Apparently, a change in the name from Syracuse Chiefs to the Syracuse Mets is not the only upgrade the New York Mets have in store for their new Triple-A franchise.  In addition to the name change, Josh Leventhal of Band Box News reports the New York Mets will be making upgrades to the home ballpark – NBT Bank Stadium.

Improving the 22-year-old ballpark is seen as an imperative to improve the fan experience for a franchise which has finished last or second to last in the International League in attendance over the past four seasons.

Part of the reason for the attendance struggles could certainly be attributable to the franchise finishing under .500 in each of the last four seasons.  It also doesn’t help that aside from Trea Turner playing there for 48 games back in 2015, the Nationals have not had any big time prospects play in Syracuse during this time frame.

Still, minor league baseball is more than just the team performance and players.  It is about fan experience.  Even with an improved promotional schedule and some additional fan experiences, the attendance is not getting out of the bottom two. Considering the success the Mets have seen with ballpark projects for the Brooklyn Cyclones and Columbia Fireflies, it would make sense the Mets look to emulate those successes in Syracuse.

Previously, Syracuse was not able to make those improvements on their own as team debt had continued to grow under the previous ownership.  With the Mets buying the Syracuse franchise, the financial prospects have improved significantly, and the franchise can now make the improvements needed to boost the fan experience.

At the moment, it is not known what will be planned.  On that front, International League President Randy Mobley said the Mets “will be undertaking significant stadium renovations, additions and improvements in time . . . It is still in the design stages, but a wish list has been formed.”

For an idea of what the Mets may be contemplating with NBT Bank Stadium, it may be instructive to see what the Mets are doing with First Data Field.  As previously reported by MMN, the Mets are undertaking a $55 million renovation project to create a 360 degree view of the field and to provide other fan amenities.

If all else fails, consider Tim Tebow, who helped both Columbia and St. Lucie set attendance records last year, may be on track to open next season as the left fielder for the newly dubbed Syracuse Mets.  At a minimum, that should give fans a reason to come to the ballpark they didn’t have during the relationship with the Washington Nationals.