Finallly... She Stadium to get flushed out of Flushing
newsday.com
newsday.com
The Olympics would be nice, sure. But blowing up Shea Stadium, now that is a gift from the gods.
Mayor Bloomberg spoke happily yesterday about the city's renewed chances for the Olympics, which are still only one in five, according to my rudimentary math. Actually, the real winners in Bloomberg's fast-made deal with the Wilpons are, in order: Mets fans, Mets players, the Wilpons, Mr. Met and anything orange and blue.
After years of planning and dreaming, the Mets' contract for the new stadium came together in about five days. Mets followers can really rejoice starting in 2009, when the new Mets stadium adjacent to the current dump will be ready, whether or not New York wins the Olympics.
This is the best thing to happen to the Mets since Bobby Bonilla left town. And what's more, the Mets look like heroes in the process. While the city and state will spend about $200 million in infrastructure costs, the Wilpons will finance the new ballpark, which will look nothing like the old one. Fred Wilpon's original design replicated Ebbets Field, and Mets COO Jeff Wilpon said they still hope to "keep most of the motif."
As long as you don't replicate Shea, knock yourself out.
Mayor Bloomberg, perhaps a little giddy and overtired after hopscotching between stadium talks, his daughter's wedding and the Puerto Rican Day parade, praised the Wilpons and George Steinbrenner as "model corporate citizens." (The Wilpons I get, but Steinbrenner did nothing more than offer to let the Mets use Yankee Stadium in 2012 if the Olympics come to New York, something Mets people don't seem anxious to do.)
"Everyone stepped to the plate nicely," Jeff Wilpon said.
This cooperative arrangement came together almost quicker than Jose Reyes flies from home to third after city folks approached the Mets following the breakdown of the Jets' ambitious, expensive West Side stadium plan. Mets people had been talking behind the scenes for months, but the city's need to recast its Olympics proposal changed everything.
If we get two great weeks in the summer of 2012, that's fine. The Olympics is more special and fun than some jaded New Yorkers are making it out to be. But the real prize here is obvious. Starting in 2009, the eyesore at the confluence of the Grand Central, the Whitestone and a million other roads will be no more. You don't have to be a baseball fan to appreciate that.
The Mets needed this new stadium more than they needed their new ace pitcher. Their interesting, improved ballclub doesn't deserve to reside in a decrepit, unimpressive, leaky facility. Even on a good day for the home team, it's slightly depressing that the greatest city in the world has the National League's worst ballpark.
At Shea, there's no elbow room for fans, and that's true whether you bought $60 field club seats or $16 cheapies. The luxury boxes aren't luxurious. The design is Sixties Ugly. And frankly, even on its best day, the whole place looks as if it could use a power washing.
The only real drawback to the new stadium plan in Willets Point is that it's in Willets Point, a point the Mayor addressed by mentioning how the city has plans to revitalize the area. What, he doesn't like chop shops?
It's impossible to predict what the International Olympic Committee will decide July 6. But the agreement announced yesterday looks like a good deal for the city, regardless of whether New York gets the Olympics or not. Someone with a better calculator can take a closer look at the numbers, but it appears the city and state will be kicking in only about $200 million, pocket change in the world of fancy new ballparks.
The Mets are paying most of their way here. "It's expensive," Fred Wilpon said, "but we think it's right for the Mets."
Not only is this the right deal for the Mets, it's an even better deal than the one that got Pedro Martinez here.