The Experience of the Mets

Friday @ METS V SAN FRAN GIANTS

So I set off from work on a lazy Friday afternoon and headed to 42nd Street to meet with Mad Frankie Fraser for my first experience of the New York Mets, I knew he would turn up wearing some sort of Celtic top, he didn't disappoint me…full blown bright green Celtic hoodie and a shout of "Champions, Champions" from across the street.

Before I start, this wasn't my first ever baseball match, that was back in September 2004 in San Francisco, I left after 20 mins as I was bored and didn't understand what the hell was going on, I was 21 and naïve. It just so happened that 8 years on, my re-introduction to baseball so happens to be Mets v San Fran, the team I walked out on 8 years prior.

We headed to Woodside for a few pre-match beers at Saints & Sinners, my first visit to the Woodside CSC club. Was pretty quiet but had the buzz of going to see Celtic away for some reason..maybe it was the company I was keeping. After a few Bud lights and some chicken wings, we headed to the game, a brief history lesson from Frankie on the train telling us all about Jackson Heights and the characters and then we arrived at Citi Field. Getting off the train really did feel like going to Celtic away in Europe, there was a buzz.

What's the first thing I noticed? The hats, the crowd…no…it was the amount of HOT chicks about the place…wow…an untapped resource the old baseball.

The stadium looked impressive from the outside, with 10 mins until the game started, it was busy outside, like Parkhead before a midweek european game. We got tickets, $20 each which was great value in my opinion. Headed in and got our first beers…$24 + tip for 3 beers – what the f**k…but something great about drinking and watching sport.

The stadium looked amazing, was really impressed with the set up, Peter Lawwell, his Commercial & Merchandising Directors should get a visit to MLB pronto…this is how we should be doing things at Parkhead…probably the best set up of upselling and fun for the family I've ever seen at a sports stadium. I know people back in Glasgow moan about the game of 'soccer' being too commercial these days, but we need to think of ways of milking the cow. I'd seen enough after 10 mins at Citi Field to know that there's a lot we can learn at Celtic to improve the match day experience and also make more cash.

Anyway back to the baseball, we watched the game from various locations in the stadium, so I can appreciate it in its fullest, once we got settled into a position I really got into the game and actually found it exciting. There were a few moments when I had to ask Frankie what was going on, hopefully I didn't make too much of an idiot of myself with the questioning.

We headed up to meet Nicky, the man who knows a lot about the Mets and Celtic. Was disappointed to not see any Celtic gear on him, probably the first time that I've met Nicky without any Celtic references attached. When we got to Nicky's seats on the 3rd level (I think) the Mets were coming back into the game. At this point I was freezing my bollocks off, apparently a denim jacket is useless when on top level watching the Mets late on a Friday night in April!

I'm not going to try and speak baseball talk, but all I know is when the Mets leveled the game in the 9th innings, it felt like scoring a goal in the last minute of game to take it to injury time.

When it went to the 10th inning, I thought Mets would go on to win. Unfortunately it wasn't to be and SF snatched it.

One thing that crossed my mind was how slow some of the players were at running to the bases…!!

All in all it was a great night out, 4 hrs 30 mins on a Friday night, bevvy, baseball and good company. Nicky drove me home to Brooklyn which was great, taxi back to Manhattan..got caught in the worst traffic jam ever on Williamsburg Bridge..a 4 min cab journey took 1hr 15 mins ..but that couldn't dampen the spirits of  a good night.

I'll defo be back, I'm going to do my homework and watch some more games on the TV to really understand it all a but better, anyone who visits me in NYC will now be taken to see the Mets!

P.s. If I could change one thing it would be to sit the opposition support all together like at football, hated the fact opposition fans sit beside each other..need a bit of a bite.

P.p.s. Too many yankees fans spotted at the game – what is that all about…should be kicked down the stairs Lol..maybe that comes from my dislike of that team in blue that 'used' to be our greatest rivals !!!

Marti