League Championship baseball returns to Queens by bluepastry Blog entry

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by bluepastry

League Championship baseball returns to Queens

Mass transit is the best way to NLCS at Shea; MetroCard and ESPN Zone host Mets pre-game party

Date: 10/11/2006 11:27:01 AM ( 18 y ) ... viewed 1550 times

As the National League Eastern Division Champion New York Mets prepare to take the next step toward winning the National League Pennant, NYC Transit is gearing up to provide "Championship Service" to Mets fans heading to Shea for the National League Championship Series beginning Thursday night, officials announced today.
Before the first pitch of every home game, NYC Transit will provide extra service on the 7 Flushing Line for fans who know the easiest way to Shea is to "Take the Train to the Game."

"It's great to have Championship baseball back in Queens, my home town borough," said MTA Chairman Peter S. Kalikow. "Mets fans are proud of how their team has played so far this October and we at the MTA are proud of the service we've provided fans, but the best is yet to come," added Kalikow.

"The way the Amazin's are playing, Mets fans have every reason to feel confident they'll prevail over the St. Louis Cardinals," said MTA NYC Transit President Lawrence G. Reuter. "Fans should also feel confident that we're prepared to provide the best service possible to and from every home game allowing them to concentrate on rooting for their team instead of worrying about getting stuck in traffic."

This season a record 3.3 million fans were part of Mets excitement at Shea, and many heeded the advice of the Mets and NYC Transit to "Take the Train to the Game." Statistics for June, July and August show that an average of 7,500 Mets fans have been using the 7 line to travel to Mets home games, rather than getting behind the wheel and driving out to Shea.

For the NLCS, NYC Transit has a "double-play" service plan in place to get fans to and from Shea. Here's how it will work: Before both Wednesday and Thursday night's games against the Cardinals, NYC Transit will provide three extra Main Street-bound & Express trains and three extra 7 Local trains. Additional 7 line service will begin 90-minutes prior to the start of each game. At theconclusion of each home game at Shea, NYC Transit will provide up to seven additional 7 trains headed back to Manhattan, with trains arriving at Willets Point-Shea Stadium every two to three minutes until fans have cleared the station. NYC Transit will also have additional staff on hand at the Willets Point-Shea Stadium station help direct fans and answer travel questions.

For fans who couldn't score a ticket and won't be in the stands at Shea to root on the Mets, the next best place to be is at the Mets Pre-Game Party at the ESPN Zone located in the heart of Times Square. Not only can Mets fans get ready to root on the Amazin's, but they can enter to win an ESPN Zone VIP Package and All Star Treatment as part of a MetroCard Deals promotion.

"This is when the real season begins for New York sports fanatics. ESPN Zone, the New York Mets official home away from home, is proud to offer a fun pre-game atmosphere for all Mets fans. There's no better place to watch HD TV, enjoy delicious food and have the opportunity to win great prizes throughout the playoffs," said Susan Abramson, ESPN Zone Regional Marketing Manager.

The VIP Package is a sports fans dream come true and contains the following: Best seats in the house in front of ESPN Zone's 14 foot-high definition screens; Complimentary food and beverages; Unlimited game play for three hours in ESPN Zone's Sports Arena, and to top it all off; a Mets gift pack. And if that's not enough, there's more. The first 100 guests dressed in Mets gear will receive a free $4 MetroCard and the first 100 guests to present their MetroCard receive a free Mets prize - and if you do both, you get both.