Dec. 9, 2020
By Emily Melleno
Staff Writer
Every year since 2016, my dad Victor Melleno and I have gone to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford to watch the New York Giants play. When I first found out fans would not be allowed at this season’s games, I was devastated. Attending one or two home games per season had become a tradition for my dad and me.
Prior to Covid-19, on game days, my Dad and I would go to American Hero in Lyndhurst where I ordered a turkey sub and my dad selected one of the specials from the menu. Then, we would tailgate in MetLife’s parking lot until it was time to go inside the stadium. Once we were admitted, if there was time, we would either go look at the Super Bowl trophies, rings and statues on display, or we would participate in raffles to win a signed football from one of the players and take photos once we had gotten to our seats.
When the Giants first announced fans would not be permitted at the games, my initial reaction was frustration and anger because I would no longer be able to spend the day at MetLife with my dad. However, now I realize that not being able to attend the games is the best option considering the circumstances because at MetLife the seats are close together, so it would be hard to practice social distancing.
Now that my Dad and I are not able to go to the games, we sit at home watching them on our TV, which is just not the same as hearing the fans cheer and boo or watching the players compete in real life.
I also realized that the reason the stadium is closed to the public is not because the Giants do not want fans but because it is the best way to protect the players, their families, MetLife’s staff and the spectators who would otherwise be in attendance. Along with not being able to spend the day at MetLife with my dad, I also feel bad that my uncle Jimmy Melleno and aunt Christine Melleno, who are the season ticket holders, are no longer able to go to home games either.
My family has attended Giants games since the 1960s when the Giants played at the Polo Grounds, which were three stadiums located in Upper Manhattan in New York City. For my 90-year-old grandpa—who has seen the Giants play at the Polo Grounds; Yankee Stadium in New York City; Yale Bowl in New Haven, Connecticut; Shea Stadium in New York City; Giants Stadium in East Rutherford and MetLife—this is the first time he has ever been unable to attend a Giants game in person.
Now that my Dad and I are not able to go to the games, we sit at home watching them on our TV, which is just not the same as hearing the fans cheer and boo or watching the players compete in real life. Instead of actual noises from the crowd, all you can hear now is a recording of fans cheering, which again is just not the same.
Not being able to attend Giants games has helped me realize how much spending the day at MetLife meant to me and how important of a tradition it has become for my Dad and me. It has also led me to understand that I should appreciate the times I do get to spend with my Dad.
Finally, this experience has made me realize that my family will continue to have season tickets, so not being able to attend games for one year is not a big deal. Amid a pandemic, keeping my family and those around us safe must be our first priority.
