Visit Syracuse's NBT Bank Stadium
Welcome to NBT Bank Stadium, where the potatoes are salty and the beer selections plentiful. Enjoy a night of baseball in the fair state of New York, in close proximity to the wonderment of the New York State Fair.
Syracuse Mets (Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets since 2019)
Established: 1961 (as the Syracuse Chiefs)
League: International League
Ballpark: NBT Bank Stadium (opened 1997)
Championships: 1969, 1970, 1976
Notable Alumni: Carlos Delgado, Dave Steib, Ron Guidry, Bobby Cox (manager)
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Professional baseball in Syracuse is nearly as old as professional baseball itself, with the city's first team taking the field in 1877. The 1879 Syracuse Stars were members of the National League. The 1889 Stars, members of the International League, featured Moses "Fleetwood" Walker. He was the last Black player to compete in the league until Jackie Robinson suited up for the Montreal Royals in 1946.
Minor League Baseball has been a near-constant in Syracuse since the establishment of the Chiefs in 1934. That International League team played through 1957; in 1961 the franchise returned for good following a community effort in which shares of the team were available to purchase at $10 apiece. The Chiefs remained community-owned until the New York Mets purchased the team following the 2017 season. In 2019, following the completion of a preexisting affiliation agreement with the Washington Nationals, the team changed its name to the Mets. This marked the end of the Chiefs era, and it also marked the first time that a Syracuse Minor League team had the same name as its parent club.
When the Mets bought the Syracuse club, they committed to remaining in the city until at least 2043. This would result in the longest affiliation in the city's history, beating out the Chiefs' three-decade run with the Toronto Blue Jays (1978-2008).
NBT Bank Stadium
Ballpark Location (via Google Maps)
Syracuse Mets Roster
Syracuse Mets Schedule
1 Tex Simone Drive
Syracuse, NY, 13208
(315) 474-7833
Capacity: 10,815
Dimensions: left field, 330; center field, 400; right field, 330
Park Factors (2021-22)
100 = league average
Runs: 105 | Homers: 117 | Hits: 106
International League environment: 4.89 runs per team per game (seventh-highest among 11 full-season leagues)
When the first Syracuse Chiefs team took the field in 1934, they did so at their brand-new home of Municipal Stadium. That facility, renamed MacArthur Stadium in 1942, hosted Minor League Baseball through 1996. It was replaced in nearly the same location by the ballpark now known as NBT Bank Stadium, which opened on April 3, 1997.
NBT Bank Stadium is, in a word, big. It's one of the few Minor League ballparks featuring an honest-to-God upper deck, which has room for some 3,000 fans. Recent renovations to the Onandaga County-owned facility, spurred by the New York Mets' purchase of the team, have improved the fan experience. The Metropolitan Club, an enclosed banquet room located the end of the first-base side of the ballpark, is adjacent to the Salt City Deck group area. Four-top table seating has been installed behind home plate, and synthetic turf berm areas were added in left and right field. Left field now features the 315 Bullpen Bar, open to all fans throughout the ballgame. No matter where you look, expect to see orange and blue. On the concourse, in the stands, in the suites -- wherever you look, a bold iteration of the Mets' color scheme will meet your wandering gaze.
If you're a wandering history buff, make the time to visit the Syracuse Baseball Hall of Fame. It is located below the Metropolitan Club, and covers the city's baseball history from the beginning.
NBT Bank Stadium, located north of downtown Syracuse, is accessible primarily by car. It is bounded by I-90 (to the north) and I-81 (to the west). The New York State Fairgrounds are located nearby, on the other side of Onondaga Lake. The State Fair, which runs for two weeks in the late summer, inspired the Syracuse Mets' unique Butter Sculptures alternate identity.
Concessions
NBT Bank Ballpark's hot dogs and sausages are supplied by Hofmann's Sausage Company, a Syracuse institution since 1879. For many local fans, hot dogs and Hofmann's are synonymous. Pair your dog with the simple and self-explanatory side dish that are salt potatoes, a local specialty of small boiled white potatoes that has inspired its own food-based alternate team identity.
Pierogi can be found in multiple forms, served off the grill or deep-fried. Pair these doughy delectables with an ice-cold Utica Club, an upstate New York favorite and the first beer to be legally sold following the repeal of prohibition in 1933.
Mascot
Syracuse is the home of the Orange men. It's also the home of Scooch, an orange mascot who is not a man. Nothing rhymes with orange but Scooch rhymes with pooch. Does this mean that Scooch is a dog? That's up to you to decide. Scooch is many things to many people, yet wholly singular. Keep an eye out for him at the ballpark if you are in want or need of a hearty high five from a colorful individual who embodies the Mets' aesthetic.
Where to Stay
Headed to the stadium and looking for a hotel nearby? Your Wyndham is waiting. As the Official Hotel of Minor League Baseball, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts welcomes baseball fans with a portfolio of 24 trusted brands. Find Hotels by Wyndham closest to the ballpark below and book now at wyndhamhotels.com.
• Super 8 by Wyndham Liverpool/Syracuse North Airport
• Days Inn by Wyndham Canastota/Syracuse
• Super 8 by Wyndham Liverpool/Clay/Syracuse Area
• Collegian Hotel & Suites, Trademark Collection by Wyndham
Local Attractions
For maximum Syracuse summertime fun, plan your visit to NBT Bank Ballpark in conjunction with the aforementioned New York State Fair. It's a massive two-week event, complete with deep-fried delights, a full-to-bursting concert schedule and, yes, butter sculptures. Syracuse is, of course, a college town. Check out amateur athletic exploits and explore the larger University Hill neighborhood. The city's greatest architectural wonder is the Niagara Mohawk Building, an Art Deco masterpiece built in 1932 as the headquarters of the Niagara Hudson Electric Company. Fans of the quirky must visit the upside-down traffic signal, where red is on the bottom and green is on the top. Irish pride is the reason why.
Food and Drink
If you don't get your fill of Hofmann's hot dogs at the ballpark, head to Heid's of Liverpool. This throwback fast food establishment has been slinging grilled dogs since 1917. Make it a double snappy. Dinosaur Bar-B-Que now has locations throughout New York State, but the flagship is in Syracuse. There you'll find huge portions of ribs, pulled pork, sausage and shrimp in a lively, kitschy atmosphere. For a charming old-time vibe, stop for a pint or three at Nibsy's Pub. Established in 1890, it bills itself as the oldest tavern in Syracuse.
Moving On
For a maximum dose of upstate New York, make Syracuse part of an International League itinerary that also includes the Buffalo Bisons and Rochester Red Wings. The Binghamton Rumble Ponies, situated one rung below Syracuse on the New York Mets' organizational ladder, are located approximately 73 miles to the south. From there consider heading to the Big Apple. The New York Mets are in Queens and their High-A affiliate, the Brooklyn Cyclones, are situated amid the wonders of Coney Island.
The Road to New York City
As detailed above, the Mets' system is largely based in New York State. The exception is the St. Lucie Mets, who play at the New York Mets' Spring Training home of Clover Park.
Single-A: St. Lucie Mets
High-A: Brooklyn Cyclones
Double-A: Binghamton Rumble Ponies
Triple-A: Syracuse Mets
