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Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C)
April 15, 2008
Mets, Citi, & Jackie Robinson Foundation Unveil Designs for Jackie Robinson Rotunda at Citi Field
New Mets Ballpark Honors Humanitarian Legacy of American Hero through Words & Imagery at Main Entrance to Citi Field
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Evoking the classic design of Ebbets Field, where Robinson played second base for the Brooklyn Dodgers, the main entry at Citi Field recognizes and perpetuates the enduring legacy of one of our country's civil rights pioneers.
Engraved into the Rotunda's 160-foot diameter floor and etched into its 70-foot archways are words and larger-than-life images that defined Jackie's "nine values" – as articulated by Sharon Robinson, Jackie's daughter and Foundation Vice Chair: Courage, Excellence, Persistence, Justice, Teamwork, Commitment, Citizenship, Determination, and Integrity. The Rotunda also will feature an eight-foot sculpture of Jackie's number 42, which in 1997 was retired in perpetuity throughout Major League Baseball.
Joining Citi executives, the Mets Ownership group, Mets General Manager Omar Minaya (the first Hispanic General Manager in Major League history), Manager Willie Randolph (the first African-American Major League Manager in New York baseball history), Rachel Robinson – Jackie's wife and Founder of the Jackie Robinson Foundation – Foundation Chairman and former National League President Leonard S. Coleman, Jr., and Foundation President and CEO Della Britton Baeza, were public officials and dignitaries, including: Ed Skyler, Deputy Mayor for Operations, City of New York, and Queens Borough President Helen Marshall.
"The Jackie Robinson Rotunda at Citi Field will serve as a powerful tribute to the remarkable journey and legacy of Jackie Robinson, a great American," said Fred Wilpon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, New York Mets. "Thanks to our partnership with Citi and the Jackie Robinson Foundation, the Rotunda will welcome, help to educate, and inspire fans to advance Jackie's humanitarian ideals for generations to come."
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"I am so thrilled to watch the Jackie Robinson Rotunda at Citi Field rise," said Rachel Robinson, Founder, Jackie Robinson Foundation. "I am particularly delighted to know that as millions of fans – both young and old – visit Citi Field through its iconic entry, they will embrace Jack's values and be inspired to effect social change in their own communities. I cannot imagine a more fitting tribute to Jack, one that will memorialize him and provide a place that will promote civic engagement and prompt all to strive for excellence. I am immensely grateful to the Mets and Citi, organizations that share the Jackie Robinson Foundation's profound commitment to education and equal opportunity. I am immensely appreciative of the Mets Ownership group – Fred Wilpon, Saul Katz, and Jeff Wilpon – for their vision and leadership in taking this project from dream to reality."
Today's announcement is the latest in a series of significant milestones since Citi and the Mets in November 2006 announced a landmark 20-year marketing and business partnership that included the naming rights for Citi Field. The partnership also includes, for Citi, brand and business unit presence throughout the new ballpark; rights to the Mets and Citi Field marks; the purchase of media on SportsNet New York; the launch of community outreach initiatives; and the development of international business opportunities in sports and entertainment.
The Mets and Citi together launched a major initiative to accelerate their respective and collaborative community outreach efforts, including the partnership with the Jackie Robinson Foundation. The Mets in 1997 were the first club in Major League Baseball to endow a Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholar.
The Mets are privately financing the construction and operation of the new 45,000-capacity, $800 million open-air venue and will operate, manage, and maintain Citi Field at their own expense. The Mets, in conjunction with their construction partners Hunt-Bovis and principle architect HOK, began construction of Citi Field in 2006 in the outfield parking lot between Shea Stadium and 126th Street, and last week completed the installation of the final piece of structural steel.
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Citi
Citi, the leading global financial services company, has some 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 100 countries, providing consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, and wealth management. Citi's major brand names include Citibank, CitiFinancial, Primerica, Smith Barney, Banamex, and Nikko. Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com or www.citi.com.
Jackie Robinson Foundation
Established in 1973, the Jackie Robinson Foundation (JRF) is one of the nation's premier education and leadership development programs. It provides four-year college scholarships to minority students who demonstrate academic achievement, leadership capacity and financial need. Transcending financial assistance, the Foundation equips its scholarship recipients with a comprehensive set of support services including mentoring, career guidance and practical life skills, resulting in a 97% graduation rate, more than twice the national average for minority students. The more than 1,200 JRF alumni are both leaders in their professional fields and consummate ambassadors of Jackie's legacy of community service. Additional information may be found at jackierobinson.org.