NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — The Mets are back in Queens!
The New York Mets hosted their home opener with fans at Citi Field for the first time in over a year Thursday afternoon.
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The team faced off against the Miami Marlins on a picture perfect day for baseball, with blue skies and temperatures in the 60s.
Citi Field is operating at just 20% capacity, meaning only around 8,500 fans were able to attend the sold-out game.
Ticketholders are required to show proof of either full vaccination, or a negative test result from a PCR COVID-19 or antigen test.
All guests over the age of 2 are also required to wear a face covering at all times on ballpark property, except when actively eating or drinking at their seat.
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"It will still be a very social experience, all the things that you're used to in terms of music, and the scoreboard and all those things will still be available to you," said Jeff White, head of operations for the Mets.
He said they want to make this easy on fans.
"We will have extra staff all over the place, more than you've ever seen here before greeting the fans," White said.
Despite the capacity limits and enhanced safety precautions, fans were just thrilled to be back at the ballpark.
Ricky Jewell had the grill fired up in the parking lot at Citi Field and he's optimistic for a big year.
"The last really good Mets team was 2015 and I remember that Opening Day and I think a lot of the fans didn't know what to expect. This year we expect good things for the team, so everybody's excited," he said.
"Absolutely amazing, waiting for this for a long time," said fan Jesse Lee. He tell WCBS 880's Peter Haskell that last year was tough.
"It was very maddening and it was even hard to watch the games on TV without hearing the fans experience there," Lee said.
"It's been a long time, I didn't make it out last year, maybe even the year before, so it's a sight for sore eyes being back here on a beautiful spring day," said fan Dave Cedrone, who brought his vaccination card. "Safety first."
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Prior to the game, the team held a number of events to kick off their first game at home of the 2021 season.
As part of the festivities, the annual Shea family floral presentation, a tradition that dates back to the first Opening Day at Shea Stadium in 1964, was conducted virtually on Citi Vision, 35 minutes before first pitch.
A ceremonial first pitch relay involving three pairs of New Yorkers, who represent groups that were greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, was also broadcast on Citi Vision.
Those New Yorkers include:
- Fifth grade teacher Iris Diaz and student Isabella Suarez from P.S. 19Q, located near Elmhurst Hospital, will represent New York’s teachers and students. Diaz spearheaded P.S. 19Q’s initiatives to support families affected by the pandemic and Suarez created weekly activities for her fellow students to help keep her peers positive and motivated by spreading kindness.
- William Rodriguez, a food pantry volunteer from New Immigrant Community Empowerment (NICE), which works to serve thousands of local families in need with direct food access, will be joined by Luis Arturo Vazquez, who represents the food insecure community.
- COVID survivor Karla Duarte and her life-saving doctor, James Schneider, will finish the relay. Duarte became seriously ill last spring and spent days on a ventilator. With the help of Dr. Schneider and the pediatric critical care team at Cohen Children’s Medical Center, Duarte was able to return home and recover from her illness.
Grammy Award-winning Broadway actress Lauren Patten, who most recently starred in “Jagged Little Pill,” performed the national anthem.
Broadway actress Jessica Vosk, who most recently starred as Elphaba in “Wicked,” will then sing “God Bless America” during the seventh inning stretch.