Chris
05-15-01, 09:20 AM
C:\WINDOWS\Temporary Internet Files\OLK2221\New York Daily News Online News and Views City Beat Stadium of Dreams.htm
I'm psyched
Stadium of Dreams
Ballpark for S.I. Yanks looks like a hit
By MARY ENGELS
Special to The News
taten Island Yankees official Josh Getzler looked out from the stands above home plate yesterday at the nearly complete Richmond County Bank Ballpark.
"Welcome to our dream house. It's got the best view in the world," he said.
Beyond the newly sodded baseball diamond was a panorama that included New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline.
The New York-Penn League champion Baby Bombers will open their $79 million, publicly funded ballpark for baseball June 24 with fanfare and fireworks. Their Opening Day foes will be the Hudson Valley Renegades.
Josh Getzler, chief operating officer of the Staten Island Yankees, stands in the new Richmond County Bank Ballpark in St. George.
The 6,500-seat stadium, which also has 19 luxury suites, one of which can accommodate 60 fans, is ready except for a few finishing touches.
The infield is sodded, the light towers and yellow foul poles are in place and the left field scoreboard has been crowned with a sculpture of the Verrazano Bridge, which will light up when the home team scores.
"It's very rare when you come to a project with high expectations that you have them exceeded," said Getzler, the team's chief operating officer. "And that's exactly what has happened here."
Getzler and his father, Stan, operated in upstate Watertown before they got the go-ahead from Mayor Giuliani and Staten Island Borough President Guy Molinari to build next to the Staten Island ferry terminal in St. George.
Watertown was never like this.
"It's a great location, a minute from the ferry, and [there is] a Staten Island Railway spur that will deliver passengers to a soon-to-be-completed platform beneath the stadium that will ease any traffic congestion that may occur," Getzler said.
He noted that there will be parking for 1,100 cars adjacent to the stadium.
Concessions will include merchandise shops, food courts and a glatt kosher food kiosk. In addition, a section has been set aside for a Staten Island Hall of Fame featuring the island's baseball heroes.
Opening Day is sold out, Getzler said, and tickets are moving "briskly" for other games, especially the eight dates in July and August against the Brooklyn Cyclones, a Mets farm team.
"Ticket buyers are already lining up for the rivalry games between us and them," he said.
"We are trying to keep prices at a minimum, with seats going for $8 and $10, and hot dogs for $1.75," he said. "We are also planning a series of promotional nights, in which we'll be giving away championship T-shirts, caps and popular bobble-head dolls."
The team will play 38 home games in the Class A short-season New York-Penn League. The rest of the time, the stadium will be used for special events.
"This year we're looking at a charity fund-raiser game with station WPLJ in early August, followed by a boxing match with ESPN that would take place Aug. 24," Getzler said.
A doo-wop show is slated for Sept. 22, and possibly a classical concert including Handel's "Royal Fireworks Music," complete with a fireworks display.
Original Publication Date: 5/15/01
I'm psyched
Stadium of Dreams
Ballpark for S.I. Yanks looks like a hit
By MARY ENGELS
Special to The News
taten Island Yankees official Josh Getzler looked out from the stands above home plate yesterday at the nearly complete Richmond County Bank Ballpark.
"Welcome to our dream house. It's got the best view in the world," he said.
Beyond the newly sodded baseball diamond was a panorama that included New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline.
The New York-Penn League champion Baby Bombers will open their $79 million, publicly funded ballpark for baseball June 24 with fanfare and fireworks. Their Opening Day foes will be the Hudson Valley Renegades.
Josh Getzler, chief operating officer of the Staten Island Yankees, stands in the new Richmond County Bank Ballpark in St. George.
The 6,500-seat stadium, which also has 19 luxury suites, one of which can accommodate 60 fans, is ready except for a few finishing touches.
The infield is sodded, the light towers and yellow foul poles are in place and the left field scoreboard has been crowned with a sculpture of the Verrazano Bridge, which will light up when the home team scores.
"It's very rare when you come to a project with high expectations that you have them exceeded," said Getzler, the team's chief operating officer. "And that's exactly what has happened here."
Getzler and his father, Stan, operated in upstate Watertown before they got the go-ahead from Mayor Giuliani and Staten Island Borough President Guy Molinari to build next to the Staten Island ferry terminal in St. George.
Watertown was never like this.
"It's a great location, a minute from the ferry, and [there is] a Staten Island Railway spur that will deliver passengers to a soon-to-be-completed platform beneath the stadium that will ease any traffic congestion that may occur," Getzler said.
He noted that there will be parking for 1,100 cars adjacent to the stadium.
Concessions will include merchandise shops, food courts and a glatt kosher food kiosk. In addition, a section has been set aside for a Staten Island Hall of Fame featuring the island's baseball heroes.
Opening Day is sold out, Getzler said, and tickets are moving "briskly" for other games, especially the eight dates in July and August against the Brooklyn Cyclones, a Mets farm team.
"Ticket buyers are already lining up for the rivalry games between us and them," he said.
"We are trying to keep prices at a minimum, with seats going for $8 and $10, and hot dogs for $1.75," he said. "We are also planning a series of promotional nights, in which we'll be giving away championship T-shirts, caps and popular bobble-head dolls."
The team will play 38 home games in the Class A short-season New York-Penn League. The rest of the time, the stadium will be used for special events.
"This year we're looking at a charity fund-raiser game with station WPLJ in early August, followed by a boxing match with ESPN that would take place Aug. 24," Getzler said.
A doo-wop show is slated for Sept. 22, and possibly a classical concert including Handel's "Royal Fireworks Music," complete with a fireworks display.
Original Publication Date: 5/15/01