July 2004

Although it's true that there's no place like home, some locales serve as a home away from home. For many Mets fans, Philadelphia is Shea South -- for those who live in Central and Southern New Jersey, it is much easier to drive to Philly than to Queens. Because of this proximity, there is always a good number of Mets fans for the road games against the Phillies.

From 1971 through 2003, Veterans Stadium was the location of Shea South. The Vet was a multi-use stadium that housed baseball's Phillies as well as the NFL's Eagles, and it lacked many of the amenities of today's new baseball-only ballparks. However, the Vet's capacity of over 56,000 virtually ensured that Mets fans making the trip south would be able to walk up and purchase tickets right before any game with ease. Lloyd Carroll, a sports columnist who covers the Mets for the Queens Chronicle but who grew up in Philadelphia rooting for the Phillies, comments, "the Vet really was Shea Stadium South....The Saturday night games of weekend series in Philly used to pack in the Mets fans."

2003 was the Vet's final season, and the stadium was demolished this past March. The Eagles now play football at nearby Lincoln Financial Field, and the Phillies' new home, in what used to be a parking lot for the Vet, is Citizens Bank Ballpark. With a capacity of 43,500, the CB is cozier than the Vet. As Mets fan Michelle Doherty from Lawrenceville, New Jersey observes, "It has the feel of an old-time baseball stadium with all the bells and whistles and conveniences of a new one."

The bells, whistles and conveniences are certainly nice. In the rightfield plaza there's Ashburn's Alley. Named after Phillies great Richie Ashburn, this area has a Memory Lane tribute to the history of baseball in Philadelphia; a games area that includes pitching and running activities; and food concession options that feature Philly favorites. One Ashburn Alley eatery is Bull's BBQ -- not only does it offer great barbecue, but fans can also line up for former Phillies player Greg "The Bull" Luzinski's autograph there.

And then there are the famous Philadelphia cheesesteaks. While generic cheesesteaks can be found easily around the CB's main concourse, Ashburn's Alley has a Geno's Steaks stand. While waiting on line, signs instruct patrons on the proper ordering etiquette. First they must decide which type of cheese they want (American, provolone, and Philly favorite Cheese Wiz are the options), and then whether they want onions or not. "Wiz With" would be the way to order a cheesesteak with Cheese Wiz and onions, while "American Without" would get the customer American cheese and no onions. While the procedure is reminiscent of Seinfeld's infamous Soup Nazi episode, the end result is a cheesesteak that's worth the protocol.

An area that's great for families with small children is the Phanatic Phun Zone - a play area geared for children age 8 and under (with a junior area set aside for tikes age 2 and under). Older children and those who are kids at heart can burn off energy rock climbing on the Terrace Level.

Mets fans in attendance on Memorial Day enjoyed these features. John and Diane Walsh from Queens, New York appreciate being able "to do so much before the game." Joe Bracco from Brooklyn echoes those sentiments. "There are a lot of things to do pregame. Instead of tailgating outside, you can tailgate inside the park here."

Mets pitcher Al Leiter, a Toms River, New Jersey native who grew up traveling to Philadelphia to watch the Mets play, says, "this is one of the best, if not the best, of the new breed of stadiums. I feel like everything is a lot closer, and the Phillies fans are the Phillies fans. There's certainly an emotional high when you've got a loud crowd, and they're kind of hostile. It's kind of cool."

The crowd at the CB for the Mets' first series was definitely loud. As always, a large percentage of those in attendance were wearing Mets gear. Ruth Idell from Clinton, New Jersey was there with her daughter and grandsons, because, "it's easier than getting to Shea from where we live." Similarly, Anthony and Dharma Nigro from Camden, New Jersey come to see the Mets play in Philadelphia five to ten times each season. Others, however, made the trip for the first time. Jennifer Shyti of New Hyde Park says, "this is the first time I've been to Philadelphia to see the Mets. I came down to see the new stadium -- it's a plus that the Mets were here on Memorial Day." Mets fans feel so comfortable in Philadelphia that, in fact, MSG television cameras caught one intrepid fan who brought a broom to the CB on June 2 in anticipation of the Mets sweeping the series. Not that Fan's Voice recommends taunting home town fans while watching the Mets on the road (in fact, we seriously caution against that), but that does show that New York fans who come to The City of Brotherly Love to watch the Mets feel very comfortable openly rooting for their team of choice.

You do need something of a thick skin if you're wearing Mets gear at the CB - in a town where even Santa Claus can be booed, you should be prepared to deal with some harsh language at times. On the other hand, if you're a New Yorker, that isn't something that is likely to dissuade you from having a good time and cheering on the Mets while they play in enemy territory.

Although there is no place like home, most Mets fans interviewed for this article were in favor of the Mets building a similarly modern new home. Bruce Stanley of Basking Ridge, New Jersey feels that, "the facility here is light-years ahead of Shea." Eddie Diaz, who traveled from Queens on Memorial Day, agrees that he, "definitely would like to see the Mets have a stadium like this. Without a doubt."

So the verdict is in. Not only does Philadelphia continue to serve as the location for Shea South, but Shea South Version Y2K+4 is a great place to watch a ballgame. Whether you live in the New Jersey area or are just interested in a Mets road trip that isn't too far from home, the CB is a worthwhile destination.