Contact: Colleen Roche/Curt Ritter (212) 788-2958
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, joined by Staten Island Borough President Guy V. Molinari, Staten Island Yankees Chief Operating Officer Josh Getzler and Staten Island Yankees President Hal Steinbrenner, today announced that the Staten Island Yankees are scheduled to play their first home game at the College of Staten Island on Father's Day, June 20, 1999. Beginning March 1st baseball fans can call 718-698-YANKS to purchase season tickets.
The Staten Island Yankees, a Single A minor league baseball team in the New York Penn League, are scheduled to play at the College of Staten Island while a new 6,500-seat ballpark is built on the former CSX railroad site adjacent to the Staten Island Ferry terminal in St. George. The new ballpark, being designed by Helmuth, Obata, & Kassabaum, Inc. is expected to be completed in time for opening day 2001. It will have similar field dimensions to Yankee Stadium and will have all the amenities of a modern sporting facility, including 10 to 20 luxury boxes. Until the new ballpark is built, The Staten Island Yankees will play at the College of Staten Island, where the present field is being renovated and improved to include: permanent seats, press boxes, a public address system, new dugouts, and stadium-lighting.
"Today is a great day for New York baseball fans," said Mayor Giuliani. "With one of the most breathtaking sporting venues in the country, a true field of dreams, sports fans will have a spectacular panoramic view of Manhattan's skyline and the Statue of Liberty while they watch games under the stars. The Staten Island Yankees will provide families throughout the City with exciting and inexpensive entertainment. For about the price of a movie ticket they will be able to see tomorrow's Hall of Famers come of age on Staten Island.
"I want to thank the Steinbrenner and Getzler families for having the vision to relocate to Staten Island," the Mayor continued. "This ballpark will benefit the community and serve as another great place for quality family entertainment in New York City," the Mayor concluded.
Season tickets for the 38 home games, ranging in price from $228.00, $304.00 and $380.00, will be available March 1st, while individual game seats ranging from $6.00 to $10.00 will be available March 15th. The Staten Island Yankees 76-game season will run from June 16th through September 2nd.
Staten Island Borough President Guy Molinari said, "The new ballpark represents one of a number of St. George area initiatives -- including the reconstruction of the Staten Island Ferry Terminal and the construction of two new museums -- The Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences Museum and The National Lighthouse Museum -- that will provide a new and exciting gateway to Staten Island. As a lifelong Yankees fan, it is indeed a thrill for me that a Yankees minor league team will be playing here on Staten Island. I look forward to joining Mayor Giuliani -- whose extraordinary leadership has made this wonderful news possible -- on June 20th, at the College of Staten Island, to cheer on New York City's newest home team."
The Yankees' affiliate will enter into a 20-year lease on the new ballpark and will be responsible for all costs associated with maintaining and operating the facility. The Staten Island Yankees will be co-owned by the Getzler family, the owners of the former Watertown team, and the Steinbrenner family. The City will receive a sliding scale percentage of revenue generated from ballpark advertising, special events, ticket sales and the sale of ballpark naming rights. When not in use by the Staten Island Yankees, the ballpark will be available for other organized activities, including at least 20 rent-free City-sponsored community related events. It will also provide much-needed parking for ferry commuters when games are not in play.
Yankees General Partner and Staten Island Yankees President Hal Steinbrenner said, "The Yankees are very happy to have been able to help bring professional baseball to Staten Island. We know that fans throughout the area will get tremendous enjoyment in seeing Yankees' major league stars of the future begin their professional careers in what will be a great setting for baseball."
Staten Island Yankees Chief Operating Officer Josh Getzler said, "We have been champing at the bit to get started serving the people of Staten Island and New York City and we couldn't be happier that this day has come. We look forward to integrating ourselves into our new neighborhood and to getting to know our fans. We will be active members in the business and civic communities, from the Youth Baseball Leagues, which are so popular on Staten Island, to the Chamber of Commerce. We are grateful for the support and enthusiasm we have received to this point and we will work hard to make the people, the businesses, and the Yankees proud of our affiliation with them."
Also joining the Mayor for today's announcement were Staten Island Yankees Chairman Stanley Getzler, Staten Island Yankees Treasurer Phyllis Getzler, New York Penn League President Robert Julian, New York Yankees Executive Vice President and General Counsel Lonn Trost, New York Yankees Vice President of Player Development and Scouting Mark Newman, College of Staten Island President Marlene Springer, City Planning Commissioner Joseph Rose, and Economic Development Corporation President Charles Millard.
Go to Press
Releases | Giuliani Archives
| Mayor's Office | NYC.gov
Home Page
Contact Us | FAQs | Privacy Statement | Site Map