LIRR Offers $5 Discount for Mets Games
LIRR reduces Manhattan-to-Citi Field fares to $9.50 as parking shrinks from stadium construction
LIRR Cuts Mets Game Fares $5 for 2026 Season
Mets fans heading to Citi Field this season can save $5 on every game with a new Long Island Rail Road discount. The LIRR's offering reduced fares through its "Take the Train to the Game" promotion for all Mets home games, transit officials said Thursday. The discount reduces Manhattan-to-Mets-Willets Point fares from $14.50 to $9.50, making rail travel more affordable as parking shrinks due to construction of Etihad Park soccer stadium and a planned casino near the ballpark.
Promotion Targets Parking Crunch
The fare reduction comes as construction projects around Citi Field reduce available parking for baseball fans, according to the transit agency. New venue development, including the Etihad Park soccer stadium and casino construction, has eliminated parking spaces that fans previously relied on for game days. The LIRR promotion aims to shift more fans to public transit as an alternative to driving. Officials said the discount applies to both day passes and CityTickets for travel to Mets-Willets Point station, though they didn't specify how many parking spaces have been lost to construction.
How Fans Activate Discount
Fans can access the $5 discount through the TrainTime app using promo codes they'll receive when purchasing Mets game tickets, transit officials said. The promotion covers all Mets home games throughout the 2026 season. The discount applies to trips from any LIRR station to Mets-Willets Point, with the largest savings for riders traveling from Manhattan. Officials didn't say whether the promotion will continue beyond this season or if similar discounts might be offered for other sporting events.
Vintage Trains Mark Opening Day
The New York Transit Museum will operate vintage Redbird subway trains for the Mets' home opener Thursday, with a nearly 70-year-old train departing 34th Street-Hudson Yards station at 11 a.m. The Redbird fleet, introduced in 1959 and retired in 2003, now serves as part of the museum's vintage collection for special occasions. Chelsea Newburg, the Transit Museum's marketing manager, said the subway's been carrying fans to ballparks for decades and the journey's part of Opening Day excitement.
What Riders Need to Know
The LIRR discount makes rail travel to Mets games more competitive with driving, particularly as parking becomes scarcer around Citi Field. Fans should purchase Mets tickets first to receive promo codes, then apply those codes in the TrainTime app when buying train tickets. The promotion runs for all 81 Mets home games this season. Moovit provides real-time LIRR schedules and service updates for fans planning trips to Citi Field throughout the baseball season.
