I went inside the hidden Cadillac Club at Citi Field. It's the most exclusive place to watch the Mets play.
· Business Insider
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
- I toured Citi Field's hidden, members-only Cadillac Club.
- The club offers complimentary food and drinks, along with luxury seating.
- The setting was perfect for an avid baseball fan or someone wanting to experience the game in style.
Luxury suites have become a major part of the modern ballpark experience, but few are as exclusive as the Cadillac Club at Citi Field.
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Hidden behind a members-only entrance near the players' tunnel, the speakeasy-inspired space offers complimentary food and drinks, a rotating chef-designed menu, and plush leather field-level seats just feet from right field.
When the 100-seat club opened in 2023, access was initially available only through full-season club memberships, with first-row memberships costing $24,999 per seat, the Associated Press reported at the time.
Last year, access expanded to some group sales, and more recently, "an extremely limited number of single game tickets" have been available for certain games, a spokesperson told Business Insider.
Single-game seats are also being sold on third-party websites. As of July 22, third-row seats in the Cadillac Club for the Mets' July 25 game against the Los Angeles Dodgers were listed for $688 each.
On a recent gameday between the Mets and Kansas City Royals, I was granted access to the Cadillac Club as a member of the press, eager to see whether the experience lived up to the hype — and prices.
Here's what it's like inside one of baseball's most exclusive clubs.
On a recent gameday against the Kansas City Royals, I went inside the Cadillac Club.Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The Cadillac Club at Payson's is one of the most exclusive places to watch a Mets game at Citi Field.
The stadium, which opened in 2009 to replace Shea Stadium, blends modern amenities with tributes to the Mets' history, including the Jackie Robinson Rotunda and architectural nods to Brooklyn's historic Ebbets Field.
In recent years, Citi Field has added premium clubs and hospitality spaces, including the Cadillac Club, which opened in 2023.
The trend is playing out across ballparks and arenas as teams look to boost revenue and attract corporate clients and wealthy fans seeking more exclusive experiences.
In 2025, Rocket Arena, home to the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers, opened HIPP, an invitation-only members club. Access was initially offered only to fans who had already spent at least $100,000 with the team, The New York Times reported.
That same year, Capital One Arena in Washington, DC — home to the NBA's Wizards and the NHL's Capitals — debuted six high-end, private suites, each costing more than $1 million a year to lease.
Even the entrance felt exclusive.Erin McDowell/Business Insider
Unlike most premium seating areas, the Cadillac Club isn't immediately visible.
Thankfully, I had been given directions on where to go. After entering Citi Field, I headed for a discreet entrance that led me away from the crowds and toward a hallway near the players' tunnel.
The club itself wasn't listed on any of the signs I saw outside the stadium. Since it's marketed as a speakeasy, only those with directions would know how to access it.
The entrance to the Cadillac Club features Mets memorabilia and a hidden door.Erin McDowell/Business Insider
However, before I reached the club itself, I stepped into a hallway lined with framed photographs, vintage memorabilia, and televisions showing the game.
At first glance, it looked like a cozy lounge celebrating the team's history … until I realized one of the paintings concealed the hidden entrance to the Cadillac Club.
To enter, I had to say "Let's go, Mets!" and the door opened — a fun touch that added an element of magic to the experience.
The club is named after one of the Mets' most important figures.Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The Cadillac Club honors Joan Whitney Payson, the Mets' founding principal owner and the first woman to independently purchase a majority ownership stake in a Major League Baseball team.
She maintained ownership from the Mets' founding in 1960 until her death in 1975.
When I finally reached the entrance, I thought it looked more like the gateway to a secret garden than a baseball stadium.Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The entrance, framed in greenery, was manned by security personnel, who scanned tickets to ensure the club's exclusivity.
In addition to club access, the Cadillac Club membership includes private restrooms, VIP reserved parking in Official Lot A, a dedicated premium experience manager, and exclusive member events.
Once inside, I almost forgot I was at Citi Field.Erin McDowell/Business Insider
It was a particularly humid day in New York City, so I was glad for the respite inside the exclusive, climate-controlled area, rather than sweating up in the nosebleed seats as I typically would.
Warm wood finishes, leather seating, and a bar lining the entire back wall of the 7,000-square-foot space made the club feel more like an upscale New York restaurant or bar than a sports venue.
Greenery was also woven throughout the space.Erin McDowell/Business Insider
Gensler, one of the world's biggest architecture firms, designed the speakeasy.
Combined with the leather seating and warm lighting, large trees and hanging plants created a cozy, secluded atmosphere that lived up to its speakeasy inspiration.
The bar was stocked with beer, wine, and spirits.Erin McDowell/Business Insider
Members receive complimentary soft drinks, beer, and wine throughout the game, while premium liquor and cocktails are also available for purchase.
There was plenty of space to grab a drink without having to fight long concession lines. The private bar area felt buzzy without being overly crowded.
Screens along the bar also meant guests never missed a moment of the game while ordering, eating, or drinking.
The seats were, unsurprisingly, the biggest draw of watching from inside the Cadillac Club.Erin McDowell/Business Insider
Leather armchairs, which come with personal flat-screen monitors, are assigned to members for the season. They were located just feet from right field, with an open-air design that let a breeze flow in from the warning track.
Being so close to the players made every pitch, hit, and catch feel much more immersive than watching from higher up in the stadium.
The view of the field was mostly unobstructed, and while I could hear noise from the stands, it was more a steady stream of chatter than a roar.
I loved being able to move between the game and the lounge area.Erin McDowell/Business Insider
Unlike traditional seating, the Cadillac Club encourages guests to wander between the seats and the indoor lounge, where they can still catch the game.
"This stadium is designed more along the lines of a resort," executive chef Jason Eksterowicz, who spent much of his career at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas before joining Citi Field in 2017, told me.
"Instead of a big pool, it's a baseball field."
Another draw of watching the game from the Cadillac Club is the all-you-can-eat buffet.Erin McDowell/Business Insider
In the "ballpark classics" section of the buffet, options included Bavarian pretzel sticks, crinkle-cut fries, and crispy chicken tenders, served with dipping sauces such as ketchup, honey mustard, and ranch.
Members and their guests also have access to more refined offerings than the typical stadium fare. The rotating buffet includes multiple hot entrées, salads, and sides.
"A lot of the flavor profiles and foods you're going to find in our stadium are traditional flavors that everyone can relate to, maybe presented and mashed up in a unique way," Eksterowicz said.
The Cadillac Club doesn't serve the same buffet every game.Erin McDowell/Business Insider
Eksterowicz said the culinary team rotates roughly 25 to 30 menus, meaning that even season-ticket holders who attend games throughout the season rarely see the same spread more than a few times.
"We want something that's going to be fresh. We want something that's going to be fast. We don't want anyone to miss an important part of the game," he said.
Of course, there were classic ballpark hot dogs.Erin McDowell/Business Insider
No Mets game would feel complete without hot dogs.
The club served grilled dogs with traditional toppings like ketchup, mustard, and sauerkraut.
When food started to run out, servers topped up the platters.
There were also healthier options, such as a beet, arugula, and goat cheese salad.Erin McDowell/Business Insider
It balanced out some of the richer comfort food elsewhere on the buffet.
The dessert station included an assortment of cookies in several flavors.Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The red velvet cookie especially caught my eye.
In addition to the buffet, the club also provides classic baseball snacks.Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The club offered complimentary nostalgic snacks, from Cracker Jack to peanuts, throughout the game.
The Cadillac Club struck a great balance between luxury hospitality and a genuine baseball atmosphere.Erin McDowell/Business Insider
Before visiting, I assumed the biggest draw would be sitting just a few feet from the field. However, the whole experience impressed me.
From its hidden entrance and upscale interiors, its rotating chef-designed menus and complimentary food and drinks, the Cadillac Club delivered an experience that went far beyond typical ballpark food and a standard seat.
With an exclusive atmosphere that at times felt more like a high-end restaurant than a stadium club, I can see the draw for high-net-worth fans and business clients.
As someone who isn't a major baseball fan, I personally wouldn't buy a full-season membership. Still, when I checked a ticket resale website, some tickets appeared to be around $400 to $500, a price I could see myself paying for access to the Cadillac Club.
The food, drinks, atmosphere, premium amenities, and location right on the field made it feel like the only way to spend a day out at the ballgame.
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