Steve Cohen officially becomes new NY Mets owner after closing the sale, ending Wilpon era

New York Mets beat writer Justin Toscano discusses Steve Cohen taking over as the new owner of the team. NorthJersey.com

“Steve Cohen, owner of the New York Mets.” 

How does that sound, Mets fans? 

It’s now reality as Cohen officially became the team’s owner by completing the $2.4 billion transaction Friday. He announced on Twitter that the sale closed. His introductory press conference will likely be held on Tuesday over Zoom. 

“This is a significant milestone in the history of this storied franchise,” Cohen soon said in a statement. “I want to thank everybody who helped make this happen. The 2021 season is right around the corner and we’ve got a lot of work to do, so I’m excited to get started.  Let’s go Mets!”

The Wilpon era is over and optimism awaits for a franchise that, for most of this century, has been known more for the comical headlines it drew than anything it ever won. 

Mets change: Brodie Van Wagenen, Mets front office are out as Steve Cohen completes purchase of team

The sale’s completion marks the end of a lengthy rollercoaster ride that began last December, when the Sterling Partners — the Wilpon and Katz families — announced they were in negotiations to sell the team to Cohen. But the deal fell through two months later, living up to the theme of “Metsiness” often seen under the Wilpons. 

File-This Dec. 10, 2009 file photo shows Steve Cohen attending a benefit on Dec. 10, 2009, in New York.

 (Photo: AP)

In spring training, the Wilpons released a statement saying they were still looking to sell and would be finding a new buyer. February, March, April and May passed. The summer arrived and, during the shortened season, Cohen once again emerged as the favorite — simply because, well, he had the most money. 

All along, fans rooted for the man many are calling “Uncle Steve.” He’s a lifelong Mets fan from Long Island and he, they hoped, would care for their team as much as any fan would. 

Since MLB owners approved Cohen on Oct. 30 — a monumental day in franchise history — much of the fanbase has celebrated. Fans are tired of the snafus, of the meddling from owners, of the penny-pinching, of losing. 

As Cohen surely knows, the celebration will quickly halt if he doesn’t build a perennial winner. 

He faces many priorities now, including putting together the front office. Those decision-makers — led by new team president Sandy Alderson — will be tasked with improving the roster for 2021. Most of all, fans long for a stable operation. 

They want a winner, one that is as professional off the field as on it. They want to be proud of the team they root for, not laughed at for rooting for it. They dream of winning multiple World Series, but they would enjoy, at the very least, much less heartbreak. 

More: NY Mets owner Steve Cohen is asking for ways to make fans’ experience better. Here are 10

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Cohen, now MLB’s richest owner after paying more for the Mets than anyone ever had for any professional sports team in this country, hopes to deliver. 

Andy Cohen (not related to Steve) and Alex Cohen, Steve’s wife, have minority shares in the team that, combined with Steve’s, equal a 95 percent ownership stake, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. Alex is Puerto Rican and grew up in Washington Heights, meaning she is a Latina owner (as Jennifer Lopez would have been). 

The Mets have already started undergoing changes. According to a source, Andy Cohen, the chief investment officer and co-founder of Cohen Private Ventures, is the franchise’s new vice chairman. He’s remaining at Cohen Private Ventures and is keeping his seat on the Mets’ Board of Directors.

Additionally, all Mets employees are reporting to Alderson, per a source. 

Steve Cohen is already off to an entertaining start. His Twitter account (@StevenACohen) is must-follow content. He asked fans for their suggestions on making their experience better and has replied to some. 

On Twitter, one fan remarked that he loved how Cohen is responding to fans, but wondered if it might change if the Mets began losing. 

“Not going to change,” Cohen tweeted back. “If anybody can take the heat, it’s me.” 

Cohen has even shown his sense of humor. When one user asked Cohen what the hedge fund billionaire got him for his birthday, Cohen responded: “Nothing.” When another commented that Cohen and his wife, Alex, have done an A+ job throughout this transition, Cohen replied: “I don’t remember getting many of those in college.” 

Of course, Cohen’s ownership of the team won’t be judged on funny tweets or juicy quotes from his eventual introductory press conference. These things may be exciting, but at the end of the day, we all know how owners, general managers and others in this game are judged: How often do they win? 

But at least for now, it seems important that Mets fans, rejuvenated with hope, are now rooting for a team with an owner that they actually like. 

That hasn’t been the case in a long time. 

Justin Toscano is the Mets beat writer for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to all Mets analysis, news, trades and more, please subscribe today and download our app.

Email: toscanoj@northjersey.com 

Twitter: @justinctoscano