Sentimental favorites like Shea Stadium die hard, but when the Mets' take to the field on Opening Day in their new Citi Field, fans will find unprecedented amenities and comfort in an open-air ballpark built by union craftsworkers.
Tiered bullpens, indoor batting cages and pitching mounds, seating for about 42,000 fans, an exterior façade of red brick, granite and cast stone and the Jackie Robinson Rotunda were all inspired by some of the finest ballparks in the United States, including the historic Ebbets Field.
The highly specialized $850 million baseball stadium was a joint venture of Citi Field's construction manager Hunt-Bovis, the same contractor who brought baseball fans the St. Louis Cardinal's and San Diego Padres stadiums. Being good at what they do meant utilizing the skilled services of the lathers and reinforcing ironworkers of Local 46 who reinforced hundreds of tons of concrete and cast stone.
Overall, 700 of New York's union labor force constructed this world-class sports and entertainment complex, and at the same time created competitive strength.
After breaking ground in the spring of 2006, Local 46 Metallic Lathers and Reinforcing Ironworkers Foreman Ray Burt of BC Contracting supervised a crew of 50 during the first placement of more than 4,000 tons of steel.
Although the work of the Local 46 Metallic Lathers and Reinforcing Ironworkers Union is hidden in the depths of concrete, plaster and cast stone of Citi Field, the 360-degree concourse that circles the stadium is one of the more visible amenities created by these skilled craftsmen.
Building the New York Mets Stadium was a challenge, and hard-working members of Local 46 brought jobsite safety standards and precision to the forefront-a practice that has given New York union projects a reputation of being six times safer than non-union projects. Local 46 work crews were proud to attend OSHA-mandated scaffolding erection classes before the first couplings were set.
Bill Hohlfeld, coordinator of the Local 46 Metallic Lathers and Reinforcing Ironworkers Labor Management Cooperative Trust says that when organized labor comes together for projects like Citi Field, they raise standards, enhance product delivery and maintain educational requirements, creating effects that are astounding and far reaching.
The union-built Citi Field is a prime example of "value added" quality, Hohlfeld said. Union labor has been an asset to the project and an integral reason the outstanding architectural aspects were achieved. Using union labor has also helped put money where it counts-creating spending-power for local workers while benefiting from the years of training these craftsworkers have undergone.
Mets' ownership, Sterling Equities, has long been known for its expertise and experience in the development and management of premier New York City properties, minor league ballparks on Coney Island and the Mets' Spring Training Camp in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Mets Stadium is a noble addition to the list - completed on time and within budget.
Developed by Queens Ballpark Company, L.L.C. and designed by the internationally renowned architects of HOK Sport of Kansas City, Missouri, the Citi Field project is synonymous with quality union workmanship.
