Field Of Dreams: Citi Field A road trip to a Mets game is always filled with anticipation of fun. The one and a half hour drive seems to take an eternity. Citi Field can be seen halfway over the Whitestone Bridge. Resembling Ebbets Field, its stunning architecture takes my breath away. In the parking lot, you realize just how enormous the stadium is. It looks so much larger than it is portrayed on television. Right outside the stadium, the song Meet the Mets is usually playing through the speakers. A loop of the PA announcer listing all the things that are not allowed in the stadium is played overtop the song. A security person gently pats your pockets and then signals for you to go through the turnstile. Inside, the Jackie Robinson Rotunda is beautifully designed with staircases and escalators to bring you to field level seats. To the right is the Mets Hall of Fame and team store. The hall of fame is filled with archival pictures and memorabilia. Straight ahead is a sculpture of Jackie Robinson’s number 42. First timers race to the sculpture to take pictures with it. At the top of the escalator, you finally get the sense that you’re at a ballpark. The aromas of hot dogs, burgers, and fresh roasted peanuts fill the air. The field comes into sight after you walk a little bit to the left or right. The scoreboards glisten from the sunlight. The dirt looks as soft as a pillow, and the freshly cut grass smells almost fragrant. The foul lines are pristinely straight and as white as a perfect pearl. Although the hotdogs are nothing special, they taste extraordinary. It’s all about the experience. Eating a hotdog at a ballgame is just something you need to do to complete your visit. The game starts as soon as the umpire yells play ball. The seats are hard, but they make you sit up straight. The crack of the bat and snap of the catcher’s glove are faint but delightful noises to any baseball fan. The 7th inning stretch is usually when I sing Take Me Out to the Ballgame with all my heart. In a close game, my heart pounds on my chest like a judge’s gavel in a noisy courtroom. When the Mets get a hit or make a great play, the crowd erupts into a deafening roar. It is the exact opposite if the away team does something well. It’s so silent that you can only hear applause coming from the third base dugout. Whether the Mets win or lose, I can still walk out of Citi Field feeling happy. The overall beauty of the stadium makes me glad that I went. The experience and memories I have there will last a lifetime.