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Second city audit reports Mets owe millions in rent


The Mets need to repay the city more than…

By Alexander Dworkowitz

For the second time this year city Comptroller William Thompson Jr. has released an audit that concluded the New York Mets owe the city millions of dollars, but the Queens baseball team disputed the findings.

The Mets need to repay the city more than $4.5 million as a result of under-reporting its revenue and overstating deductions, Thompson said Monday.

A January audit by Thompson found the Mets owed the city $3.4 million.

“Given the city’s dire financial condition, it is critical that the Mets live up to their fiscal responsibilities and pay the more than $4.5 million due,” Thompson said in a news release. “I’m disappointed that the Mets have ignored their obligations under the lease.”

Mets management issued a release disputing the conclusions reached by Thompson, who is considered a possible mayoral candidate in 2005.

“Far from ‘ignoring’ our lease obligations, the Mets have paid all undisputed amounts due and owing,” the team said. “The timing, tenor and inaccuracy of the comptroller’s press release are surprising and disappointing.”

The Mets rent Shea Stadium in Flushing Meadows Corona Park from the city Parks Department under the provisions of an agreement secured in 1985.

Under the deal, the team must pay the city a percentage of its revenues from admissions, concessions, service, stadium advertising, parking and cable television receipts or hand over $300,000 a year in rent, whichever figure is higher.

The January audit found the Mets under-reported almost $13.5 million in advertising revenue, and the more recent audit said the team has yet to change its ways.

The disagreement in part stemmed from on-the-field advertisements.

Mets officials have said that ads behind home plate that are seen on television were not discussed in previous agreements and therefore should not be considered part of the audit, a claim disputed by Thompson.

“As the comptroller’s office is fully aware, we have a different interpretation of the relevant lease provisions and have engaged in extensive discussions with city officials with a view toward resolving these disputed items in a fair and reasonable manner,” Mets officials said.

Reach reporter Alexander Dworkowitz by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 141.