours, and the 7 train home is packed but frequent.
Good to know
- Take the 7 train to Mets-Willets Point, or the LIRR Port Washington branch for a faster ride from Penn Station and Grand Central.
- Arrive early for the Taste of the City concourse behind the outfield, which is the reason people come hungry.
- Bag rules limit you to a small clutch, and there is no bag check on site.
- Seats on the third-base side stay in shade longest during day-lit innings.
- The Jackie Robinson Rotunda at the main entrance is worth walking through rather than past.
- The Promenade level is the cheapest way in and still has a full view of the field and the Manhattan skyline.
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Common questions
How do I get to Citi Field on the subway?
The 7 train runs express to Mets-Willets Point on game nights, roughly 25 to 35 minutes from Midtown, and the station exits onto a boardwalk that leads to the main gate.
What food should I get at Citi Field?
The outfield Taste of the City concourse is the draw, with Shake Shack, Pat LaFrieda steak sandwiches and rotating New York vendors. Go before first pitch to avoid the mid-game lines.
Is Citi Field good for a first baseball game?
Yes. Sightlines are good from nearly every level, the concourses are wide and open to the field, and the Queens crowd is welcoming to newcomers.
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