“Pick up your programs here!”
“50/50 tickets start at just $10!”
“I’ve got the coldest brews in the house!”
“Let’s go Uncle Steve!”
“Cracker Jacks and peanuts, $6.50!”
Typical sounds of baseball season echoed from all directions at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie on Saturday when fans from far and wide came to watch the New York Mets play their first home Spring training game of the 2026 season.
Some were there for the first time, while others were Grapefruit League veterans. Regardless, there was lots of enthusiasm.
“We love it,” said Stephen LaBargo. “I think it’s going to be a rough start, and I think two months in, it’s going to go very, very well.”
“I haven’t been in 10 years,” said Chris Duell, a Mets fan for over 40 years. Currently a Chicago resident, Duell grew up in upstate New York.
While it was tough to lose some veteran players in the offseason, the longtime fan says he trusts Mets ownership. “Trust and believe. It’s business and results.”
Duell and his children were wearing the same tie-dyed T-shirts worn by many at the stadium.
Those donning the shirts are members of the 7-line army, a group of New York Mets fans who occupy the Big Apple Reserved section of Citi Field during some Mets home games and travel to other stadiums to attend away games. The group was started in 2012 by Darren Meenan, the founder of a Mets-themed apparel company.
Kelly and Mike Surprenant have enjoyed watching Mets baseball in Syracuse, New York, where one of the farm teams is located and where they get to see some of the major league players when they rehabilitate in Syracuse.
While they were upset about some of the changes made to the team, the Surprenants are loyal Mets fans, and were excited to be at Clover Park as it was their first time.
“It’s part of our bucket list,” Kelly Surprenant said.
Greg Dupuis, a New Jersey resident and lifelong Mets fan, celebrated his 46th birthday at Clover Park.
“I think they made some good moves. If they stay healthy, they can do some damage,” Dupuis said, optimistic for a good year.
Angel Rodriguez and Kristen Torres came from Orlando to watch the game. Their first time at Clover Park, they were impressed. “It’s probably the best park of all,” said Torres, a former Yankees fan who jumped ship and now supports the Mets.
Rodriguez is just happy that baseball is back. “I’m excited for a lot of the players,” he said, but Francisco Lindor is his favorite. “I’m excited for the new energy that’s here.”
Fans Jeff and Tracy DiMarco said they were “skeptical” about the changes but that they trust the owner. “He’s the best owner they’ve had for a long time,” DiMarco said of billionaire owner Steven Cohen.
While fans prepared for the game in the stadium, there was lots of activity on the field with a prize given to the winner of the morning’s 5K race and $8,500 in funds from the race awarded to Treasure Coast Girls on the Run, a group that teaches life skills to empower local elementary and middle school girls.
There were a couple of first pitches, one thrown by St. Lucie County Commissioner Jamie Fowler’s young son Easton, and the other by St. Lucie County Sheriff Richard Del Toro, who was pleased that his throw made it to the catcher. Asked if he was nervous about the throw, he said, “Of course.”
Saturday’s game, in which the Mets fell to the Marlins, 2-1, was the end of a busy week at Clover Park with fans at the field each day watching practices.
There was also the groundbreaking at Clover Park on Wednesday for a new 55,000-square-foot Player Development Complex.
The new facility will feature a 7,000-square-foot weight room with a 1,500-square-foot cardio mezzanine. It will include a 5,000-square-foot locker room with 180 lockers, a 1,300-square-foot training room along with an 1,800-square-foot hydrotherapy area with hot and cold plunge pools, treadmill pools and extremity tubs.
A team room featuring a full-service kitchen and multipurpose room are part of the complex.
The groundbreaking was emceed by New York Mets radio broadcaster Howie Rose and the shovels used for the ceremony had baseball bat handles and the team logo.
“You should know that this is hallowed ground here,” said Rose. “It’s in this area that a lot of the great young Mets of the past had begun their development that eventually turned them into big league stars,” he said, naming players such as David Wright, Jose Reyes, Jacob DeGrom, Francisco Alvarez and Brett Baty.
“They all got their start right here and it’s only going to get better,” Rose said.
Present at the ceremony were New York Mets owners Steve and Alex Cohen and their son Josh, Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns, and members of the St. Lucie County Commission. And of course, Mr. and Mrs. Met took part.