Mets encourage fans to take mass transit and arrive early for home opener and pregame ceremonies at Citi Field this Monday, April 13 at 12:30 p.m.

In anticipation of a standing room only crowd and enhanced security procedures, the Mets encourage fans to take mass transit and arrive early for their 2015 home opener against the Philadelphia Phillies this Monday, April 13 at Citi Field. 

Pre-game ceremonies will begin at 12:30 p.m. The club will honor the families of fallen NYPD heroes Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos. The officers were killed in the line of duty on December 20, 2014, in Brooklyn while sitting in their patrol car on special duty.

Members of the NYPD will participate in pre-game ceremonies including singing the National Anthem and God Bless America. More than 150 NYPD officers will hold a giant American flag measuring 150' x 300' that will span the entire outfield grass. In addition, the NYPD has arranged for a special helicopter flyover of Citi Field.

Detective Liu's widow Pei Xia Chen and Detective Ramos' sons Jaden and Justin will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Ramos' widow Maritza and Liu's parents Xiu Yan Li and Wei Tang Liu will join them on the mound.

The 7 Subway is the fast, convenient, and "green" way to travel to the game. The Mets-Willets Point stop is adjacent to the Jackie Robinson Rotunda. The Long Island Rail Road service is available from Penn Station, Woodside and all stations on the Port Washington Branch. For more details visit www.mta.info and click on "Take the Train to the Game"™ or you can all 511 for all Mass Transit questions.

Following the game, General Manager Sandy Alderson, Manager Terry Collins, the Mets coaching staff and entire Mets roster will attend the annual Mets Welcome Home Dinner presented by Alliance Building Services in midtown Manhattan. The Mets Foundation will donate proceeds to the Katz Institute for Women's Health and Katz Women's Hospital of the North Shore-LIJ Health System and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.