Citi Field vs. Yankee Stadium: Who Got The Better Fan Experience

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2009 was a big year for baseball fans in New York. Both Citi Field, home to the New York Mets, and the new Yankee Stadium, home to the New York Yankees, were built. These two interleague rivals now have two state-of-the-art stadiums that we will evaluate.

While more winning has taken place at Yankee Stadium in recent years, most fans go to games for the total fan experience, not just to see quality baseball.

Citi Field has a slightly better fan experience than the historic (but new) Yankee Stadium.

This article will evaluate these two stadiums in five categories: amenities, food and drink, history, quality of baseball, and price.

Amenities – Citi Field

Citi Field’s top amenities include a picnic area behind the right-field fence, group seating at field level, a Wiffle ball area for kids, 50 luxury suites, and an interactive Mets Museum.

Amenities at the new Yankee Stadium include social areas behind the outfield wall, a mini-baseball field for kids, 56 luxury suites, and Monument Park located behind the centerfield wall.

While both have similar amenities, many fans get more enjoyment out of the more modern fan experience at Citi Field than Yankee Stadium, which was built with entertainment in mind.

Food and Drink – Citi Field

In the food and drink category, Citi Field beats out Yankee Stadium, and this contest isn’t really that close.

While most baseball fans prefer to eat a hot dog while watching a baseball game, you may want to consider a burger at Citi Field. The Mets’ home accounts for 15% of the burgers at all MLB parks thanks largely in part to the Shake Shack located inside the stadium.

Yankee Stadium has a lot of great things to offer fans, but their Food and Drink are consistently rated as below average compared to the rest of the league. However, there is a Hard Rock Cafe and a steakhouse located inside the stadium, but be prepared to pay top dollar for it.

History – Yankee Stadium

Many baseball fans worried that building a new Yankee Stadium would compromise the team’s historic footprint, but that could not be further from reality. Yankee Stadium was built with history in mind.

The field itself has the same dimensions as the original Yankee Stadium, and the aesthetics of the park are very similar to that of the original stadium. It is also still known for Monument Park: an area filled with statues and monuments of Yankee greats.

While there are some historical aspects at Citi Field that replicate that of Shea Stadium and Ebbet’s field (i.e. the iconic home plate entrance, the Big Apple, and the New York City skyline), Citi Field was built for the modern fan experience leaving some history behind.

Quality of Baseball – Yankee Stadium

Thanks to one of the largest budgets in all of professional sports, the New York Yankees are typically able to put together a competitive team year in and year out. The Mets, on the other hand, experience ebbs and flows of competitiveness.

Historically, the Yankees have won 27 World Series titles, 40 American League pennants, and 19 division titles. In the first year of the new Yankee Stadium in 2009, they won the World Series. They have been to the playoffs ten times since the new Stadium was built.

The Mets have won only two World Series titles, five National League pennants, and six division titles. Since 2009, they have only made the playoffs twice.

Price – Citi Field

Anyone going on a trip to New York City doesn’t expect to do it cheaply, but finances do drive most decisions. According to gobankingrates.com, the total fan experience at Citi Field is cheaper than that of Yankee Stadium.

The total experience at Citi Field averages around $115.70 for two fans to attend the game, park, and eat. Ticket prices are relatively reasonable at Citi Field as two tickets cost around $55. However, it is easy to spend top dollar on food and drink, but many fans believe you get your money’s worth.

The total experience at Yankee Stadium averages around $140.74 for two fans to attend, park, and eat. Two tickets at Yankee Stadium cost around $90. The cheapest part of the experience is the food as two hot dogs only cost $6.

Winner – Citi Field

Although it is a close call, Citi Field barely edges out Yankee Stadium when it comes to the total fan experience.

Keep in mind that this is based on the average fan who attends a game for the total fan experience. The baseball junkie who loves to dive into the history of the game may prefer Yankee Stadium.

Both stadiums have a lot to offer, and the next time you are visiting New York, you can use this article to decide which stadium to attend.

What is the capacity of Yankee Stadium and Citi Field?

Citi Field is able to hold 42,000 fans while Yankee Stadium holds up to 50,000.

Where are Yankee Stadium and Citi Field located?

Yankee Stadium is located in the Bronx, New York. Citi Field is located in Queens, New York.

Which stadium cost more to build? Citi Field or Yankee Stadium?

Citi Field cost $900 million to build, but that is nothing compared to the $2.3 billion that it cost to construct Yankee Stadium.

References

https://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/ballparks/citi-field/
https://www.reviewtrackers.com/reports/best-baseball-stadiums/