Contact: Sunny Mindel/Curt Ritter (212) 788-2958
"This day has long been anticipated by New York City baseball fans," said Mayor Giuliani. "With tonight's inaugural home opener, minor-league baseball has finally made it to Staten Island. The newly renovated ballfield at the College of Staten Island will serve as an excellent interim facility until the Staten Island Yankees begin playing at their new ballpark in St. George in 2001. Tonight we watch future Yankee stars under the stars, and I can think of no better way to spend an evening then watching minor-league baseball in New York City."
The Staten Island Yankees, a Single A minor league baseball team in the New York Penn League, will play at the College of Staten Island. The College's ballfield was recently renovated and improved to include permanent seats, press boxes, a public address system, new dugouts, and stadium-lighting. The Staten Island Yankees will play at the College until 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 Hellmuth, Obata, & Kassabaum and overseen by the New York City Economic Development Corporation is expected to be completed in time for Opening Day 2001 and will have similar field dimensions to Yankee Stadium and include all the amenities of a modern sporting facility with 10 to 20 luxury boxes.
Yankees fans interested in attending future games can call 718-698-YANKS for tickets.