According to TicketsNow.com, Paul McCartney will be the first rock concert at Citi Field, although nothing is yet confirmed.
Citing "various reliable touring industry executives," the site said Paul will play July 17 and 18 during the All-Star break. A third show may be added for July 21.
Paul played a part in the last concerts at Shea Stadium, when Billy Joel was the headliner. Of course, before his successful solo career, McCartney played in a small little rock and roll band that played the first concert ever at Shea, which was the first time ANY rock band played a stadium show.
Folks can debate Shea Stadium's aesthetic limitations and its contributions to baseball lore, but there is no questioning the Mets former home's contribution to rock and roll history. It was the only arena on earth to host The Beatles, The Stones, The Who, Grand Funk Railroad, The Police, REM, The Clash and The Rutles. Not impressed yet? Peruse the Shea Rocks section of Loge13 and you will change your mind,
Paul would be the best choice to play the first gig, no doubt. Expect an official announcement in two weeks.
Tom Seaver and Mike Piazza returned to throw out the first pitch at Citi Field:
Good news. Tom Terrific did not bounce it as he did for Shea Stadium's last pitch. Here are Seaver and Piazza leaving Shea Stadium at the closing ceremonies:
how would you equate the height of your new seats (Prom Box, if i remember correctly) to levels at Shea? Some of my friends and I have been trying to figure that out.
First hit ever at Citi Field - Jody Gerut First home run ever at Citi Field - same guy
First Met hit ever in Citi Field - David Wright First Met home run ever in Citi Field - same guy
Mets home opening day record: 29 and 19 (0-1 at Citi Field) after a 6-5 loss to the Padres.
And
so Citi Field opened its doors officially April 13, 2009 and began
writing its history. Loge13 was there, in Promenade 427 to witness
history with the same familiar faces from Shea - Kingman Sr, Ron Hunt
and daughter (flying in from college for the pageantry), the Bayside
contingent - all together in this strange new world of Citi.
I
arrived early, on the 4:43 LIRR out of Penn. I wondered how the fan
experience might be different in the new ballpark and got some early
answers on the train. These three buffoons standing with me were
bankers, attending the game through the generosity of one of the dudes,
who had bought season tickets with a "consortium" and was selling off
much of his inventory through secondary markets (sounded both sinister
and smug the way he spun it).
As our train slowed into the Shea Stadium
stop, my travel companions all rushed to the eastern windows of the
train to get a glimpse of the new stadium, punching each other with
glee as they oogled the arena arising before them. Sadly though, Citi
Field was on the WEST side of the train, conveniently marked "Citi
Field" to avoid any confusion with the two tennis stadiums that only
knuckleheads or bankers might confuse with the Mets new home. Fantastic.
Citi Field - Opening Day 2009
Shea Stadium - Opening Day 2009
Once
inside, I had plenty of time to walk around the new ballpark and try
to get and know it a little better. In some ways, meeting Citi Field is
like meeting your in-laws the first few times. The in-laws come along with someone you love so you look for common ground and interests to
build the relationship on. One key difference: at least with my
in-laws, they didn't first reduce to rubble my previous girlfriends.
Our
seats in Prom 427 are interesting. As previously mentioned, we are in
the last row of our box. Unlike the other rows, our seats are on the
same level as the concourse. Behind us, there is no wall, just the
concourse. That was bad at moments, when suddenly folks were standing
behind us talking loud and drunkenly about the game or anything else
but the game.
On the other hand, we often found ourselves standing back there too, as if it was our own private patio. We may smuggle in an inflatable pool and hibatchi at some point to really achieve that cozy atmosphere the Wilpons are aiming for in Shea field.
But
the standoffish locale of the seats seems appropriate for the new
Loge13. This oddly placed row feels noncommital; we're kind of in the
stadium, but detached from any formal section. It lacks the permanance
of Loge13 but Prom 427 has its charms. And we have a good view to see
the game.
Oh yeah the game. The Mets looked terrible. Really
terrible. Pelfrey was largely ineffective. Hitters seemed to be tense
at the plate. Wright's'three-run homer to tie it in the 5th was the
highlight of the night, next to the cat that briefly scrambled onto the
field in the 3rd during Daniel Murphy's'at-bat.
The Mets went
down quietly in their home opener. It's not the end of the world. Losing 4 of the last 5 is more of an issue. The 4 through 8 hitters in tonight's lineup went a combined 2 - 17. This offense is in mid-September form already.
Sounds like you didn't experience some of the low points I heard people complaining about today. Bad sight-lines being most notable. Along with the cattle-herding exit scenario they've got going from the upper sections in left field.
For me the highlight was Tom Seaver throwing a strike to Mike Piazza with the ceremonial first pitch. Great picture of that in Newsday today.
My own first visit to the new Shea Stadium - I refuse to go along with the corporate welfare king known as Citibank's desired nomenclature - will be later this summer.
It remains to be seen how much of an ambiance the place develops. Still, it would have been nice to say, "I was there."
Sounds like you didn't experience some of the low points I heard people complaining about today. Bad sight-lines being most notable. Along with the cattle-herding exit scenario they've got going from the upper sections in left field.
For me the highlight was Tom Seaver throwing a strike to Mike Piazza with the ceremonial first pitch. Great picture of that in Newsday today.
My own first visit to the new Shea Stadium - I refuse to go along with the corporate welfare king known as Citibank's desired nomenclature - will be later this summer.
It remains to be seen how much of an ambiance the place develops. Still, it would have been nice to say, "I was there."
Here are a few photos of some Shea-related artifacts at Citi Field's coming-out party, courtesy of Kingman Senior. First off, a great shot of the "field" in Citi Field, with the new Home Run Apple in lock-down position:
Here is another view of what was once Shea Stadium:
The NY panorama from atop Shea Stadium has made the journey to Citi Field, and resides above the Shake Shack:
Interesting...
I have also read that Shea Stadium will make an appearance in "The Beatles: Rock Band" video game, which is slated to be released in the fall.
Cheers!
-Doug