Maybe it’s the crack of the bat, the excitement following a hit or a run scored, or the smell of popcorn and hotdogs as you walk around the stadium, but to me, there is no better way to spend a summer evening than watching a baseball game.
My husband and I did exactly that one weekend in late July.
The Syracuse Mets, the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets, returned to the field in May after a one-year pause due to COVID-19. Before the start of the season, it completed $25 million in stadium renovations, adding new seats, seating areas, gates, and a lawn bar – and more.
“The whole stadium has been overhauled,” Jason Smorol, the team’s general manager, told me during an interview in April. “It is absolutely a marvel.”
Though I am no stranger to minor league baseball, this was my first Mets game. Tickets can be purchased in advance or on the day of the game ($14-18 for adults) – either way, make sure to bring some cash for parking ($5). At each Friday home game, the team hosts “Craft Beer Friday” for those 21 and over (perfect for a date night or a night out), and there are numerous other promotions throughout the season.
After we entered the stadium, we grabbed an adult beverage and settled into our seats to watch the Mets take on the Rochester Red Wings. We both really enjoyed the experience – though it didn’t hurt that the Mets ended up winning.
And there is still plenty of time to catch a game. The Mets’ season continues until October 3.
If You Go
Syracuse Mets
Where: NBT Bank Stadium, 1 Tex Simone Drive, Syracuse.
Cost: Tickets range from $14-$18 for adults.
More information: syracusemets.com.
