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SHEA STADIUM
Queens, N.Y.
Opened: 1964
Capacity: 57,045
Average Ticket Price: $23.66
Average Cost of Concessions and Souvenirs: $90.49
Pluses:
Subway, bus and ferry all offer cheap and traffic-free (in the case of the subway and ferry) access to the stadium; plentiful parking in on-site lot.

Minuses:
Subway isn't run in concert with Mets games, so late-night affairs could leave fans waiting a while; driving through Queens may be easier than driving through the Bronx, but easy in a city of 8 million is a relative term.
Although widely disparaged, Shea Stadium still has its moments when the airplane traffic stops, fireworks explode and the Mets' home appears as fabulous as any other ballpark.
Photo by AP
A generous number of concession locations (43 permanent, 61 portable) and an abundance of restrooms (80, including four locations for families); two restaurants cater largely to season-ticket holders; handicapped-accessible seating is limited, but well-placed along the field level; Fan Fest location offers and obstacle course for kids, batting cages and a fantasy broadcast booth, although it is only open Fridays through Sundays.
A wretched concrete mess, with all the charm of a concrete bunker, Shea nonetheless has its quaint idiosyncrasies, from the apple that emerges from a centerfield top hat after home runs, to the playground and picnic area behind the leftfield bleachers. The dull roar you hear? Not applause, but the jets at nearby LaGuardia Airport. -- Daniel Habib  
During the end of August, the U.S. Open packs Arthur Ashe Stadium, which sits adjacent to Shea, but otherwise, the elevated platform of the 7 train, which overlooks right field, is the closest the barren neighborhood comes to a gathering place. -- Daniel Habib  
2005 Record: 68-62 (all statistics through Aug. 29)
Players worth price of admission: Carlos Beltran (.263 BA, 13 HR, 60RBI, 15 SB) Jose Reyes (.275 BA, 54 RBI, 45 SB), David Wright (.314 BA, 21 HR, 83 RBI), Pedro Martinez (13-5, 2.77 ERA).  
A charmless park in a charmless neighborhood. Sounds like fun. At least there's Mr. Met, the big apple that arises from the outfield after home runs and a sense of civility among the fans that is often lacking in the Bronx. In addition, the baseball is played outdoors on grass in New York City. There are worse ways to spend a day in Gotham.  

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