What's new at Mets' Citi Field in 2024? French onion soup burger, Delta Club and more

NEW YORK — Entering the last full week of spring training down in Port St. Lucie, Fla., Mets owner Steve Cohen joked that Citi Field was his "money pit."

Over the last few seasons, Mets brass has continuously been trying to innovate and expand to cater to the fan base.

Last season, the Mets debuted the largest scoreboard in Major League Baseball, the speakeasy-style Cadillac Club at Payson’s, the Hijole Front Porch and the kid's club. The extensive menu, which grew to include a donut chicken sandwich among other options, helped Citi Field earn the distinction as the top MLB stadium for food, according to the USA Today.

"We’re always thinking about new ways to engage the fans," Cohen said on Sunday. "I've engaged a working group to kind of think about the future of Citi Field. It’s still very early in progress and (try to) at least lay out a blueprint of what we might do if we choose to do it."

"It’s still early, but there's always something to do. There's always interesting projects to at least think about."

Mets management did not stop with the changes from last season, with a number of game-changing options designed to up the entertainment value of heading to the ballpark in Flushing this spring, summer and fall. Here is what stands out from the newest offerings at Citi Field during the 2024 season:

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Join the club

The most exclusive club in Citi Field behind home plate has been overhauled and grown from 2,500 square feet to 7,000 square feet as the new Delta SKY360° Club.

Members of the club will have access to a daily menu, raw and sushi bars, along carvery and dessert stations, and complimentary beer, wine and spirits. They will sit in new wider chairs in the first eight rows behind home plate or the two rows behind the dugout and have access to VIP merchandise

The climate-controlled club, which includes a 50-foot bar and a green David Wright living wall, was designed last April and completed in roughly five months. It includes premium booth and lounge seating for members.

What's in store

Fans used to have to cram into a tight space for the biggest source of blue and orange team gear, but the Team Store in the Jackie Robinson Rotunda has been expanded for the upcoming 2024 season.

At 10,000 square feet, the new store is about 50 percent bigger than the old shop. It's also plenty brighter and packed to the gills with jerseys, shirts, hats and other Mets memorabilia.

A new RFID self-checkout system also aims to get fans out onto the concourse and into their seats quicker.

The space is highlighted by a hanging artwork designed by Michael Murphy, which shows the Mets script when approached from one angle and the interlocking NY logo when viewed from the side.

Expand your palette

There is almost no way to get sick of the food at Citi Field. While the traditional ballpark fare remains, the menu seemingly changes every year.

The Mets have partnered with celebrity chefs Judy Joo, Adam Richman and Anne Burrell to get the cravings started.

Joo's Seoul Bird in the Hudson Whisky Club will offer Korean fried chicken and jap chae noodles - sweet potato noodles with baby spinach, carrots, onions, peppers and egg omelet.

Adam Richman's Burger Hall of Fame will bring a French onion soup burger and jucy lucy with two three-ounce Pat LaFrieda patties with American cheese and sauteed onions. Finally, Anne Burrell's Italian Eats will feature a garlic bread chicken parm hero and loaded pepperoni chips with sausage ragu, provolone cheese, onions and cherry peppers. The two will be featured on the field level.

The new Keith's Grill on the promenade level has a burger with hot pastrami and deli mustard or another with bacon, guacamole, chipotle aioli and jalapeños.

Nixtamal NYC in the Taste of the City in center field brings birria tacos and street corn. Takumi Tacos in the homeplate market offers a carnitas burrito and Gyro Jimmy's provides a traditional gyro.

For dessert, Wok N' Roll on field level has a rainbow cookie egg roll, Glaze Donuts has Boston cream-filled donuts thorughout the park and Empanada Mama has a nutella and banana empanada at field elvel.

Pedal to the game

The Mets have added another way to get to the game, with new sites of CitiBike docking stations - one near the Jackie Robinson Rotunda and another beyond left field.

With more than 60 docking stations, fans will have a different mode of transportation to get to and from the game.

That's the ticket

Through research and fan feedback, the Mets have moved their Saturday start times into the daytime. The team's home games between March 28 and May 25 will begin at 1:40 p.m., while the remainder of the Saturday home games will feature a first pitch of 4:10 p.m.,

The new nine-game fielder's choice plan allows fans to choose between three separate six-game packs along with three games of their choosing. The plan also comes with some food and beverage value.

And for the first time, the Mets are offering the ability to reserve suites online at citifieldsuites.com.

Odds and ends

• The Mets' new co-ed dance team, the Queen's Crew, will be performing at approximately 30 games. An emcee will be added to the entertainment team to keep the energy in the crowd going throughout those games.

• The Mets Hall of Fame and museum have been moved to new places in the ballpark. The Hall of Fame plaques can be found at the top of the Jackie Robinson rotunda, while the museum has been relocated to the Fan Fest on the field level concourse.

• The LED lights in the ballpark have been improved to provide full color and blinking effects for a unique visual experience. Edwin Diaz's ninth entrances will be all the more appealing.

Free stuff: Mets' 2024 promotional giveaways

The Mets will have 23 giveaways, including three unique artist series items, this upcoming season. The team will also retire Dwight Gooden's No. 16 on April 14 and Darryl Strawberry's No. 18 on June 1. Here are a few of the notable promotions this season for the first 15,000 fans in attendance (unless otherwise noted):

April 13 vs. Royals: Dwight Gooden moving arm bobblehead

April 27 vs. Cubs: Hogwarts house scarves

May 25 vs. Giants: Artist series Joel Mesler beach tote

June 2 vs. Diamondbacks: Darryl Strawberry baseball card bobblehead

July 12 vs. Rockies: Brandon Nimmo bobblehead

July 13 vs. Rockies: Artist series: Rashid Johnson bucket hat

July 25 vs. Braves: Pickleball paddle

July 27 vs. Braves: Mike Piazza Mercury Mets replica jersey

July 29 vs. Twins: Francisco Lindor streetwear bobblehead

Sept. 3 vs. Red Sox: Artist series: Sarah Sze baseball hat

Sept. 18 vs. Nationals: Reversible hoodie

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Citi Field: New food menu, club seats NY Mets games in 2024