Despite widespread agitation, it doesn't look like Citgroup will be forced to take their name off the new Mets stadium. You'd never know that by looking at the subway station just outside the stadium's gates, however. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority won't be making reference to the stadium when new signs go up to replace ones that named the station after Shea Stadium.
Why no name on the station?
“We’re willing, as we have said, to entertain corporate names on stations, but only for a fee,” said Jeremy Soffin, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
Citi is in no position to be paying for any more naming rights at the moment, and the Mets aren't willing to share any of the $400 million headed their way.The new station will be called Mets/Willets Point as a result, which would seem to be a corporate name given to a station for free.
Well, not exactly for free. The MTA is on the hook for $40 million in upgrades to the station and the nearby Long Island Railroad stop. That's pretty swell timing for an agency that's already trying to figure out how to close a $1.2 billion budget gap.
Soffin said that not including Mets wouldn't be serving riders who need to know where they're going. Given all the controversy, they should just call it Taxpayer Station.
Josh Alper is a writer living in New York City and is a contributor to FanHouse.com and ProFootballTalk.com in addition to his duties for NBCNewYork.com.
