History of Keyspan Park in Brooklyn, New York

The New York Mets decided to bring professional baseball back to Brooklyn. Discussions between then New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (a Brooklyn native who is a lifelong Yankees fan) and an ownership group led by Fred and Jeff Wilpon of the Mets led to an agreement that included building a ballpark for the new Brooklyn Cyclones. An unused portion of the Coney Island amusement area became available. The remaining attractions and rides in this area, along with a view of the beach and ocean, provided the perfect backdrop for the new ballpark.

During the summer of 2000, ground was broken for the minor league stadium on the site of the former Coney Island Steeplechase Park, one of several amusement areas in this part of Brooklyn that had entertained millions of people for decades. The construction of the park was paid with public funds, as was construction of Richmond County Bank Ballpark where the rival Staten Island Yankees play. Since the Mets and Yankees share territorial rights to the New York City market, each had to approve construction of the other team's new minor league ballpark.

Part of a general reinvestment in the Coney Island neighborhood, the park opened in 2001 with a capacity crowd of 6,500. Demand for Cyclones tickets grew quickly, and the team added 1,000 seats in a right field bleacher pavilion three weeks later.

KeySpan Energy, a local utility, paid for the naming rights to the park. Even though KeySpan later was purchased by National Grid, the stadium's name never changed.

As a tribute to the past amusement park thrills, the team has incorporated several interesting blasts from the past. The team name is taken from the famous Cyclone roller coaster that still rumbles daily within site of the park. The coaster design is incorporated into the team logo and the outfield scoreboard. Brightly colored neon rings on the light towers draw attention to the remaining amusement area that is visible beyond the left field wall. Suites are named after such amusement park attractions as Thunderbolt and Funhouse. The steel frame of the landmark Parachute Jump attraction towers over the stadium past the right field stands. A boardwalk that connects the right field bleachers to the main concourse blends well with the one leading to the beach beyond the stadium.

"Da Bums" that left Brooklyn so long ago are remembered at Keyspan Park. A statue of Dodgers infielders Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese greets fans at the entrance. Dodgers legends have had their numbers retired. This includes first baseman Gil Hodges, who also managed the Mets to the team's first World Series victory in 1969.