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What was here before?

Native Americans and early European settlers once fished in the Flushing tidal estuary, but by the early 20th century the marshland was severely compromised by industrial dumping. The New York World’s Fair of 1939-40 led to conversion of this vast wasteland into a public park of which this stadium is one of many amenities.   

How did this site become a stadium?

After the departure in 1957 of the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants baseball teams, there was a push to create a new local National League franchise. This led to the creation of the New York Mets in 1962 who moved into Shea Stadium in Flushing Meadow Park in 1964. The initially hapless Mets would go on to win two World Series in 1969 and 1986. Among the many historic events that took place at the stadium was a concert by the Beatles. Shea Stadium also doubled as home to the NFL football Jets franchise from 1967 to 1983. 

In 2001, the City announced plans to build new stadiums for the Mets and the Yankees. A new Mets baseball stadium was built between 2006 and 2009 on derelict property adjacent to Shea, and the team played its first game in the new stadium—dubbed Citi Field in honor of sponsor Citigroup—on April 13, 2009.

Designed by HOK Sport, Citi Field pays homage to Shea Stadium, the Mets, and their National League predecessors including a grand rotunda named for Brooklyn Dodger great Jackie Robinson. Though the new stadium has 12,000 fewer seats than its predecessor, it has nearly five times as many ADA-accessible seats, concessions on every level, and larger field dimensions that quickly earned it a reputation as a notorious pitcher-friendly field (though the field was ultimately shortened). Like Shea Stadium before it, Citi Field also hosts major concert and performance events when not in use for baseball. 

Plaques in the parking lot on the site of the leveled Shea Stadium mark out the original locations of Shea’s home plate, pitcher’s mound, and bases.

Know Before You Go

World's Fair Marina

Flushing Meadows Corona Park Aquatics Center & Ice Rink

Flushing Meadows Corona Park Aquatics Center & Ice Rink

Al Oerter Recreation Center

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