On Saturday, the New York Mets hosted their much-anticipated fan fest, 'Amazin Day.' A day filled with autograph signings, discounted merchandise, tours, player panels, and interactive activities. I was excited when I first heard about it, but my natural New York pessimism kicked in. "How much fun could it really be?" I thought. My excitement dwindled to apathy, and I figured there’d be plenty of tickets left the morning of the event if I decided to go.
Boy, was I wrong. The event sold out.
I had made my bed, and now I’d have to lie in it. No biggie. But as the weeks passed, more and more Mets fans shared their excitement about the event. My interest officially peaked when the team announced a brand-new road jersey would be unveiled. They hooked me. When I woke up that Saturday, the FOMO was undeniable. I had Mets fever. How could I miss out on a day of fellowship with my fellow fans? I bit the bullet, overpaid on the secondary market, and headed to Citi Field with the best Mets fan I know—my mom.
The Set Up
As soon as you arrived, you were greeted with a black bag containing a map of the events and an official 'Amazin Day' poster for autographs. The setup mirrored a typical fan fest, with different areas of the field hosting various activities. Closest to the entrance was the team store, where everything was heavily discounted—50% off all items and 80% off 2024 postseason merch. The new 2025 collection and Juan Soto gear, however, were full price. After all $765 million doesn’t pay for itself. I wouldn't be surprised if fans have to put popcorn on layaway plans this season. Over the years, I’ve collected plenty of Mets paraphernalia, but I grabbed a hat at 50% off to be a good sport.
The Experience
Going in, I had a game plan: step onto the field and visit a big league clubhouse. We went to sign up for a tour but learned it didn’t include field access. Disappointing. Then, we heard about a line to get into the visitor’s clubhouse. We joined the very long queue and waited. As David Letterman once said, "I don’t like waiting in lines, but I do it." This, however, was a fun line—or as fun as lines can be. I stood in the stadium’s bowels with fellow Mets fans, joking and shooting the breeze.
Nearby, a roped-off lane allowed Mets players past and present to file through en route to their events. While we waited, we spotted Keith Hernandez, Ronny Mauricio, Edwin Díaz, David Peterson, and even Mr. and Mrs. Met. They smiled, waved, and entertained the crowd as they passed. But when a staffer announced we’d have to wait another hour to reach the clubhouse, the novelty wore off. We bailed and headed to the bullpen instead—and it was glorious!
I got to stand on the same rubber as Edwin Díaz, Kodai Senga, and Sean Reid-Foley. Fans could even throw off the bullpen mound to clock their fastballs. At 38, the chance to tear my rotator cuff was tempting, but I decided to save myself for the autograph line. The setup was mysterious: fans couldn’t see which Mets players were at the end of the line. After 40 minutes, we met Benny Agbayani and Sean Reid-Foley!
Sean couldn’t have been nicer. My mom was disappointed it wasn’t a player she recognized, like Brandon Nimmo, but Sean picked up on it and asked, “What’s been your favorite part of the day?” My mom said, “Meeting you.” He laughed and replied, “No, really—what was it?” His humor and kindness made an already incredible day even better. After autographs, we finally got into the Mets Clubhouse! It was smaller than I’d imagined but every bit as amazing. The new road jerseys hung in Francisco Lindor and Brandon Nimmo’s lockers, and they didn’t disappoint. In the press room, Mets memorabilia from years past was on display—including the heads of Mr. and Mrs. Met. Yes, just their heads, like King Louis and Marie Antoinette in a Mets-themed French Revolution.
The Real MVP
Though it was a chilly day, the Citi Field staff made it warm and welcoming. Their smiles and constant “Are you having a good time?” reminders made fans feel truly valued. The staff had to be there. It’s literally their job but to do it in such a pleasant and endearing manner really left an impression. Often, it feels like us fans are just dollar signs to sports organizations, and in all fairness we are, but on Amazin Day, we felt like royalty. To the staff, players, and everyone involved: from the bottom of my once-hardened Mets heart, thank you!