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Nearly 40,000 Fans Watch the First Soccer Game at Citi Field

Photo: Mike Stobe/2011 Getty Images
Photo: Mike Stobe/2011 Getty Images

While the Mets were in Milwaukee beating the Brewers last night — the red-hot Jose Reyes drove in both Mets’ runs with a seventh-inning triple — 39,656 fans packed Citi Field for the ballpark’s inaugural soccer match: Greece and Ecuador played to a 1–1 draw in the first soccer game in a Mets ballpark since Colombia and Slovakia played at Shea back in August 2003. The average ticket price, by the way, was nearly $50, and so the big crowd was good news for the Mets, who expect to make an announcement about another soccer game — between well-known club teams from Europe and Central America — within the next week. Said Mets executive vice-president Dave Howard: “We’re excited about hosting events like this, but we certainly intend to make money.”

Greece and Ecuador attract near-sellout crowd for 1-1 draw at inaugural Citi Field soccer match [NYDN]
Citi Field Welcomes Soccer [NYT]

Nearly 40,000 Fans Watch the First Soccer Game at Citi Field