Syracuse Chiefs to become Syracuse Mets, $26 million in stadium renovations planned

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday announced that the Syracuse Chiefs would become the Syracuse Mets in their first season as the Triple-A franchise of the New York Mets. Cuomo also noted that the major-league Mets have signed a lease extension to stay in Syracuse through at least 2043 and that NBT Bank Stadium will undergo more than $26 million in renovations. (Eric Reinhardt / BJNN)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Syracuse Chiefs will become the Syracuse Mets when they begin play as the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets in 2019.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the team’s name change during an appearance Tuesday at NBT Bank Stadium.

The Syracuse Mets are also committing to sign a lease extension to call Syracuse home for at least 25 years, Cuomo said in his remarks before a seated audience inside the baseball stadium.

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In addition, New York is committing $12.5 million to Onondaga County’s “major” renovation project at the stadium, matching the county’s contribution.

The $26.25 million project will “result in an improved experience for dedicated baseball fans and visitors while ensuring the Mets’ farm-team will stay in Syracuse until at least 2043,” per Cuomo’s release.

Just over a year ago, Cuomo had announced that the New York Mets had closed on a deal to purchase the Syracuse Chiefs.

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The minor-league baseball team on Nov. 17, 2017 announced that its shareholders had approved the sale to the major league Mets.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com

Eric Reinhardt: