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Citi Field Seating Tips – Best Seats, Cheap Seats + Standing Room
Posted by Kurt Smith
If you are planning a trip to see the home of the Mets, or even if you’re a regular who would like to improve their view of the game, we’ve got your back. Here is your complete, user-friendly Citi Field seating guide – with everything you need to know to find the best seats at Citi Field, for whatever your budget size!
Citi is a great ballpark, but there are some seats to avoid, and some seats have great advantages, like club access for a lower price than you’d think. (BTW, be sure to check out my complete guide to Citi Field, and learn about the superb Citi Field food menu before your next trip.)
So here we go, broken down for some simplicity (it’s a lot, but for good reason, I promise!):
Citi Field Seating Chart + Layout
Really Cool + Pricey Club Seats
Group + Party Areas
Field Level Seating
Excelsior (Mezzanine) Level
Cheap Seats + Coca-Cola Corner
Promenade Level (+ More Cheap Seats)
Avoiding Obstructed Views
Standing Room at Citi Field
By the way, be sure to check out my complete guide to Citi Field, full of money-saving tips, and definitely know what’s on the superb Citi Field menu before you go!
There’s a lot to know here, so let’s get started after this quick word from Gametime…thank you for supporting our sponsors!
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Citi Field Seating, Part 1: Citi Field Seating Chart + Layout
The Citi Field seating layout is simple enough. The one- and two-digit numbered sections are the low seats behind home plate—club seats that are triple digits in price. The rest of the ballpark’s sections are numbered in three-digits. The lowest level (100) is the Field Level, the mezzanine with the Piazza 31 Club and Box seats is called the Excelsior Level (300), and the upper deck is the Promenade Level (400 and 500).
The numbering starts with 101 and 301 in right field and increases clockwise around the ballpark. The Promenade level starts in the right field corner with 401 and 501. The numbering continues until the Big Apple Reserved seats in center field at 140-142. The Coca-Cola Corner in right field is Sections 301-305.
Seat 1 in any row is closest to home plate, and in the Promenade level sections there are 17 rows to the top of the ballpark, where you can wave to pilots in the planes taking off from LaGuardia International. (Incidentally, if you want a better view of the planes, sit on the first base side of the field. It’s actually kind of cool.)
Short of the obstructed view seats (I’ll talk about that), generally most of the seats get high marks for the view of the field. If you’re just a foodie going to the game for the delicacies (and that’s definitely understandable here), you’d do well to sit down the line in right field or in the left field landing seats.
Depending on which types of seats you buy, you’ll have access to certain clubs; which ones will be listed on your ticket and the Mets have a chart on their website to help. It’s way too complicated to explain here – if this matters to you, check out the access chart.
So here is the breakdown, going from most to least expensive (I’m not bothering with the suites):
Citi Field Seating, Part 2: Really Cool But Pricey Club Seats
Delta Sky360 Club seats are nine sections of those padded, comfortable monsters directly behind home plate. They can cost as much as a half a grand and like in many sections, the first two Platinum rows of each section are costlier than the rest.
The Mets charge quite a bit for these tickets, and you can often find a better deal for them from Gametime or another third party seller. Delta Silver seats are directly behind the Delta Gold seats and cost about half the price; the markup probably isn’t worth “Lounge” access.
These seats come with access to the Delta Sky360 Club directly behind home plate. Two full service bars and chef-prepared dining, since that’s what baseball is about. The low end items like hot dogs and coffee are complimentary, gourmet items are not.
The restaurant has no view of the field, but it does have a view of the Mets batting practice cages. Like in all of the clubs, there are TVs to watch the action. In-seat service is included.
Recently the Mets have turned the first eight rows behind home plate into the Clover Home Plate Club, which they deem as “a perfect fit for companies looking to entertain their current or prospective clients in the best seats at Citi Field.” How can I become a “prospective client”?
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Everything from Shackburgers to gourmet pizza and non-alcoholic beverages are all included in the Clover Club and can be ordered right from your seat. No small thing given typical Shake Shack lines. You can also use your ticket to get free food anywhere in the ballpark, which is pretty cool, but probably not worth the extra several hundred dollars.
Incidentally, the last rows of Delta sections have seats in front of aisles, making for an awful obstructed views with people walking in front of you. Avoid Row 20.
The Hyundai Club seats are the two lower level areas behind the Delta Club seats at first and third base. There’s a very cool-looking car decorated in Mets colors outside the club if you’re looking for it.
These seats are also usually triple digits in price, but you can get a reasonable deal on a midweek, non-Yankees game in April or May; it’s a better deal than the Deltas and worth it for the club access. Most of these go to season ticket holders, so you may find a better deal on Gametime or elsewhere, just be sure to compare the price to the Mets website.
This was originally called the “Ebbets Club”; it was renamed in response to Mets fans complaining about the tributes to the Dodgers at Citi, and pictures and memorabilia of the 1969 and 1986 championship teams have been added here.
The Hyundai Club includes a high end buffet with a carvery and pasta bar, and a dessert cart that is rolled out during the 7th inning. All of this, with non-alcoholic drinks and in-seat service, are included with the ticket.
The Piazza 31 Club Infield seats are on the Excelsior (Mezzanine) level between the bases. These tickets are now “Excelsior Gold” or “Excelsior Box”, and cost about half of what the Deltas cost.
Most of these seats are padded and covered by the upper tier, and there aren’t many rows, making getting in and out of your seat easy enough.
The Piazza lounge, on the Excelsior (second) level behind home plate, is open to Promenade Gold ticket holders and anyone else that paid more for their tickets. It is on top of the rotunda, and offers fine views of Flushing landmarks like the Unisphere and the Citi Field parking lot, but there is no view of the game. There are leather sofas though.
Inside the Club are food stands with high end grub, soft pretzels and cookies (check out Whole Hog BBQ), and there are a few stands where you can avoid lines. You have to pay for the food here, unfortunately, but there’s plenty of space to sit and eat.
Those are the seating areas for the well-to-do New Yorkers among us; before I tackle the rest of the seating areas, let’s go into the party areas for groups, which are numerous:
Citi Field Seating, Part 3: Group + Party Areas
After moving the Citi Field fences in for 2012 to accommodate whiny sluggers, the Mets discovered they had more party space for groups. Here is a list of spots where you can reserve tickets for a group with some perks included:
Big Apple Reserved seats are the field level seats in straightaway center, right next to that Big Apple that pops up whenever a Mets player hits a home run. Directly behind the Big Apple seats are tables where people can stand and watch while eating a gourmet food item; these are the closest seats to the center field concourse with its fancy food and Mr. Met kids area.
These seats used to only be available for groups, but you can get a ticket for a single game these days. For some reason, they’re popular on weekend nights and priced accordingly; but for weeknights they’re among the cheapest tickets in the ballpark.
The Citi Pavilion at Shea Bridge was formerly the “Shea Bridge Terrace”; apparently the Mets needed a more unwieldy name to help fans with its location. The sets of tables and chairs in this landing are just in front of the Shea Bridge, over the bullpens in right center field.
The Mets have updated this space, and there are now drink rails and tables with comfortable seating and phone chargers. They’ve also added a bar with “light snacks” exclusively for this section.
The Citi Pavilion is a group area and is now a drinks-inclusive ticket, at least if you don’t mind drinking Bud Light throughout the game. The seats go for triple digits in price though, so you’ll need to find a lot of enthusiastic fans.
The Honda Clubhouse is underneath the right field reserved seats, for a true field-level view of both the field and the bullpen. There are windows that can be closed on cold nights. The seating is table seating with padded seats in front.
There aren’t a lot of seats here, so if someone invites you, get to the game early. It has been expanded to accommodate the fences being moved in, but that just means there will be more people at your outing.
The Clubhouse is also for groups only—it includes buffet service and hi-def TVs to watch the parts of the game you miss at the odd vantage point. The Mets actually mentioned as one of the group benefits “Scoreboard Greeting (not visible from area)”. Yes, I laughed too when I read that. This spot can be reasonable for a night out with your friends, and as a group leader you get four tickets to a future game.
M&M’s Sweet Seats. The high left field wall is still here, but there’s a new and closer to home plate fence in front of it, so the Mets dedicated the space between the two fences to the iconic candy bits. Tickets include food and drinks served to your seat (or stool); before the game fans can chow on Nathan’s dogs among other food items. Nothing high end, unless you consider Nathan’s high end, which it is I suppose. They’ll even give you a cookie late in the game.
Again, tickets to a future game are included for the group leader.
As the Mets state, this is a prime spot to catch a batting practice home run ball in the newly hitter-friendly Citi Field, and it’s exclusive so you won’t have to push those pesky kids out of the way.
OK then, now on to seats for the rest of us, or some of us…again, from most to least expensive:
Citi Field Seating, Part 4: Field Level
The Metropolitan Box seats are on the lower level to the outside of the Delta Club seats. They come in four flavors, Gold, Silver, Bronze and good old Metropolitan Box, and the better ones have better club access that probably isn’t worth the markup of sometimes double the price.
If you’re looking at back row Field Level tickets (31 is the last row in most sections) and have a choice, try the Excelsior Box seats instead. The view is just as good, better even than top rows of field level seats that are covered and lose the scoreboards, club access is the same, and Excelsior seats are cheaper.
Field Level and Baseline Box seats are beyond the bases towards the foul pole. These seats are nicely angled towards the infield, making for less neck-twisting, and if you’re in Section 104, you’re facing directly towards home plate. Like just about everywhere else in the park, the first two rows of Field Box sections are more expensive, and not worth the significant markup in my opinion.
Lower level seats down the lines cost a bit more than even a team with the Mets’ recent success probably should, so this isn’t the place to look for bargains unless you’re using a third party seller, and look for low demand games.
Citi Field Seating, Part 5: Excelsior (Mezzanine) Level
The Excelsior is the Mezzanine (second) level; I’ve already talked about the Excelsior Gold and Box seats that are near to the Piazza 31 Club, but there are specialized outfield sections as well. Like the infield sections, the outfield sections are covered by the overhang of the upper deck, great for the shade, although in the upper rows you may lose some of the big scoreboards.
The rest of the Excelsior seats belong in the “cheap seats” section (including the Coca-Cola Corner):
Citi Field Seating, Part 6: Cheap Seats + Coca-Cola Corner
The Left Field and Right Field Reserved seats in the lower level have had their pricing lowered and are now the cheaper seats. Most of the seats are covered, especially in the Right Field area that is overlapped by the Coca-Cola Corner–nice on a hot or rainy day but it offers no view of either of the impressive big scoreboards.
These seats are close to both the center field concourse area and the World’s Fare Market, so you have plenty of very good grub choices just a few steps away, but I don’t know that it’s worth the very limited view.
Left Field Landing seats are on the Excelsior level in left field. Like the Piazza 31 Club seats, most of them are covered and there aren’t many rows. Out in left field here, you’re pretty far from home plate, so try to get the first couple of rows if you can.
These seats, like the Coca-Cola Corner seats, include access to the Piazza Club. This is important to know not only for club access (they are the cheapest tickets that include it), but also so that you don’t have to go up or down a floor to get from one side of the Excelsior level to the other. Good to know if you use a farther entrance.
Like with the Piazza Club, the Left Field Landing and Coca-Cola Corner are now available for group packages with food and beverage included.
Now about that big section under the Coca-Cola sign: The Coca-Cola Corner is that five sections of seats in the Excelsior level in right field, which hang over the Right Field Reserved seats.
These seats are sort of set aside from the rest of the park, and the Coca-Cola Corner has its own concourse area with sofas, cornhole games, a picnic area with Coke bottle top tables, and a landing to view lovely downtown Flushing. It’s a perfect view of Queens…blocks of muffler shops. Enjoy the urban renewal.
Coca-Cola Corner seats cost about the same as Left Field Landing, although they’re very different atmospheres. The Coca-Cola seats used to be about the same price as Promenade Infield, but they are more now, so apparently the Corner is becoming a popular place. Batting practice homers land here, for one. It’s also, with its extra entertainment, a decent spot for kids.
If you’re sensitive to the sun, though, this definitely isn’t the best choice, since you’ll bake during day games and it’s the last place to see shade for night games. Highly recommended to bring a hat, sunscreen and sunglasses here.
Citi Field Seating, Part 7: Promenade Level
The cheapest seats in Citi Field are in the Promenade (400-500 sections) level past the bases. The Promenade Reserved Infield seats are only slightly more expensive than the Promenade Reserved (500 sections past the bases)–nowadays the outfield sections of the Promenade Level are the cheapest seats in the ballpark (and rightly so). They are very far away, and can be downright frightening on a windy day.
The Promenade Gold and Box seats in the upper level (400 section) are considerably pricier–sometimes more than double – than those in the 500 section directly behind them. Twice as good seats? For the peace of mind of avoiding a glass landing being in front of you, maybe–but you can often find a deal with a third party.
The Jim Beam Highball Club on this level is available to just about everyone except for the Promenade Reserved ticket holders. It is behind home plate on the upper level, offers some amazing food choices and two full bars in an air-conditioned place to come in out of the rain or heat. That’s worth something. You can watch the game from there, but a lot of people do this, and the view isn’t quite optimal.
I’ve read that the ushers can be somewhat lax in checking your ticket there, in case you’re looking to crash a party.
Citi Field Seating, Part 8: Avoiding Promenade Obstructed Views
In many cases, obstructed views at Citi Field are a by-product of placing seats close to the field, something the Mets weren’t willing to compromise and is common in most ballparks. You shouldn’t miss much with those. But in some instances, especially in the Promenade level, glass partitions are placed in a manner that can block as much as a quarter of the field to people sitting in the wrong spot.
The Mets have started labeling such tickets as having a limited view, but you’d do well to know what to look for beforehand.
The worst problems by far are in the Promenade Reserved seats past the bases, so pay attention buying seats there. Since Seat 1 is always closest to home plate, you should be okay with a higher-numbered seat in a low row. Otherwise, try to get a seat in Row 4 or higher.
If you do end up with an obstructed view seat, you can call Fan Assistance (646-438-5000) and nicely ask to be moved to a better seat. The Mets will probably accommodate you.
Citi Field Seating, Part 9: Standing Room
The Mets occasionally make standing room tickets available for popular contests like Opening Day, and they will announce availability in your newsletter or their other social media outlets. They also offer an “Amazin’ Mets Pass”; for a very reasonable monthly fee you can attend most all of the Mets home games that month, (Yankees and Opening Day games excluded). You need the MLB Ballpark app for this to get the barcode on your phone. A chance to sample all of the killer food options at Citi.
I read a great suggestion on Reddit about this…if you go on a couple of giveaway nights, you could sell your swag on eBay and recoup a good portion of the cost.
Should you have gotten into the ballpark this way (or should you be otherwise unhappy with your seat), the open concourse throughout most of the field level creates plenty of standing space, and there are rails to lean on. You can also find spots for standing and tables for food in the center field food court, which is closer to the action than upper left field seats.
Lots of space in the Coca-Cola Corner too, if you like a good hangout spot. If you’re not picky, you could probably grab a seat in the lesser Promenade level seats.
Feeling educated? I hope this extensive Citi Field seating guide has been helpful to you; being able to land a great seat makes a big difference at this ballpark. I speak from experience.
Plenty more Citi Field info on this site for you…check out my complete guide to Citi Field, including details on the best ways to get to the ballpark and some great photo-ops…or have a look at the delicious looking photos on this very detailed Citi Field food page.
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