On Saturday afternoon outside Citi Field, families carried foil-wrapped sandwiches and Tupperware through the turnstiles. Security guards glanced inside bags, but most food passed inspection. The Mets, like several other major league teams, continue to allow fans to bring their own meals into the ballpark.
The policy is not new. At Yankee Stadium, visitors can enter with snacks and non-alcoholic drinks, provided they are in clear containers. Some fans arrive with full dinners, from spaghetti to deli sandwiches. Others opt for supermarket sushi or boxes of cookies meant for sharing.
Stadium concession prices remain high. A single hot dog at Citi Field costs $7.75 this season. Bottled water averages $6. Outside food policies offer relief, especially for families attending weekend games as the school year winds down.
Vendors outside the parks have adapted. On 161st Street in the Bronx, street carts sell empanadas and sliced mangoes to fans before first pitch. Some regulars say they buy outside and eat inside, saving money and skipping concession lines.
Team representatives have not indicated changes to these rules for the summer season. For now, the tradition of bringing food from home continues, shaping the spring stadium experience for many New Yorkers.