When I was solvent, the Mets weren't for sale. When I had money, I spent tons of it on Mets partial season ticket plans. I should have taken the major bucks I shelled out over many disappointing seasons and invested that money.
I never moved in Madoff-circles, or even people-who-had-cousins-who-played-tennis-with-Madoff circles. So while my bank account would have been tantalizingly hefty (and I am Jewish), that bum Bernie would never have had the opportunity to ponzi away my money.
With the ticket money squirreled away, the thousands not spent on parking, plus the cash I wouldn't have squandered on $5 waters and $6 pretzels (don't get me started on the steep cost of a squished knish), I'd now be in position to become an equity partner in the NY Mets.
I'd step up to the plate with capital that earned me interest during the many painful off-seasons, most of which ended before the playoffs began (now's not a good time to get me started on how Carlos Beltran broke my heart in 2006 and Tom Glavine devastated me in 2007). My wealth would have swelled simply by refraining from pre-paying for post-season tickets. As things actually transpired, the team made my money work for them through the next spring, when it graciously game me credit towards increasingly more expensive seats in front of a decreasingly skillful team.
Staying away from the ballpark meant that I also saved mega-money not spent on players' jerseys, as well as caps, blankets, sweatshirts, and other assorted paraphernalia (and don't even get me started on how unappealing a bobble-head doll looks once outside the confines of the stadium shop). With all due respect to emerging economies, I believe I spent more on Mets' souvenirs and tchotkes than some nations spend on infrastructure.
As Messrs. Wilpon, Katz, and Wilpon now stand with hands outstretched, begging for a reliever to save them from their business jam, I could come swooping in on the Tug McGraw bullpen cart, clutching wads of cash, and retire the debt! My accumulated cash would be enough to bolster the roster and rebuild Mets fans' confidence that the team cared enough to spend the very best.
Mets fans everywhere would get excited about the robust team that my money made possible, and the buzz would build and build like the anticipation of a Darryl Strawberry at-bat. For 81 games (plus) each season, throngs of orange and blue clad fans would storm the gates of the newly renamed Shea! Hey! Stadium, with its better sightlines and retractable awning, passing by statues of great Mets like Seaver, Koosman, Staub, Agee, and Piazza.
And while the delirious throngs are chanting "Let's Go Mets!" from the first inning through the last, I'd be charging $20 for parking, $5 for water, and an arm plus a leg for a stadium seat cushion.
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And any fan who doesn't appreciate Rusty Staub can go watch a soccer game.
The season plans became quite a problem, too. I had the Saturday plan for ages, and then the team decided that instead of offering me the customary 13 Saturdays, it would change the plan to be 10 Saturdays and five weekdays. Though my parents raised me as a Mets' fan, they didn't raise a dumb kid, and I saw right through this naked grab at my money. I only wanted Saturdays, but they'd make me pay in advance for less Saturdays (the "better" games weren't included) and more weekday games I'd never use. I don't think so!
Enjoy Opening Day!
The team should have changed it's business model completely the day their new stadium opened. But alas, the owners clearly have no imagination.
Isn't one, well worn definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over but expecting different results?
Even if we take the recession out of the mix (and I don't think we should), why did ownership think fans would flock to their homage to the Dodgers without a damn good ball team on the field? Fans want to show up and cheer for players giving their all and mostly succeeding; the privilege of eating overpriced food and imbibing water-downed beers in the Acela or Caesars Club just isn't going to do it for most die-hard fans I know.
Instead of continuing down that path my suggestion would be for the Mets to take a complete break form signing free agents and consentrate on keeping the star players they already have (of course i'm talking about the healthy ones) and developing a good farm system.
The Mets have for too long, really the entire decade of the 2000's, tried to sign players that would get them into the baseball stratosphere. It hasn't work. In fact it hasn't worked so many times that the well the Mets keep trying to tap is dry.
They should forget about the free agent market, forget about winning 95 games in a season, forget about high prices for tickets and just stabilize the franchise. At least give it 2 or 3 years. Again, simply because they have proven they are unable to win using the free agent market.
I do agree with you 100% about their tribute to other New York teams in the new stadium. It seems nearly impossible for a team that has it's own rich history to draw from to be that inept and short sighted. It's was almost a purposeful swipe at their fans.
Wilpons should simply sell. Why? They have been bad for the team. Manuel and Minaya should have been gone long ago, but the wilpons were not about to eat contracts so they failed to do the right thing. Now they are unable to field a competitive team. What has been done to improve this team that was non-competitive last year. Season is over before it starts. When Holiday was available the Mets weren't even mentioned same for when Lee was available. Look at the Mets starting rotation and you say, "huh"? Pleas trade D. Wright so he can be spared from this hell.
It is sad how little we have to anticipate this coming season. However, I still believe, even if I do so at the peril of my own disappointment.