MCU Park lies on Coney Island, between Surf Avenue and the Atlantic Ocean, and between West 15th Street and West 21st Street. Opened in 2001, it is the ballpark for the Brooklyn Cyclones, a Short-Season Single-A affiliate of the New York Mets in the New York-Penn League. Over the summer, some concerts are held there, though only one or two each summer. It lies a few blocks west of the former location of Astroland. It had previously been named KeySpan Park, with naming rights sold to Municipal Credit Union in 2010.
The first base/right field side of MCU Park goes along Surf Avenue, and that is where one enters, but there are separate entrances for seated and (for concerts) field-level ticket-holders (the part of the field where crowds stand is covered by a tarp during concerts). The stage itself is set up in the middle of the outfield, closer to second base than to the outfield wall. In addition to the ballpark’s regular facilities for seated patrons, there are concession stands lining the foul lines and a large collection of port-a-potties to the house-left of third base for field-level patrons. There are also beer & water sellers walking through both crowds, like at a real ball game (but note: all beer-selling is cut off at a certain point, like how it is stopped at a ballpark after the seventh inning, but there’s no set time or even a warning).
Usually, only one or two concerts a year are held at MCU Park, but they are always large events, as, when converted into a concert arena, it is one of the largest-capacity venues in the five boroughs. Acts who have played include Björk, Phish (as part of their 2004 ‘farewell tour’), The White Stripes and Daft Punk. In 2005, the Across the Narrows Festival took place at MCU and Richmond County Bank Ballpark on Staten Island (home of the Staten Island Yankees, The Yankees’ similar minor league affiliate; both stadiums were approved & built together, with public money). Despite the infrequency, the large size of both the space & the acts means the lighting and sound system are excellent (but prices also high). The style of the acts rather interestingly varies, from big-name hip-hop to big-name jam-band to big-name dance/electronica to big-name Americana rock (though the last feels a little more fitting), and while it’s a trek to get there (and shows start & end early), it’s great that such acts can still play in the city.
Capacity: 7,500
all ages
Address:
1904 Surf Avenue (between West 15th Street & West 21st Street)
By Subway:
D, F, N & Q trains to Coney Island/Stillwell Avenue – walk five blocks west on south side of Surf Avenue
QRO Coverage:
-GZA, with Andrew W.K., Fucked Up, Har Mar Superstar, Mr. Twin Sister, Milk n’ Cookies, Pentagram, The Mystery Lights, and Cotillon, June 18th, 2016 (Burger Beach Bash) – GZA photos, Andrew W.K. photos, Fucked Up photos, Har Mar Superstar photos, Mr. Twin Sister photos, Milk n’ Cookies photos, Pentagram photos, The Mystery Lights photos, Cotillon photos
-Mumford & Sons, with The Maccabees, June 2nd, 2015 – Mumford & Sons photos, The Maccabees photos
-Wilco, with Yo La Tengo, July 13th, 2009 – Wilco live review, Wilco photos, Yo La Tengo photos
