Take me out to the outfield!
Fans of Brooklyn’s baseball team can get a brand new view on the game this year. MCU Park has opened a new picnic area in the Brooklyn Cyclones’ backyard, dubbed “Parachute Plaza,” where spectators can feel like part of the team without giving up the hot dogs and Cracker Jacks, say managers of the seaside stadium.
“You get to watch the game from basically the same view that an outfielder would have,” said Bill Harner, the team’s director of communications. “You get to watch like you’re one of the players, directly through the outfield wall.”
The new area, separated from the ball field by a chain-link fence, features patio furniture, shuffleboard and cornhole games, and a tiki bar. It is open to the general public as soon as the first pitch is thrown.
But for two hours before each game, the space opens only for groups of 20 or more who have reserved tickets. Those groups can also enjoy an all-you-can eat buffet of Nathan’s hot dogs, chicken tenders, pasta salad, and popcorn. The reservation for pre-game festivities costs $21 per adult and $12.50 per child, on top of the usual $10–$16 game ticket, according to Harner. A group of 150 people can reserve the whole plaza, and a slightly higher per-person price can include fancier grub.
The new backyard venue, in the shadow of the Parachute drop, allows groups of families and friends to make the most of their night, said Harner.
“You’re a hundred yards away from the ocean,” he said. “It’s a very unique vantage point.”
Those who want to reserve the spot should not lollygag, Harner said. Some groups have already reserved the plaza for several games in August.
Parachute Plaza at MCU Park [1904 Surf Ave. at W. 17th Street in Coney Island, (718) 372–5596, www.brook
