Kellman: EARLIER TODAY FANS FLOCKED TO N-B-T BANK STADIUM IN ORDER TO USHER IN A NEW ERA OF SYRACUSE BASEBALL.
Blossinger: THE METS ARE MY FAVORITE TEAM IN BASEBALL I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS FOR YEARS.
Cheri and Geri: PEOPLE OUGHT TO BE OUT HERE THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO Be
Jenkins: ITS THE FIRST TIME EVER DID IT… SO THEY HAVE MORE ENERGY ON THE FIRST DAY.
Ramos: SYRACUSE HAS A METS AFFILIATE, SO THIS IS LIKE HEAVEN FOR US DUDE. WE’RE ON CLOUD NINE.
Kellman: FOR THE THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1934, THE CITY OF SYRACUSE HAS A BASEBALL TEAM WITHOUT THE WORD “CHIEF” IN ITS NAME. THE SYRACUSE CHIEFS ARE NOW OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE NEW YORK METS, AND HAVE BEEN RENAMED TO MATCH THEIR MAJOR LEAGUE COUNTERPART. ACCORDING TO SYRACUSE METS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF BROADCASTING, MICHEAL TRICHERICO, THE FANS HAVE LARGELY EMBRACED THE CHANGE.
Tricarico: I WOULD SAY THE MOST EXCITEMENT HAS COME JUST FROM THE METS HAVING THEIR TOP MINOR LEAGUE TEAM HERE, BECAUSE LIKE I SAID THERE ARE SO MANY METS FANS. MORE THAN I EXPECTED TO SEE.
Kellman: THE METS WERE PREVIOUSLY OWNED BY THE WASHINGTON NATIONALS, BUT NOW THAT SYRACUSE’S MINOR LEAGUE AFFILIATE IS ASSOCIATED WITH A NEW YORK FRANCHISE, FANS FEEL CLOSER TO THE TEAM THAN EVER.
Blossinger: I THINK ITS JUST GONNA BE A MORE LOCAL VIBE, YOU GOT THE DOUBLE A TEAM IN BINGHAMTON, THE TRIPLE A TEAM IN SYRACUSE, AND THE MAJORS IN NEW YORK CITY. ITS ALL ABOUT NEW YORK.
Cheri: WE NEEDED THE LOCAL FLAVOR, AND I’M A DIE HARD YANKEE FAN, BUT I CAN SAY ‘LETS GO METS!’ WHEN I AM HERE.
Kellman: UNDER THE NEW DEAL, THE METS WILL BE IN SYRACUSE AT LEAST THROUGH 2025, BUT IF ONE THING IS FOR SURE, ITS THAT REGARDLESS OF WHO OWNS THE TEAM, SYRACUSE FANS LOVE THEIR BASEBALL.
Cheri and Geri: OPENING DAY… OH OPENING DAY.. THE SMELL OF THE HOT DOGS. i RETIRED SO i COULD DO THIS. I’VE BEEN READY FOR THIS SINCE THE LAST DAY IN SEPTEMBER.
Kellman: While some may be sad to see the Chief’s moniker go, the Mets have made everyone here so excited today that I think baseball in Syracuse will be happy and healthy for years to come. With N-C-C news, I’m Bernie Kellman.
By Bernie Kellman SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Today was historic for baseball in Central New York. For the first time ever, the Syracuse Mets hosted Opening Day, as the Syracuse Chiefs officially became a thing of the past.
For the the first time since 1934, the city of Syracuse has a baseball team without the word “Chief” in its name. The Syracuse Chiefs are now owned and operated by the New York Mets, and have been renamed to match their major league counterpart. Michael Tricarico, Syracuse Mets Assistant Director of Broadcasting, believes that the fans have largely embraced the change.
“I would say the most excitement has come just from the Mets having their top Minor League team here, because, like I said, there are so many Mets fans,” said Tricarico. “More than I expected to see.”
Earlier on Thursday, fans flocked to NBT Bank Stadium in order to usher in a new era of Syracuse baseball. The Mets’ purchase and subsequent rebranding of the Chiefs made many fans particularly excited to attend the Opening Day ceremonies. According to Central New York resident Dale Blossinger, the change was long overdue.
“The Mets are my favorite team in baseball. I’ve been waiting for this for years,” said Blossinger. “I think it’s just going to be a New York vibe, you got the AA team in Binghamton, the AAA team in Syracuse, and the Majors in New York City.”
The Syracuse Mets were previously owned by the Washington Nationals. According to Geri, who did not give her last name, and Cherie Scaia, two Syracuse Mets fans, they appreciate that the team is now under the ownership of a New York team.
“We needed the local flavor, and I’m a die hard Yankee fan, but I can say ‘Let’s go Mets!’ when I am here,” said Geri.
Under the new deal, the Mets will be in Syracuse at least through 2025, but if one thing is for sure, it is that regardless of who owns the team, Syracuse fans love their baseball.
