Sharp Hits Home Run With New York Mets At Citi Field

The New York Mets have called Shea Stadium their home for 44 seasons. The team is now christening a new, modern ballpark.

Designed to resemble Ebbets Field, Citi Field's facade has a similar look to the Brooklyn Dodgers' old home, with a large rotunda as the main entrance.

For a variety of reasons, the Mets have always had an association with Jackie Robinson, the first African-American player in the major leagues. Keeping in touch with that connection, the rotunda is named for the former Brooklyn Dodger. Quotations line the circular walls of the hall, and Robinson's nine values are engraved into the stone floor. A giant "42," his number, stands in the back of the rotunda. There also are two (Sharp) large-screen televisions that will only play clips of Robinson's achievements with no advertising at all.

As the official HDTV of Major League Baseball, Sharp Electronics supplied Citi Field with more than 800 Aquos HDTVs. The company said it will take an active role in the Mets' community outreach efforts off the field. It will be the title sponsor of the Mets/Sharp Electronics Student-Athlete Leadership Conference Series, a program that trains more than 1,200 student athletes from 30 Long Island high schools to provide drug and alcohol abuse prevention education to more than 15,000 grade-school children.

Reminiscent of old-time baseball fields, Citi Field's lighting is configured in arches that tower over the stadium.

In a trend among the latest new baseball stadiums, fans can follow other MLB games on a comprehensive scoreboard that gives all the necessary details instead of just the score.

Besides having a seating capacity of approximately 15,000 less than Shea (42,000 vs. 57,000), Citi Field is designed to make sure that every seat has a great view of the playing field. One of the many distinctive features of the new stadium is the seating configuration, which angles each section toward the center of the field.

Sitting in its home directly behind the center field fence, the Home Run Apple is actually a new, larger version of the one at Shea. Many fans were outraged that the original apple wasn't moving over to the new stadium with the team and created an online petition to protest the replacement.

Giving in to the fans' protests, Mets management had a change of heart and gave Shea's apple a reprieve. Although not an active participant in the games, the original got a fresh coat of paint and is now on display in Bullpen Plaza, an area situated behind the bullpens, just below the concourse.

Another fan favorite that was salvaged from Shea is the New York City skyline that used to sit atop the old scoreboard. Its new location is above the Shake Shack in the concourse food court area.

There isn't a location in the stadium (other than some of the restrooms) where a Sharp television isn't in view. Hungry fans can continue following the game while waiting online at the many concession stands.

Major League Baseball does not allow replays of controversial plays on the stadium's Diamond Vision screen, but fans can now watch them on large Sharp televisions located throughout the stands, viewable from most seats.

One of the many restaurants in the stadium, The Acela Club offers sit-down dining in left field behind a glass wall. Reservations are required, and the club will only be open to 40-game-pack holders and season-ticket holders during games.

Even patrons dining in the Acela Club will be able to catch missed plays on televisions amply placed along the walls next to tables.

A new, state-of-the-art control room is responsible for the programming of every LED sign, display, scoreboard and television in the entire stadium.

Even fans who choose to stand in the outfield will have a place to put their drinks. Cup holders are abundant at Citi Field ... at every seat and along the railings.

In the lobby of the Mets' corporate offices, located within Citi Field, Sharp's 108-inch television shows game highlights. Another 108-inch set will be situated on the concourse at a Verizon booth that will demonstrate and sell Verizon fiber optic TV services.

The rubble pile that was once Shea Stadium is probably one of the most photographed locations by those visiting Citi Field. The pile is rapidly shrinking and will soon be a parking lot. Although insulted for many inadequacies during its 44 years of use, it's the site of many historical events, and fans hold a sentimental place in their hearts for the old ballpark.

As the season opens, Sharp Electronics and the Mets are ready to create new memories for baseball fans.