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The New York Mets kick off their 2026 home season today, Thursday (March 26), as Citi Field in Flushing, Queens opens its gates for the team's first game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, with first pitch set for 1:15 p.m. The ballpark is rolling out the welcome mat with award-winning food, special train deals, and even a ride through subway history.
Best Food in Baseball
Citi Field isn't just a place to watch baseball — it's now officially the best place in the country to eat at a game. USA TODAY's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards for 2026 named the open-air Queens ballpark the top spot for baseball stadium food in the nation. The honor was determined by a panel of industry experts who nominated their favorite venues across a wide range of categories.
The food lineup at the park includes more than three dozen options, drawing from the full range of New York City's rich food culture. According to lohud.com, fans can grab burgers and milkshakes from Shake Shack, classic New York-style hot dogs and soft pretzels, pastrami sandwiches, and cheesesteaks. The stadium, which opened in 2009, seats approximately 41,900 people.
Take the Train, Save Some Cash
Getting to the game is easier — and cheaper — than ever this season. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has teamed up with the Mets on a new "Take the Train to the Game" promotion that gives Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) riders $5 off their ticket on any Mets home game day this season.
The discount applies to day passes or CityTicket day passes to Mets-Willets Point, purchased through the TrainTime app. A Manhattan fan who would normally pay $14.50 on a weekday can now ride for $9.50. Weekend fares drop from $10.50 to $5.50. Fans coming from further out on Long Island also benefit — a rider from Hicksville pays $22.50 instead of $27.50 on weekdays.
Keechant Sewell, the Mets' Senior Vice President of Security and Guest Experience, pointed to nearby construction as one reason behind the push for public transit. According to AOL News, Sewell said, "We are down parking spaces overall because of surrounding construction, so the train remains the most convenient way to get here, so we are encouraging people to take mass transit to get to Citi Field — it's a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the ride before you get here and enjoy what we have to offer here."
Construction in the area includes a planned soccer stadium, Etihad Park, and a casino backed by Mets owner Steve Cohen.
MTA Director of Commercial Ventures Mary John added, "This promotion is an example of the MTA working with private entities to earn revenue while improving the customer experience. Public transit is already the best way to get to Mets games, and this benefit makes it easier than ever for our customers."
All Aboard the Redbird
For fans who want to make the trip to Opening Day a true event, the New York Transit Museum is running one of its beloved Nostalgia Rides to Citi Field today. A vintage eight-car Redbird train — part of a fleet first introduced by the MTA in 1959 and repainted in its iconic red color in 1984 — will depart from the 34th Street-Hudson Yards station starting at 11 a.m., making stops along the 7 line before arriving at Mets-Willets Point.
The ride costs only the price of a regular subway fare. Riders can sit on the original seats, grip the old handrails, and take in vintage advertisements from decades past.
Chelsea Newburg, the museum's marketing manager, said, "The subway has carried fans to the ballpark for decades, and that journey is part of the Opening Day excitement. Our Nostalgia Rides honor that tradition and show how New York's greatest institutions — from baseball to public transit — continue to bring people together."
The Redbird fleet ran on nearly every numbered subway line and several lettered lines until its retirement in 2003. Yankees fans will get their own Nostalgia Ride on Friday (April 3), when a six-car Redbird and a four-car 1917 Lo-V train head nonstop from 42nd Street-Grand Central to 161st Street-Yankee Stadium.
Today's game is just the beginning — the Mets' "Take the Train to the Game" discount is available for every home game throughout the 2026 season.
Photo Credit: Getty Images