The Mets and Yankees — sadly for their fans — did not make it to the World Series in 2025. Not even close.
But that doesn’t mean Citi Field and Yankee Stadium have been totally quiet during the dark days of October-less baseball (for the Mets) and getting knocked out in the AL Division Series (for the Yankees).
Both stadiums have been beehives of activity as the clubs prepared for non-MLB events beginning last weekend with the Mets hosting a two-day golf outing at Citi Field that drew 3,600 people.
The Yankees will host the same golf event this weekend in the Bronx (picture yourself hitting shots from the upper stands down to the field and yelling, “It’s in the hole!” even if the ball only makes it to second base).
Also on the calendar for New York’s MLB stadiums this offseason: soccer, college football, a pair of 5K runs, baseball games featuring teams from the Caribbean, and “the world’s biggest bagel celebration.”
“We have very few dark days here,” said Nikki Romolo, the Mets’ vice president for events and experiences. “With a lot coming down the pipeline in this area, we want to become the entertainment destination here in Willets Point.”
On July 31, the Mets rebranded their “Mets Events” arm as “Willets Point Entertainment.” They are ramping up their non-MLB events as a brand-new Willets Point neighborhood is being built around them. Apartments are going up across the street from Citi Field; a soccer stadium for the MLS’ NYCFC is being built and should open in 2027; Steve Cohen will find out next month if he will get final OK to build a casino on the Citi Field parking lots (odds look good for the billionaire owner).
So whether it’s private events such as tours or business meetings or weddings or holiday parties, or events for the ticket-buying public, Citi Field and Yankee Stadium are open for business almost every day of the year.
“We’re at about 300 [events] right now and kind of the sky’s the limit,” Romolo said. “We’re hoping to get to 500 in the next two years. We are looking for pretty much exponential growth of the next couple years as this area becomes more populated with the soccer stadium and all the development around us.”
The Yankees hosted 350 internal and external events last year, according to Cindy Kamradt, the club’s executive director of stadium planning and special projects. The club will have control of the entire calendar once NYCFC — which rents out the stadium for part of its schedule and also plays some games at Citi Field — moves to its own building in 2027.
“Soccer will be leaving us,” Kamradt said. “So it is a strong initiative, needing to replace those events in the upcoming years. It is a purposeful exercise, that we will have more dates available on the Yankee Stadium events calendar.”
NYCFC and Charlotte FC walk out for the start of the MLS Cup Playoff match at Yankee Stadium on Nov. 1, 2025. Credit: Getty Images/Ira L. Black
The clubs aren’t just looking to add revenue by using the ballpark for non-MLB events (although with combined 2025 payrolls of nearly $650 million, every little bit helps). Neither team discloses how much revenue they earn from these events.
The Mets and Yankees host multiple events to benefit their local communities, such as holiday parties and food drives. But whatever the reason, getting folks into your ballpark for a public or private event is a chance to make some new friends and perhaps some new customers for the main revenue-driver, which is still the baseball team.
“Certainly, they want to find new revenue streams,” said Richard Ridall, a professor at Temple University’s School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management. “They want to drive business, particularly when the Mets found themselves with a bunch of dark days in October because they didn’t make the playoffs and the Yankees finished earlier than they wanted to.
“It’s not going to pay Juan Soto or Aaron Judge’s salary. But I think the other piece of it, in addition to just being a good partner to the community and a bunch of different organizations, is you’re capturing data. Ultimately, your core business is the baseball side, and if you’re able to connect with groups and people who traditionally may not be baseball fans or casual fans at best, and you can bring them into the other offerings that you have, I think it’s fantastic.”
One question: Games 6 and 7 of the epic Dodgers-Blue Jays World Series took place last Friday and Saturday — the same days as the Mets’ golf event. So what would have happened if Citi Field was needed for, say, a pair of World Series games?
“Great question,” Romolo said. “We scheduled the golf event with a very large caveat: If we are trending toward the World Series, we will cancel the event one week out.”
Take me out to the … ballgame?
Recent and current non-MLB game events at Citi Field and Yankee Stadium:
CITI FIELD
Oct. 31-Nov. 1 Upper Deck Golf: Golfers played a round through Citi Field.
Nov. 15 RD vs. PR Showdown: All-Star baseball teams of Dominican and Puerto Rican players face off.
Nov. 16 New York BagelFest: Described as “the world’s biggest bagel celebration.”
Nov. 18 Colombia vs. Australia: Soccer match
Dec. 2 Hungerthon Hustle 5K: Run at Citi Field to raise money to combat hunger.
YANKEE STADIUM
Friday-Saturday Upper Deck Golf: Play a round through Yankee Stadium.
Nov. 15 Yankees Pinstripe 5K: Run through the stadium.
Dec. 27 Pinstripe Bowl: College football bowl game featuring teams from the Big Ten and ACC.
Anthony Rieber covers baseball, as well as the NFL, NBA and NHL. He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since July 5, 2004.