It's hard to beat a beer and a hot dog at a Yankees or Mets home game. But the price of ballpark brew at the new CitiField and Yankee stadiums - plus the tickets, parking and concessions - could darn near turn you into a teetotaler.
Relief can be found out east with the Long Island Ducks, who are marking their 10th anniversary this season. Here are five reasons it's worth seeing them play.
1. IT'S CHEAP
QuackerJack and company pack an entertainment punch with prices that feel like love taps. Parking is free - you'll get a spot very close to the stadium if you arrive about an hour before the game; otherwise, expect a leisurely 5- to 10-minute walk if you're sent to the back of the county courthouse parking lot. As for the tickets, most are $10 - "club level" seats max out at $14.
2. YOU CAN'T GET A BAD SEAT
The stadium holds more than 6,000 people and - unlike the new Yankee Stadium - you won't find "obstructed view" seats. Tickets can be purchased online (an interactive diagram makes it easy to scout what's available in every section at one time) or at the box office before game time. The seats are comfortable enough (plenty of leg and sitting room) and each has a cupholder.
3. EAT LIKE A DUCK
Prices are about what you'd expect to pay at a movie theater. You'll find the usual peanuts and ice cream ($3-$5.50), burgers and dogs ($3.75-$4.25). Of note: a Smokin' Al's pulled-pork sandwich with chips ($8.75) was tasty, but on the smallish side. Sodas are $3-$4.50; beer $6.50.
A "Pre-Game Picnic" package is available to groups of 50 to 300 people - $30 includes a box seat ticket plus an all-you-can-eat buffet with barbecue fare, salads, cookies and soda.
4. IT'S FAMILY-FRIENDLY
Off-the-field entertainment ranges from giveaways and trivia contests to G-rated fan vs. fan competitions between innings. Elsewhere around the stadium, you can take a timeout from the field for inexpensive diversions such as a bounce ride, speed pitch station and spin-the-wheel game ($1 each).
For Sunday home games, always at 1:35 p.m., the gates open an hour early and fans of all ages are invited onto the field from 12:50 to 1:05 p.m. to get players' autographs.
5. KID CARTER'S IN TOWN
New this season: Fans of the 1986 World Series champion Mets team can see Gary Carter (Hall of Famer and former Mets catcher) who's the Ducks' new field manager. Carter, who spent most of his career with the Mets and Montreal Expos, also played with the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants before his current gig in orange and green.
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