Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Mets Convention Gives Fans a Chance to Meet Players and Calendar Girls

By Katie Honan | January 13, 2014 8:25am
 The convention will be held at McFadden's, the bar inside Citi Field.
The convention will be held at McFadden's, the bar inside Citi Field.
View Full Caption
Flickr/ MattBritt00

CORONA — Meet the Mets — and their fans — at the borough's first convention to honor the spirit and culture of its baseball team. 

The first Queens Baseball Convention will be held Jan. 18 at McFadden's in Citi Field, with autograph sessions with some former stars and a "Dating Game" featuring a popular clothing line's calendar girls.

The QBC is organized by three of the Mets' biggest boosters: Shannon Prior and Keith Blacknick, who wrote for Metspolice.com, and Darren Meenan, the creator of the The 7 Line clothing.

The spirit of the day, according to organizers, is for fans to get together and celebrate baseball in Queens."

"A lot of baseball teams have what they call a fan fest over the winter, and the Mets don't," Meenan said.

"Seeing as there are a lot of passionate fans these days that really like the community aspect of being fans together, we figured, why not try to coordinate something in the offseason where we can all get together and celebrate being Mets fans?"

Through The 7 Line, Meenan has organized various trips and outings for fans at both Citi Field and at stadiums around the country, so he teamed up with Prior and Blacknick to set up the winter event.

The trio stands behind the team in sickness and in health — and are looking to celebrate all the others fans who do, too, despite the team not having a winning season since 2008.

"There's plenty of fans out there in the same boat — we're all just hoping for a winning season," Meenan said.

The day's lineup includes discussions from local sports reporters and bloggers, Mets trivia, and a question and answer session with SNY broadcaster — and 1986 World Series champion — Ron Darling.

Darling and Ed Kranepool, who was a part of the 1969 World Series team, will also sign autographs for fans.

And interested fans can throw their hat in for a chance to win a date with one of The 7 Line calendar girls, who will participate in a "Dating Game"-inspired event. 

Tickets for the convention are $35 for adults, and $10 for children under 12. Special $45 tickets include a t-shirt designed by The 7 line.

For more information, visit the QBC's website.