Nestled in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, Shea Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium in Queens, New York City. It opened in 1964 as the home of the New York Mets of Major League Baseball and the New York Jets of the American Football League. Originally called Flushing Meadow Park Municipal Stadium, it was renamed in honor of William Shea, the lawyer who led the effort to bring National League baseball back to New York after the Dodgers and Giants left for California in 1957.
Though construction was delayed by a severe winter and subcontractor bankruptcies, the stadium served as the home of the Mets from 1964 to 2008. The stadium's existence was the result of a complex negotiation between city official Robert Moses and William Shea to find a location that would satisfy fans of both the Dodgers and Giants while meeting New York state's requirements for self-funding sports venues.
In 2009, Shea Stadium was demolished following the opening of the adjacent Citi Field. Today, the former footprint of the stadium is part of Citi Field's parking lots. There are current plans to develop the site into Metropolitan Park, a project that would include a park, casino, and entertainment complex, though these plans are currently pending approval from the New York State Legislature and the New York State Gaming Commission.
Sources: Wikipedia, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
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