Only one day back in Brooklyn and my family revived a young tradition, we went to Coney Island for a Brooklyn Cyclones game. While I’m not very sports oriented, MSU Park is right on the Coney Island Boardwalk and we are lucky to have only a short subway ride away to this Brooklyn landmark.
The name Sandy has both a positive and a negative connotation for the Brooklyn Cyclones: it’s both the name of the team mascot, Sandy the Seagull but also the hurricane that changed MSU Park forever. Sandy the Seagull was encouraging a great time on the field but I couldn’t help but notice that there were Cyclones t-shirts that honored heroes that were helpers during the hurricane and that the only real dirt on the field was seen at bat and the pitcher’s mound. Everything else on the field was astroturf. It was strange to see but it just shows how much of an effect everything Sandy has had on the Brooklyn Cyclones.
It was a little sad to see the necessary adaptation but it was also great to see the fortitude of the city I love so much! Brooklyn has a piece of my heart and Brooklyn Cyclones games are special not only because we now go with friends every year but because it was right after a game in 2006 that I found out that I was pregnant with Wild Boy. I couldn’t think of a more special way to be welcomed back.
Enjoy this small collage of some of the sights you can see at a Brooklyn Cyclones game in Coney Island.
A snippet of great things at Brooklyn Cyclones game in Coney Island.
What you see above (vertically from left to right:
Column 1: Coney Island BMT Subway Station, Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs and the Parachute Jump
Column 2: The Wonder Wheel, Brooklyn Cyclones logo, BC logo on the field, Nathan’s french fries (I’m not a hot dog kind of girl)
Column 3: Row shot showing Brooklyn Cyclones and NY Mets logo (the Cyclones are the minor league team for the Mets), Field shot, Caution sign
Column 4: Window from William’s Candy, a shirt honoring those from City University of NY Heroes during Hurricane Sandy and two pals enjoying a game.
Food was abundant at the game – what is your favorite thing to eat or drink at a sporting event?
This is great. Going home to events like this are just cool!! Eating at them is another story. You can probably throw healthy out the window and maybe just try a little bit of everything. I can’t remember the last time I went to a game but I’m sure I ate a soft pretzel and a beer!!
You are so right that Sandy has changed things in ways we never really considered and we will still see the effects for a long time. Love that you were welcomed back with such a special experience!
Isn’t it great to come home? I love being able to settle in the comfort of traditions and routines. Coney Island is one of J’s favorite places in the world. I was really worried about bringing him back there after Sandy. It will forever be changed for sure.
Eating was not great – a dinner of french fries is not an ideal RD dinner for sure but it was fun!
I was here about a week after Sandy and it was devastating to see. I’m certain that a city like NYC will be strong but you’re right, the effects will be felt for a long, long time.
It was strange to see the field at MCU Park look different but it was great to feel the positive energy of Brooklynites loving CI. It’s a special place and we are lucky to live so close by. I definitely miss it when I’m in CA.
Garlic fries and Dodger Dogs are my favorite to nosh on at a baseball game! I’m so sad I did not get to go to Coney Island when I was in NYC :/ I really feel like I missed out.
Rachael: CI is a definite for you for next time and next time you can stay at my apt.