By Joseph Staszewski
Mets fans are prepared to celebrate a World Series title and are filling the local bars to do so.
“I’m obviously excited and nervous, too,” said Flushing native Luis Sarmiento while watching Game 1 Tuesday evening at Brian Dempsey’s on Bell Boulevard in Bayside. “We have to win this. It’s been 29 years now.”
He and other Amazin’s fans have been filling establishments around Queens during the team’s playoff run and did so again for the start of the World Series against the Kansas City Royals Tuesday night. The Mets dropped the opener 5-4 in 14 innings, which tied for the longest World Series game ever.
While fans may not have been at the game itself, there was plenty of excitement and camaraderie to enjoy out with people who share their love for the Mets, who have not won it all since 1986.
“It’s been great,” said Andrea Paz, a Glen Oaks native and Mets season ticket holder.
“We were singing ‘Meet the Mets’ earlier. We have a half hour to game time and we are already hyped up.”
Fans came out sporting Mets jerseys from Keith Hernandez to Carlos Beltran to Jacob deGrom. Other wore caps and National League Championship T-shirts. Paz, who was watching the game at Bourbon Street, was the most decked out. She had on Mets earrings to go along with a shirt and a Mets Halloween wizard hat. The growing support for the team has been noticeable around Queens, at bars in Bayside as well as locations like McFadden’s inside Citi Field and O’Neill’s in Maspeth.
“There is definitely a big bandwagon that comes along every time your city is doing well,” Flushing native Terry Singh said, sitting with friend Barry Fludgate at Dempsey’s. “I also think there are a lot of die-hard Mets fans that have something to stand up for again.”
Bar owners said Mets fans supporting their team have brought an electric atmosphere to their establishments. They are enjoying the extra business.
Dempsey’s was filling up 45 minutes before the first pitch, Sullivan’s had patrons in both its inside and outdoors area and all of the tables were filled downstairs at Bourbon Street.
“Business always increases this time of year when one of the home teams is in it, but the Mets generally draw a bigger crowd,” said Peter Segrave, one of the owners of Bourbon Street. “This is a Mets town.”
The city has fallen in love with this Mets club because of its young pitching, led by deGrom and Matt Harvey, and its regulars like David Wright, Yoenis Cespedes, Wilmer Flores and Daniel Murphy.
This group has already provided countless special moments this season. Mets fans are hoping for one more of the unforgettable variety.
“If they win it all, I cannot even think of an emotion or a word that would describe the exhilaration we are going to feel for them,” Paz said.
