NY Mets postpone $20,000 donation for playground enhancements in

New Orleans CityBusiness, Jan 17, 2007 by Deon Roberts

After becoming affiliated with the New Orleans Zephyrs last year, the New York Mets were supposed to present a $20,000 check today for playground enhancements in Orleans and Jefferson parishes.

But due to inclement weather preventing Mets members from coming to New Orleans, the check presentation has been postponed indefinitely.

A "Meet the Mets" cocktail party at Pat O'Brien's bar, 718 St. Peter St., will be held as planned at 7 p.m.

Zephyrs spokesman Kevin Maney said the Zephyrs and the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation will determine how to spend the money. GNOSPF will distribute it to playgrounds for the purchase of equipment, he said.

The donation is "the first thing they (the Mets) wanted to do for us" since the affiliation, he said. Mets' public relations staff said the team has donated $650,000 to New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina, he said.

Under the affiliation, the Zephyrs, a minor league team, provides players to the Mets. Zephyrs players are under contract with the Mets, who can draft Zephyrs players at any time, Maney said.

The Mets affiliation was announced Sept. 20.

Prior to the Mets, the Zephyrs were affiliated with the Washington Nationals for two years.

Tickets to tonight's event, open to people 21 or older, cost $30 per person or $100 for a group of four.

They can be bought at the door or by calling the Zephyrs' office at 734-5155.