A Chicken Sandwich Causes Latest Mets Controversy

by Tim Reilly July 24, 2019

The latest Mets controversy centers around the foul poles. Yup, the Mets have found a way to stir the pot with foul pole advertising. Who knew that was even possible?

The Citi Field foul poles have undergone a makeover pic.twitter.com/ALl7E9BhU2
— SNY (@SNYtv) July 23, 2019

Before the start of this homestand, the Mets unveiled Chick-Fil-A advertisements that widen the foul poles to allow for vertical signage promoting the famed chicken fast food joint. In the world we live in today even a chicken sandwich has people standing on the fair and foul side of the pole. You see, Chick-Fil-A has Christian Founders and maintains strict Christian beliefs today. Because of this, Chick-Fil-A has been heavily thrown into the same-sex marriage conversation.

I'm not going to get into all of that because frankly, this is a baseball blog. What I will say is that it's less than ideal timing for the Mets to drop this signage with Pride Day on the horizon at Citi Field. At least if this were to have occurred before the season people could've eased their way into it. Now it just provides headlines for all the wrong reasons.

On top of that, the widening of these poles now gives people an obstructed view down the lines. It sucks that the almighty dollar takes precedence over the fan experience at times. Those tickets need to at least come with a free chicken sandwich now if you ask me.

View of home plate from behind new ⁦@ChickfilA⁩ ad on right field fowl pole. #Mets pic.twitter.com/L4J9iyZcem
— Neil Best (@sportswatch) July 23, 2019

I'm a stern believer that you should be able to marry whoever you want. I'm also a stern believer that you should be able to eat any chicken sandwich you want. If Chick-Fil-A is for you, great. If it isn't, that's fine too. I think we can all agree that if more advertising doesn't lead to more investment into the on-field product, then we have a real problem on our hands.

P.S. It's going to suck when Chick-Fil-A inevitably opens at Citi Field next season and I'm unable to get a chicken sandwich to pair with my beer on Sundays.