Though there are still 11 months until the best of the best in baseball come to Citi Field, the Mets are getting an early start.
The team unveiled the logo on Tuesday, August 7 for the 2013 All-Star Game, highlighting that next year will be the first time the Mets have hosted the game since 1964.
“I think to showcase this ballpark next year is going to be a big thing,” said Jeff Wilpon, the team’s chief operating officer. “It’s just really for the fans and everybody out there; it’s a great honor to have the game here again.”
The All-Star game is expected to bring a plethora of publicity and economic activity to Queens, said First Deputy Mayor Patricia E. Harris.
“The All-Star game is not just a game anymore, it’s a week’s worth of festivities,” said Tim Brosnan, Major League Baseball’s executive vice president for business. “By hosting the All-Star game, New York City, the New York Mets and this ballpark will be exposed to a worldwide audience.”
State Senator Jose Peralta, one of the several elected officials who attended, said he could not think of a better place to hold the midsummer classic.
“Queens is a borough where we have so many attractions,” he said. “Now we’re going to have the 2013 All-Star weekend, and it’s going to be an amazing weekend where it’s going to just reflect the greatness of Queens.”
After the logo was displayed inside the ballpark, the permanent logo under the field’s scoreboard was then ceremoniously unveiled by Mr. Met.
Former Met legends Keith Hernandez, Dwight Gooden, Ron Darling and John Franco were in attendance, alongside current Mets R.A. Dickey, Johan Santana, David Wright and manager Terry Collins.
“It’s great to be a part of this celebration,” Wright said. “I can’t think of a better place or a more historical city for an All-Star game.”
