I went to the Mets game last night. Security edition.

I went to the Mets game last night and was dreading going through security. While I was hanging with friends at the MTA lot listening to their stories about dealing with security issues the whole last week. One of the things I didn't hear about until yesterday was that the security staff opened up cigarette packs and removed the cigarettes by hand without wearing gloves. That's out of control there. I still can't get over that they supposedly tried to pat down a toddler. 

I went to get on line at 6pm. I wanted to give myself an hour to get in just in case. I got inside the stadium in 3 minutes. Yes. 3 minutes. I don't know what was different yesterday vs. Friday night but the security wasn't invasive to me at all. I was shocked. Outright Shocked. 

Let's check out Twitter:

Hey @mets. I had a very easy time getting into @CitiField tonight. The bag check wasn’t invasive and they wasn’t overly aggressive wanding pat down. This was way different then what was all over social media tonight.

— keith blacknick (@Mediagoon) September 14, 2019

Zoomed through tonight, but I travel light.

— Englishteach (@CKoestner) September 15, 2019

Walked right in with no issues. Was actually surprised!!!!

— Mike Mehan (@mmehan82) September 15, 2019

Was about 20 mins

— ⚾️CPA⚾️ (@MrMet_CPA) September 15, 2019

I was surprised I’ve never heard them say you can’t go through rotunda unless your ticket gate is marked as such but they let me through with clear was expecting worse security from reading yours and others recent stories

— Rob Southard (@Rsouthard26) September 14, 2019

You can't walk in any gate? Since when?

Last week it was stricter. They took everything out of my bag. All i had was a bottle of water, charger, and a hoodie

— Miguel A. Garcia (@realblackhart) September 14, 2019

What changed?

Not terrible for 40 mins before game time, but probably will get worse pic.twitter.com/8TpfQWNImB

— ⚾️CPA⚾️ (@MrMet_CPA) September 14, 2019

Me too! Easy entry tonight!

— Rebecca_LGM (@Rebecca_LGM) September 14, 2019

Good job Mets with pivoting last night and making it easier to get in. The security staff seemed more cordial and polite to the fans entering the ballpark.

I heard a few different things about Friday night. From the Security Union's contract is ending after this season and also the MLB did a security audit on

Friday night which through the security staff into a tizzy. Anyone hear anything about this? With the way everything looked on Friday night, I really think

that they might not have passed. I am going again tonight and we'll see how it looks tonight. Hopefully last night's trend continues.

Mets Game Notes, Roster Moves, and Line Up 9/14/19

ROSTER NOTE: The Mets selected LHP Donnie Hart from Syracuse (AAA). He will wear #68. The Mets designated RHP Eric Hanhold for assignment.

Saturday, September 14

vs. Los Angeles (NL)

Amed Rosario – SS

J.D. Davis – LF

Jeff McNeil – RF
Pete Alonso – 1B

Wilson Ramos – C

Robinson Canó – 2B

Todd Frazier – 3B

Juan Lagares – CF

Jacob deGrom – RHP

@mets. Besides all the security issues and lines, how do you run out of Free Shirt Friday Shirts.

@CitiField @Mets Hey, so about last night.. specifically the entry. Let’s talk about it and learn from this. I was on line for Hodges. The line on to my right - that’s the Bullpen line. To my left (not sure you can see that) Is the run off for the bullpen line. Cont. pic.twitter.com/43Gcxar42p

— muggs (@muggles81) September 14, 2019

I was advised that they were averaging 60-75 minutes to enter the ballpark. Big series. I get that, you do too- after all, you sold the anticipated 35,000 tickets. Wouldn’t it make sense to have staff on hand to combat the additional crowd? Let’s move on.

— muggs (@muggles81) September 14, 2019

So here is the thing @Mets @CitiField .. when I finally got into Hodges.. no T-shirts! I was told they ran out but a different design was on the way. I could wait (NO) or come back later and get one if I wanted. Cont. pic.twitter.com/2ki9Iu0XgF

— muggs (@muggles81) September 14, 2019

And @mets while we are on the subject of streamlining entry into @CitiField, you implemented a no backpack policy yet you don’t enforce it. It’s a backpack smorgasborg! They are everywhere. Cont. pic.twitter.com/bBGxuvTW8a

— muggs (@muggles81) September 14, 2019

Look, count me all the way in for safety and streamlining entry into a game. But when the venue isn’t consistent with something as silly as a no backpack policy, you have to wonder... what else is @CitiField missing during the screening/entry process.

— muggs (@muggles81) September 14, 2019

Hi. We are the New York Mets. We instituted a backpack ban to speed up the lines, make it safer to
attend a Mets game, and to make the ballpark experience more convenient. In what is known as a
LOLMets moment, the Mets have now made it less convenient, slower moving, I don't know about
the safety but I do know that I don't think I feel safe with the lines that are out of control out of the 
front of the ballpark. The Mets are not making this easy on us fans security wise.

My next question is, how do you run out of tee shirts for "all" fans when you know that you have over 40,000
seats in your ballpark. I don't get the thought process. When you guys ordered these shirts were you like, "eh. we'll be out of the hunt. Attendance will be down. We only need 25-35 thousand shirts."

More @mets security gripes.

Remember the Mets banned backpacks to make the experience of getting into the stadium quicker and more convenient.I just see it getting harder and harder to get in. The Mets are in a wildcard hunt and fans should be enjoying going to games and not having to deal with this nonsense. Gothamist has a story about it from May. Read it here.

Comment on themediagoon.com FB page

Stacks Edwards Last night , i had to take my hat off, cash out of my pocket and hold it out in front of everyone Then i was constantly wanded over and over lol i mean its a joke i said i fly to California and i get checked less. Then i had to lift up my jersey and show my belt buckle. I asked a security guy i know inside he says hes not sure but they have a problem with people sneaking in liquor, im like whattttt? But hes not sure if the two are combined. Geez at least if they were checking for weapons, but noooo they wanna make sure u dont sneak in booze lol

An email to the Mets from a reader-

Hello Mets,

 My wife and I were very excited to go to tonight's Mets game against the Dodgers. We then saw all the pictures, videos and complaints about the lines getting in last night on the Media Goon Website, Keith Blacknick twitter feed, Mets Police Website and twitter feed. Horrifying. You checked a woman's sunglass case and a pouch where she keeps her birth control pills and tampons? You patted down a toddler? Are you kidding me? You need to rethink this. People were waiting in line for well over an hour? The terrorists have won already.

My wife also had a bad security experience from last Sunday. She is weeks away from 60. What a threat she must be. You made her angry and she never gets angry. Your security guard started to open up her wallet and opened her glasses case. My wife said she was not friendly.  I wrote about it in my game survey. We have decided not to go tonight. The security hassle and lines are not worth it. The Mets better wake up. You are understaffed and some of your security people are unfriendly and overzealous. Maybe that is the type of security you want. Well us customers will vote with our wallets. Instead of the Mets game today we are going to Belmont Park where you can just walk in. No crazy security guards, metal detectors or long lines. 

My wife and I  bought a 20 game Sunday plan for next year. Please change your security methods. Also have more staffing. As my grandfather would say I must have rocks in my head for buying anything from the Mets. If you don't change things we will not attend. I will chalk it up as a life lesson.  

Thanks JS

Mets. This is what I warned you about for months. Security sucks. You lost me as a half season plan holder. I am staying with my 7Line seats only because those are my friends and family. You guys have really made this a crappy experience for all. I am attending today's game. Will be going to tomorrow's game. I can't wait to see this experience today and tomorrow first hand.

Will the Mets issue an apology for the line's to get into last nights game?

I don’t see an apology from the @Mets for the horrible scenario at tonight’s game. I guess they don’t care about their loyal fans #LFGM

— Roger Clark (@RogerClark41) September 14, 2019

The scenario that I have foreseen and was bitching about for a while now has been
 the jerkiness of the MetsSecurity Staff. I have posted about it over and over and over 
again. From them wearing their stupid wannabe tactical vests to the attitudes of the staff 
itself, it has not been good. The Mets banned backpacks in the middle of the year in the 
guise that it was for the fans convenience, safety, and to make the lines move faster. Security is now 
rifling through every pocket in bags, in every pocketbook/wristlet. You have keys? They are going to 
look at those too. They are going to pull your things that you have folded nicely out of your bags and 
then make you rush to jam it back in. They have checked through tampons, birth control pills, and even 
supposedly tried to pat down a toddler.A TODDLER!! Mets what the hell is going on. You have already 
alienated me. I am not renewing my 1/2 season plan.You are on the verge of alienating my good, good 
friend MJ who was the Mets fan of the year a few years ago. Now you have even made diehard  fan NY1
reporter Roger Clark say that he is never coming back to a game. What the F is going on with you guys?
 Is this how you are going to treat fans from now on? Your security staff is making the TSA look like

Disney cast members. Is there going to be an apology to the fans that got there in plenty of time to get 
inside the gates and watch the game by 7:10 pitch? It really might be time for you guys to reevaluate 
your procedures before you have zero fans coming to the ballpark.

#Mets fans having a hard time getting in tonight. 7:35 and look at this line to get into Citi Field! pic.twitter.com/EiOn9t2eJJ

— Yankees Fireside Chat (@yankees_chat) August 29, 2019

Oh and Btw look what Great American Ball Park is doing for folks with backpacks.