The Amazins are drivin’ them away.
The New York Mets told workers they won’t be allowed to park in their usual staff lot at Citi Field during the playoffs – and will instead have to walk or take a shuttle.
The team told food vendors, security staff and others who normally park in Lot A that it’s off limits throughout the postseason, leaving some workers fuming and even threatening to stay home on game day, sources said.
The Mets are offering free parking for credentialed staff at the Skyview Center Mall, across the East River from Citi Field, where workers can either hop a shuttle or walk 10 to 15 minutes down Roosevelt Avenue before checking in.
“WE ARE URGING ALL GAMEDAY STAFF TO TAKE MASS TRANSIT OR ALTERNATIVELY LEAVE MORE TIME THAN USUAL TO ARRIVE TO THE AREA OF CITI FIELD DUE TO THESE OBSTACLES TO AVOID ARRIVING LATE,” a letter to staff obtained by The Post said.
The shuttle will run back and forth between the mall and the former McFadden’s bar at Citi Field for six hours before the game and for two hours after the last out, employees were told.
Walking “may be faster” after the game than taking the shuttle back to Skyview and sitting in Flushing traffic in an area known for its game day gridlock, the letter stated.
The plan has been striking out with many workers. To help ease the blow, the Mets claim they’ve lit the Roosevelt walkway and will make sure police are stationed on either side, sources claim.
The staff lot remained at least partially open when Citi Field hosted the playoffs and All-Star Game in the past, the team said — though it was reportedly closed for a time during the 2015 World Series, which the Mets lost to the Kansas City Royals.
Lot A has several hundred parking spaces and workers who use it can generally park for free or pay a discounted rate instead of the $30 it costs fans during the season, sources said. Different teams have different policies and some teams, such as the Los Angeles Dodgers, offer off-site worker parking and shuttles to accommodate large crowds, according to sources.
The Amazins are set to start a three-game series against the San Diego Padres on Friday in the Wild Card round of a revamped playoff format in Major League Baseball. New York finished the regular season second in the National League East behind the rival Atlanta Braves.
There are three additional rounds in the playoffs, including the World Series if the Mets make it past San Diego. If they do, Lot A would be closed for every home game.
This year is the first time the Mets have made the playoffs since 2016 – and the first time they’ve gone to the postseason since billionaire Steve Cohen bought the franchise in a $2.4 billion deal in 2020.