The stigma that surrounds the New York Mets can be attributed to the losing culture of the their subpar owner and the idea that the team is the “little brother” to their crosstown rival, the New York Yankees. For many Mets fans, it is hard to support a team that suffers heartbreaking losses and consistently fails to make the playoffs.

That has changed. On October 30, 2020, hedge fund manager Steve Cohen received the 23 out of the 30 votes he needed to purchase the Mets and end the 34-year tenure of the Wilpons — who, as a result of their parsimonious and poor management style, are often referred to as the “Coupons”. Cohen outbid former Yankee Alex Rodriguez and fiancee Jennifer Lopez, New Jersey Devils owner Josh Harris, and Philadelphia 76ers owner David Blitzer to acquire the team for a record $2.4 billion.

Mets fans are understandably excited about the change in ownership. Steve Cohen has the potential to be more than just a “good owner.” Cohen, whose net worth of $14.5 billion is greater than the $13.5 billion combined net worth of the next three richest owners in Major League Baseball — Ted Lerner (Washington Nationals), Christopher Ilitch (Detroit Tigers) and Greg Johnson (San Francisco Giants) — is a lifelong Mets fan from Great Neck, NY. Cohen remembers going to games at the Polo Grounds as a kid, and genuinely cares about the success of them team, rather than the money. For Mets fans, Cohen is “one of them”; he has the same hopes and dreams for the team as the fans.

While it is not an overstatement to compare Cohen to a “savior”, anyone is better fit to own the New York Mets than a Wilpon. Mets fans would be equally as content as they are with Steve Cohen with any owner who cares about the team, and is willing to spend money to help it.

Of course, Cohen seeks to bring the New York Mets the Championship title, which they have not won since 1986. “If I don’t win a World Series in the next 3-5 years… I would consider that slightly disappointing,” Cohen said during his press conference. It is the aspiration of Mets fans that the team will climb its way through the echelons of Major League Baseball to join the Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers at the top. With Cohen as the Mets’ owner, this dream may not be far away.