Editing Shea Stadium (section)

==History==
===Planning and construction===
The origins of Shea Stadium go back to the [[Major League Baseball relocation of 1950s–60s|relocations]] of the [[Brooklyn Dodgers]] and [[New York Giants (baseball)|New York Giants]] in 1957, which left New York without a [[National League (baseball)|National League]] baseball team.

Prior to the Dodgers' departure, [[New York City]] official [[Robert Moses]] tried to interest owner [[Walter O'Malley]] in the site as the location for a [[Brooklyn Dodgers proposed domed stadium|new stadium]], but O'Malley refused, unable to agree on location, ownership, and lease terms. O'Malley preferred to pay construction costs himself so he could own the stadium outright. He wanted total control over revenue from parking, concessions, and other events.

New York City, in contrast, wanted to build the stadium, rent it, and retain the ancillary revenue rights to pay off its construction bonds.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.walteromalley.com/docu_detail.php?gallery=1&set=17&pageNum=1&docuID=133|title=Historic Documents: September 12, 1957 – September 7, 1962|work=walteromalley.com|access-date=February 20, 2010|archive-date=December 19, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091219074254/http://www.walteromalley.com/docu_detail.php?gallery=1&set=17&pageNum=1&docuID=133|url-status=dead}}</ref> Additionally, O'Malley wanted to build his new stadium in Brooklyn, while Moses insisted on Flushing Meadows. When Los Angeles offered O'Malley what New York City would not—complete ownership of a stadium—he left for southern California in a preemptive bid to install the Dodgers there before a new or existing major league franchise could beat him to it. At the same time, [[Horace Stoneham]] moved his New York Giants from [[Manhattan]]'s [[Polo Grounds]] to [[San Francisco]] (although he originally considered moving them to [[Minneapolis]]), ensuring that there would be two National League teams in California, and preserving the [[Dodgers–Giants rivalry|long standing rivalry]] with the Dodgers that continues to this day.

In {{mlby|1960}}, the National League agreed to grant an expansion franchise to the owners of the New York franchise in the abortive [[Continental League]], provided that a new stadium be built. [[Mayor of New York City|Mayor]] [[Robert F. Wagner Jr.]] had to personally wire all National League owners and assure them that the city would build a stadium.

Unlike O'Malley, the owners of the franchise that would eventually become the Mets felt Queens was the logical home for their new team's ballpark. From the outset, they wanted to secure the loyalties of both Dodgers and Giants fans, and feared a team in Manhattan or Brooklyn would be seen as a ''de facto'' revival of the respective borough's former franchise, thus possibly alienating fans in the other borough. A club playing in Flushing Meadows (located roughly the same distance from Manhattan and Brooklyn) would not only likely avoid the same perception, but presumably capture the loyalty of fans in Queens as well, thus potentially confining support for the [[New York Yankees]] of the [[American League]] to their home borough of [[The Bronx]] on the mainland.

Nevertheless, Moses and [[William A. Shea]], the New York lawyer who had led the effort to bring [[National League (baseball)|National League]] baseball back to New York, faced a problem. New York state law of the time did not allow cities to borrow money in order to build a stadium. The only way for the city to finance a stadium would be to demonstrate that the stadium could pay for itself. With this in mind, Moses and Shea proposed to have the new team pay substantial rent in order to pay off 30-year bonds. This provision would come back to haunt the Mets years later; they would never live up to that monetary commitment, and the ensuing financial woes would be an albatross around the team for years.<ref name=SABRMets>{{cite web|url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/topic/new-york-mets-team-ownership-history/|title=New York Mets team ownership history|author1=Leslie Heaphy|publisher=[[Society for American Baseball Research]]|date=2017}}</ref>

On October 6, 1961, the Mets signed a 30-year stadium lease,<ref>{{citation|title=Mets Lease New Park|agency=Associated Press|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=000fAAAAIBAJ&pg=5543,1094365&dq=new+york+mets&hl=en|newspaper=Daytona Beach Morning Journal|date=October 7, 1961|access-date=June 3, 2014}}</ref> with an option for a 10-year renewal. Rent for what was originally budgeted as a $9 million facility was set at $450,000 annually, with a reduction of $20,000 each year until it reached $300,000 annually.

In their inaugural season in [[1962 New York Mets season|1962]], the expansion Mets played in the Polo Grounds, sharing the facility with the [[New York Jets|New York Titans]] of the upstart [[American Football League]] which had begun play in 1960. The original plans were for both teams to move to a new stadium in [[1963 New York Mets season|1963]]. In October 1962, Mets official Tom Meany said, "Only a series of blizzards or some other unforeseen trouble might hamper construction."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://metsfantasycards.blogspot.com/2013/08/|title = Shea Stadium History Pt. One- the House That Shea Built: 1964–1980|date = August 31, 2013}}</ref> That unforeseen trouble surfaced in a number of ways: the severe winter of 1962–1963, along with the bankruptcies of two subcontractors and labor issues. The result was that both the Mets and the football team (by then renamed the Jets) were forced to play at the Polo Grounds for one more year.

[[File:Shea Stadium 1964.png|left|thumb|220px|<!--A game at-->Shea during its inaugural [[1964 New York Mets season|1964 season]]]]
It was originally to be called "Flushing Meadow Park Municipal Stadium"<ref name=lmtrdbk>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bd9iAAAAIBAJ&pg=4010%2C4671795 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |agency=(AP photo) |title=Ground breaking for new stadium |date=October 31, 1961 |page=8}}</ref><ref name=tinge>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3bBeAAAAIBAJ&pg=6095%2C2309587 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |agency=Associated Press |title=Tinge of Brooklyn marked ground breaking for stadium |date=December 14, 1961 |page=16 }}</ref><ref name="fmpms">[http://i36.tinypic.com/vcqnnk.jpg Scanned image] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081030122117/http://i36.tinypic.com/vcqnnk.jpg |date=October 30, 2008 }} of the groundbreaking ceremony in which it is named Flushing Meadow Park Municipal Stadium.</ref> – the name of [[Flushing Meadows–Corona Park|the public park]] within which it was built – but an ultimately successful movement was launched to name it in honor of Shea.<ref name=open/>

===Opening===
After 29 months of construction and $28.5 million spent, Shea Stadium opened on April 17, [[1964 New York Mets season|1964]],<ref name=hotmfot>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NllYAAAAIBAJ&pg=5707%2C4727074 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=(Washington) |agency=AP photo |title=Home of the Mets |date=April 17, 1964 |page=16}}</ref> with the [[1964 Pittsburgh Pirates season|Pittsburgh Pirates]] beating the Mets {{nowrap|4–3}} before a crowd of {{nowrap|50,312.<ref name=pspmetop>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=u3VQAAAAIBAJ&pg=5182%2C420915 |work=Milwaukee Sentinel |agency=UPI |title=Pirates spoil Met opener |date=April 18, 1964 |page=2, part 2 }}{{Dead link|date=May 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name=ljbdrm>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kHofAAAAIBAJ&pg=7597%2C667462 |work=Pittsburgh Press |last=Biederman |first=Lester J.|title=Bob Friend continues mastery over Mets |date=April 18, 1964 |page=6}}</ref><ref name=confreign>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=N1lYAAAAIBAJ&pg=2251%2C4895727 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=(Washington) |agency=Associated Press |title=Confusion, problems reign in Shea park opener |date=April 18, 1964 |page=16}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/box-scores/boxscore.php?boxid=196404170NYN|title=Pittsburgh Pirates vs. New York Mets – April 17, 1964 Box Score|magazine=Baseball Almanac|access-date=January 2, 2010}}</ref>}} There were no prior exhibition games or events, and the stadium was barely finished in time for the home opener. Because of a jurisdictional dispute between Local 3 of the [[International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers]] and Local 1106 of the [[Communications Workers of America]], the telephone and telegraph wiring was not finished in time for opening day.<ref name=open /><ref>{{cite news|title=A Dispute Arises at Shea Stadium|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/04/14/a-dispute-arises-at-shea-stadium.html|access-date=November 3, 2017|work=The New York Times|date=April 14, 1964|page=43}}</ref> The stadium opened five days before the [[1964 New York World's Fair|1964–65 New York World's Fair]], across Roosevelt Avenue. Although not officially part of the fair grounds, the stadium sported steel panels on its exterior in the blue-and-orange colors of the Fair, the same team colors of the Mets. The panels were removed in 1980.

===Demolition===
{{multiple image | direction = vertical | width = 250
|align=right
|image1=Shea_stadium_demolition_by.jpg
|image2=Shea Stadium (2009).jpg
|footer=Demolition in progress. Top photo: close-up view of the stadium during demolition. Bottom photo: demolition as viewed from the [[IRT Flushing Line]] with [[Citi Field]] visible in the background.
}}
In accordance with New York City law, in 2009 Shea Stadium was [[Deconstruction (building)|dismantled]], rather than [[Building implosion|imploded]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sandomir |first=Richard |date=March 30, 2008 |title=You Can't Just Blow Up History |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/30/sports/baseball/30apart.html |access-date=January 13, 2009 |work=[[The New York Times]] |quote=And explosive charges will not be set off to blow the ballparks to smithereens, or more technically, to implode them. The city also prohibits implosions.}}</ref> The company with the rights to sell memorabilia was given two weeks after the final game to remove seats, signage and other potentially sellable and collectible items before demolition was to begin. The seats were the first ($869 per pair plus tax, a combination of [[1986 World Series|'86]] and [[1969 World Series|'69]], the team's two World Series championship years),<ref>{{cite news|title=At $869 a Pair, Shea Seats Sell Briskly|url=http://www.nysun.com/new-york/at-869-a-pair-shea-seats-sell-briskly/85215/|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=The New York Sun|date=September 5, 2008|access-date=January 9, 2010}}</ref> followed by other memorabilia such as the foul poles, dugouts, stadium signage, and the giant letters that spelled out "SHEA" at the front of the building.

After salvaging operations concluded, demolition of the ballpark began on October 14, 2008. On October 18, the scoreboard in right field was demolished, with the [[bleacher]]s, [[batter's eye]] and [[bullpen]]s shortly thereafter.<ref>{{cite news|title=Demolition Takes Shea Stadium Piece by Piece|first=Richard|last=Sandomir|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/24/sports/baseball/24mets.html|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=October 23, 2008|access-date=August 26, 2009}}</ref>

By November 10, the field, dugouts and the rest of the field level seats had been demolished.<ref>{{cite web|title=Photo Gallery: Shea Stadium Dismantlement|url=http://www.wfan.com/pages/3289493.php?contentType=37&contentId=43098&contentRating=1|work=WFAN|location=New York City|date=November 10, 2008|access-date=February 20, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090809181833/http://www.wfan.com/pages/3289493.php?contentType=37&contentId=43098&contentRating=1|archive-date=August 9, 2009 }}</ref>

[[File:Shea home plate.JPG|thumb|right|Plaque commemorating the location of Shea Stadium's home plate, now in Citi Field's parking lot]]

On January 31, 2009, Mets fans all over New York came to Shea Stadium for one final farewell. Fans took a tour of the site, told stories, and sang songs.<ref>{{cite news|title=On a Mound of Debris at Shea Stadium, Mets Fans Kiss That One Goodbye|first=Matthew R.|last=Warren|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/01/nyregion/01shea.html|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=January 31, 2009|access-date=August 26, 2009}}</ref> The last remaining section of seats was demolished on February 18. Fans stood in awe as the remaining structure of Shea Stadium (one section of ramps) was torn down at 11:22 am.<ref>{{cite news|title=Shea Stadium's Demolition Is Complete|first=Jim|last=Baumbach|url=http://www.newsday.com/news/shea-stadium-s-demolition-is-complete-1.891025|newspaper=[[Newsday]]|date=February 18, 2009|access-date=October 24, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Shea Stadium Demolition Ends|first=Bridget J.|last=Wentworth|url=http://www.nj.com/mets/index.ssf/2009/02/final_piece_of_shea_stadium_de.html|newspaper=[[The Star-Ledger]]|location=Newark|date=February 18, 2009|access-date=May 6, 2010}}</ref>

The locations of Shea's home plate, pitcher's mound, and bases are marked in Citi Field's parking lot. The plaques feature engravings of the neon baseball players that graced the exterior of the stadium from 1988 onward.<ref>{{cite news|title=Signs of Glory Rise at Citi Field, From 1969, 1986 and 2000|first1=Ken|last1=Belson|first2=Chris|last2=Hine|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9802E4D91238F936A2575BC0A96F9C8B63|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=August 15, 2009|access-date=July 27, 2010}}</ref>

===Redevelopment===
{{further|Metropolitan Park (Queens)}}
Currently, Mets owner [[Steve Cohen (businessman)|Steve Cohen]] is trying to build a park, casino and entertainment complex at the site, called [[Metropolitan Park (Queens)|Metropolitan Park]], which has the support of the [[New York City Council]] and mayor [[Eric Adams]], but is pending approval by the [[New York State Legislature]] and the [[New York State Gaming Commission]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Katie |last=Honan |title=Adams Open to Mets Owner Steve Cohen's Pitch for Citi Field Casino and Willets Point Makeover |url=https://www.thecity.nyc/2022/4/5/23012420/adams-mets-steve-cohen-citi-field-casino-willets-point |work=[[The City (website)|The City]] |date=April 5, 2022 |access-date=January 11, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=John|last=Flanigan  |title=Mets owner Steve Cohen unveils $8 billion proposal to build up area around Citi Field |url=https://sny.tv/articles/mets-owner-steve-cohen-unveils-proposal-build-up-area-citi-field |work=[[SNY]] |date=November 7, 2023 |access-date=November 7, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Shane |last=O'Brien |title=City Council votes overwhelmingly in favor of $8B Metropolitan Park casino zoning changes |url=https://qns.com/2025/03/city-council-approves-8b-metropolitan-park/ |work=QNS.com |date=March 12, 2025 |access-date=March 13, 2025}}</ref>