The Staten Island FerryHawks baseball team will host its first home game on Tuesday, May 3. This also marks opening night for the team’s renovated ballpark in St. George.
The Staten Island FerryHawks, part of the Atlantic League, will take on the Lexington Legends that night. First pitch will be between 6:30-7pm.
The roster is starting to take shape with the recent signing of three initial players, including first baseman Kacy Clemens, son of MLB star Roger Clemens, and shortstop Alfredo Reyes.
Jose Velez, a native New Yorker and former Miami Marlins and Minnesota Twins player, returns to his hometown as the team’s left-hand pitcher.
The New Ballpark
The Staten Island Ballpark, formerly the Richmond County Bank Ballpark, has been renovated in anticipation of the big night. The 7,000-seat ballpark will open with lots of new features, including concession upgrades and activity areas for kids.
“We are giving the venue a facelift,” said Gary Perone, executive vice president and general manager of the Staten Island FerryHawks. “It will be changed out in terms of the look, the feel and the colors. It’s going to be pretty special.”
The ballpark’s new design was inspired by Staten Island geography. Sections of the park will be named after popular areas within the borough, including the North and South Shores.
The ballpark’s new Shaolin Alley section will offer activities for families and kids.
“This will be a festival area. It’s going to be really cool. We’ll have face painting and lots of kids’ activities in this area,” Perone said.
A Walk of Fame features famous Staten Islanders, including Saturday Night Live cast member, Pete Davidson, and the cast of Impractical Jokers. A Little League Moments Wall will spotlight some of Staten Island’s youngest star athletes.
The team also plans to support local businesses. A brand-new food stand, which the team has named the Taste of Shaolin, will feature a variety of hometown restaurants.
“In this area, we’re actually building out the concession stand so local businesses on Staten Island can come in and take it over for a night,” Perone said.
As part of the Taste of Shaolin, participating restaurant owners will showcase their food and promote their brands on site.
The Staten Island FerryHawks Playing Field
Grass on the playing field will be replaced with a turf-based field, allowing for other events to take place on non-game days, according to Perone.
The Staten Island FerryHawks team is an endeavor of the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and Staten Island Entertainment (SIE), led by John Catsimatidis, owner of the Gristedes Foods grocery chain. The team was officially announced in August 2021, after the cancellation of the Staten Island Yankees minor league baseball team.
Details about special pre-game activities will be announced. Visit the team’s website at ferryhawks.com for more information.
