The Brooklyn Cyclones' new picnic area is a home run!

cyclones picnic — Families gather in the picnic area to enjoy a meal before the game. Photos via the Cyclones.

Summer in the city isn’t the same without a baseball game, especially making a day of it with a big group. But it’s hard to convince a bunch of friends to drop a month’s rent on Yankees box seats. And no one wants to sit in the nosebleed section of Citi Field. Luckily us Brooklynites have a better option: The Brooklyn Cyclones’ brand new Brooklyn Backyard Picnic area. The Cyclones removed one of their bleachers for the 2016 season and turned it into an events space groups can rent out before the game.

From the moment you enter the private entrance you feel like you’re visiting someone’s yard party, but on a Jay Gatsby scale. There are grills with dozens of dogs and burgers, buffet tables, coolers full of soda and bars dotted all around. But this isn’t just some isolated suburban retreat. You’re right next to the Cyclones outfield, at eye-level with the players.

The sideline view gives you a personal experience of baseball you don’t get with the majors. Your first instinct is to lean against the fence, grasping the chain-links above your head, and shout advice to the outfielders. It evokes an era of baseball we only know from Ken Burns documentaries. The only thing missing are wool flannel jerseys and a vacuum-tube radio.

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picnic overall — Reserve spots in the picnic area ahead of time so your group can eat well before you settle in for the game.

There’s more to the picnic area than just baseball. If some people in your party want to take a break from the game, there’s shuffleboard and cornhole, and a separate playground to keep the munchkins occupied.

The food options are extensive, too, with customizable upgrades to suit anyone’s tastes. You start with the traditional ballpark fare and can add tons more, including BBQ chicken, cookies, Crackerjacks, fries, steaks, spicy sausages and brats and vegetarian options. Oh, yeah. There’s also tons of booze options as well, including an open bar deal (if you’re into that kind of thing).

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You can watch the game right through the fence from these comfortable seats.

This new party deck can accommodate an impressive 1,000 people. Don’t think you can scrounge up 999 friends? You just need a minimum of 20 people to party, which is perfect for an office outing, birthday party, or a night for your extended family. And starting at $21 per person, it’s an affordable way to kick off a night at the ballpark.

It’s a rare treat in Brooklyn to find a private place to hold a party. It’s even rarer to find one where food and drink are taken care of for you, with a baseball game right after! All this under the famous Coney Island Parachute Jump, just steps away from the boardwalk and ocean. So book the backyard for a party you won’t find anywhere else.

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