Citi Field may have coughed up the megamillions for naming rights at the new Citi Field (best suggested new name: Debits Field), but it won’t dig into its pockets to get naming rights on the train stop next to the new Mets park.
The New York Times reports that Citigroup, which as reporter William Neuman dutifully points out sports a stock price that’s a bit below Johan Santana’s earned run average, balked at paying extra for its name on the stop where the 7 train and Long Island Railroad let out Met fans for the game.
Instead, the station, on the No. 7 line, will be called simply Mets/Willets Point. New signs will go up soon replacing the old signs, which say Willets Point/Shea Stadium. The nearby Long Island Rail Road station will be renamed in the same way.
“We’re willing, as we have said, to entertain corporate names on stations, but only for a fee,” said Jeremy Soffin, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
The Mets are getting $20 mil a year for 20 years from Citi.
In case you’re curious, Santana’s ERA last year was 2.53. Citi’s stock is at $1.58.