Skip navigation

Taxpayer Field? Push to rename Mets home

N.Y. politicians say Citigroup should show its thanks for a federal bailout

Slideshow
Minnesota Twins v Oakland Athletics
  The Expert's All-Stars
Tony DeMarco breaks down his picks for the starting lineups of both MLB All-Star teams.

more photos

Video: Baseball from NBC Sports
Inland Empire 66ers v Lake Elsinore Storm
Getty Images
Manny wants to move on from suspension
July 4: After returning from a 50-game suspension, Manny Ramirez says he wants to leave the past in the past.

Slide show
Image: Zane Hankel
  Week in Sports Pictures
Rough and tumble baseball, a grand golf finish, a driver captures the flag, and more.

more photos

updated 6:18 p.m. ET Nov. 25, 2008

NEW YORK - Two New York City Council members say that Citigroup should show its thanks for a federal bailout by sharing the naming rights to the new Mets ballpark in Queens.

The struggling bank is slated to pay $400 million over the next 20 years to name the stadium Citi Field.

The bank made the commitment years ago, when it was flush with cash. Now that Citigroup is getting billions of dollars in federal aid, Staten Island Republicans Vincent Ignizio and James Oddo say the ballpark’s name should be changed to Citi/Taxpayer Field.

Story continues below ↓
advertisement | your ad here

Citigroup and Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon have been saying that they have no plan to alter the naming-rights deal for the ballpark, which hosts its regular-season opener April 13.

Wilpon and Citigroup spokesman Steve Silverman said they had no comment on the proposal.

© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Sponsored links