Five Things You Can Only Do at a New York Mets Game

When the New York Mets first stepped onto the baseball diamond in 1962, it was to reestablish the Big Apple’s presence in the National League after the Dodgers and Giants took flight to the West Coast. The club soon became an iconic MLB franchise in its own right, earning World Series titles in 1969 and 1986—and almost a third in 2015. The 2016 championship is well within the Mets’ reach, so now is as exciting a time as ever to head to Queens and check out Citi Field’s one-of-a-kind delights:

See the Reigning National League Champs

In 2015, the Mets took home their first pennant in 15 years. And although their hopes of a World Series victory were dashed, they kicked off 2016 with some auspicious payback against the same team that dashed them. On April 5—the same day that the Kansas City Royals received their rings—the Mets shut them out with a two-run homer from Neil Walker, deflating the KC crowd and reminding naysayers why the Mets remain among the favorites to win a title this year.

Cheer for Yoenis Céspedes (And His Absurdly Tricked-Out Cars)

Yoenis Céspedes remains integral to the Mets’ World Series ambitions, posting his first career 100-run, 100-RBI season in 2015. While the Cuban left-fielder draws eyes with his prowess in the ballpark, he draws just as many in the parking lot with his fleet of insane rides. Some of the cooler cars you might see on game day include:

• A sleek black-and-blue Lamborghini Aventador outfitted with $80,000 worth of Batmobile-appropriate mods, including the ability to spew fire
• A custom Ford F-250 truck with LED light bars
• Two different three-wheeled Polaris Slingshot motorcycles

Savor the Best-Loved Burgers in New York

Shake Shack is one of the hottest food spots in Manhattan, and the Citi Field location treats you to the same juicy burgers and frozen custard. Better yet, order a Shack-Cago dog when the Cubs are in town and use its aroma to trigger a debilitating homesickness in the outfield. You’ll find the iconic eatery in the outfield concourse.

Let Your Kid Write on the Scoreboard

As long as they’re members of Mr. Met’s Kids Club—a paid-subscription package with plenty of other perks—children 14 and younger can place their own complimentary message on the stadium’s right-field scoreboard. Just don’t spend too long drafting the perfect text: the three-line message must be submitted at least 72 hours before gametime, and only 25 submissions are approved on a first-come first-served basis.

Be the Biggest Fan During “Meet the Mets”

The Mets’ official fight song dates back to 1961, a full four years before the Beatles famously visited Shea Stadium to pinch-hit for half the Mets’ injured lineup. “Meet the Mets” wasn’t penned by Lennon or McCartney, however; Ruth Roberts and Bill Katz crafted the timeless tune, which fans have sung at every home game since the team’s debut.

Any true Mets fan knows the lyrics by heart, but extreme fans can do them one better with a deep cut—the short-lived 1984 version of “Meet the Mets,” wherein the team flirted with disaster by revising the classic opening lines. While everyone else is busy bringing their kiddies and bringing their wives, surprise them with this stanza instead:

Meet the Mets, meet the Mets,
Head for the park and greet the Mets.
Hot dogs, green grass all out at Shea
Guaranteed to have a heck of a day.
Because those Mets are really rockin’ that ball,
Hittin’ those home runs over the wall.

Long Island, New Jersey, Brooklyn, Queens, Uptown and Down,
Let’s Go Mets: that’s the cheer all over New York town.