The New York Mets are banning backpacks from Citi Field starting May 20. The team said Friday the move is to enhance safety. Fans still can bring purses, tote, drawstring and messenger bags, and soft-sided coolers that don’t exceed 16-by-16-by-8 inches. The Washington Nationals banned backpacks from home games before the start of this season.<doc-sep>Less than two months after the Washington Nationals banned backpacks from their ballpark, the New York Mets are following suit. The Mets announced on Friday that starting May 20, backpacks would no longer be allowed in Citi Field. For the safety of all guests and to make entering @CitiField more efficient, we have updated our bag policy, which will go into effect on Monday, May 20 and will prohibit backpacks at the ballpark. Full Details: https://t.co/yvZxuBDsGo pic.twitter.com/vS6HY7pR1j — New York Mets (@Mets) May 10, 2019 The team website specified that small coolers, tote bags, and diaper bags would still be allowed. But anyone will a backpack will be turned away, or will have to pay for a locker to store their backpack while they’re in the stadium. This inconveniences a lot of fans. If you carry a backpack to work and want to go to a game right from your job? Now you can’t without stopping at home or paying more money (on top of your ticket and food) to rent a storage locker. And while diaper bags are allowed, many families choose to use backpacks to carry all the necessary things you need to take small children on a trip outside the home. Fans will no longer be able to carry backpacks into Citi Field to watch Mets games. (AP) Just like when the Nationals announced their policy, the Mets gave no specific, concrete reason for the change beyond “for the safety of all guests and to make entering Citi Field more efficient.” Since they’re instituting a change that’s going to make it harder for many people to go to games at Citi Field, you might imagine that they’d give specific details about how many people usually carry backpacks to the ballpark and how many minutes the policy will shave off of security line waiting times. But the Mets didn’t answer any of those questions. And Mets fans reacted the same way Nationals fans did when their team announced the Nationals Park backpack ban: with righteous anger and mocking! Story continues Will you be using the money you make from your deal with the third-party locker rental company to sign Dallas Keuchel? — Kevin J. Ryan (@wheresKR) May 10, 2019 Translation: We're cutting down on security costs. It's bad enough we pay for metal detectors. 🙄😡🗑️🤮 #SellTheTeam — Sharklady 🦈 (@Sharklady57) May 10, 2019 Most sane adults who go to Mets games come straight from work, and carry laptops and other commuting gear with them in backpacks. Now what the hell are we supposed to do? Guess I'll never to go a weeknight game ever again. — atanamar sunyata Ⓥ (@AtanamarSunyata) May 10, 2019 This is awful! There a number of games that I go directly from school and after school activities as a teacher. I do NOT have a car to leave my bag in. What am I to do for those games?! — Mike Mehan (@mmehan82) May 10, 2019 Will my 4 year old who carries a toddler-sized bag with one pocket be forced to check his stuffed animal and snack in a “third party locker”? — Maggie Wiggin (@maggie162) May 10, 2019 This is ridiculous. A backpack is what I use as a diaper bag for my little guy. You try carrying a toddler and a shoulder diaper bag at a ball park during a promotion night. Will you pay for my Chiropractor afterwards? — June Shepard (@junebopeep) May 10, 2019 What if I stuff my backpack into a tote bag? — Mess (@VLTEsq) May 10, 2019 The policy stinks, and so does the editing of your emails. pic.twitter.com/RLgksjFFUF — Elliot Nicodemi (@bigell69) May 10, 2019 🎶Meet the Mets Meet the Mets Step right up and greet the Mets Don't bring bookbags, don't bring jerks And make sure that you're not coming from work Because this policy is dropping the ball Screwing your fans for no reason at all🎶 — I'mNotAHRHitter (@ImNotAHRHitter) May 10, 2019 There’s a common thread in all these angry comments: this policy is pushing away fans. People who want to go to a game from work on a weeknight, families who have put money aside to take their kids to a game on a Saturday afternoon, they’re all being made to feel unwelcome. With MLB attendance plummeting, policies like this won’t help get fans back to the ballpark. Especially when it feels like the Mets aren’t being totally up front with fans about why they’re banning backpacks to begin with. More from Yahoo Sports:<doc-sep>The Mets are banning backpacks from Citi Field starting May 20. The team said Friday the move is to enhance safety. Fans still can bring purses, tote, drawstring and messenger bags, and soft-sided coolers that don't exceed 16-by-16-by-8 inches. The Washington Nationals banned backpacks from home games before the start of this season.<doc-sep>
Beginning soon, peanuts and Cracker Jack will still be featured at Citi Field, but backpacks will be banned. In an effort to enhance safety and expedite efforts to get into the ballpark, New York Met officials announced on Friday that beginning on Monday, May 20, backpacks will be banned from the stadium. Fans will still be able to bring purses, tote, drawstring and messenger bags, and soft-sided coolers that don't exceed 16-by-16-by-8 inches to the field. The team noted that exceptions will be made for backpacks used for medical reasons. Backpacks purchased inside Citi Field during the game or an event at Citi Field are permitted for that day only. “The bag policy was created for the safety of all our guests and to make for a more efficient and enjoyable ballpark entry process,” the team stated. “Backpacks are now prohibited inside Citi Field, except as provided herein. Prohibiting backpacks allows us to enhance security and expedite the security screening process entering Citi Field.” With the new policy being implemented, there will be temporary on-site locker rentals available and operated by a third-party for a fee that can “serve as a last minute solution.” They will be available for two hours before the game starts and one hour after the final pitch. According to the team, “backpacks have a lot of compartments and are cumbersome to inspect. While we understand that other bags could be just as large or have multiple compartments, we are able to limit the number of bags that fit that criterion by prohibiting easily identifiable bags such as backpacks. It allows us to screen guests faster and more effectively.” Click here to sign up for Daily Voice's free daily emails and news alerts.