What if baseball history echoed right here? Let me tell you about the Richmond County Bank Ballpark at Saint George. This ballpark isn’t just a place for baseball games. It is a spot filled with history and community spirit.
Richmond County Bank Ballpark is located on the northeastern tip of Staten Island. It overlooks the New York Harbor. The ballpark is currently known as SIUH Community Park. This name came about after a naming rights deal.
The location of the Richmond County Bank Ballpark has a rich past. It was once the site of the B&O Railroad rail yards. In the 1880s, it even hosted Major League Baseball. The New York Metropolitans and New York Giants played here.
The construction of Richmond County Bank Ballpark was quite the deal. Mayor Rudy Giuliani brokered an agreement between the Yankees and Mets. Both teams had veto power over bringing minor league teams to New York City. The deal allowed both teams to have minor league teams in the city. This was in exchange for new stadiums. The groundbreaking ceremony happened on June 8, 2000. The park opened on June 24, 2001.
After the September 11 attacks, the Richmond County Bank Ballpark served as a staging area. Its proximity to the Staten Island Ferry’s St. George Terminal made it ideal. It became a spiritual link to Manhattan for Staten Island residents.
The Richmond County Bank Ballpark has hosted many events. In 2005, it hosted concerts for the Across the Narrows Festival. In 2010, it was the site of the NY-Penn League All-Star Game. Impact Wrestling even held a live event here in 2017.
From 2001 to 2020, the Richmond County Bank Ballpark was home to the Staten Island Yankees. Today, it is home to the Staten Island FerryHawks. It is the largest stadium in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. The Wagner College Seahawks baseball team also plays here. Local high schools get a chance to play a game here each season.
The Richmond County Bank Ballpark was designed by Populous and Architecture +. Its design takes advantage of its location. It overlooks the New York Harbor. The main entrance is at street level. The seating bowl and field are built below street level. Sails at each entrance resemble the Staten Island Ferry boats.
The Richmond County Bank Ballpark has luxury suites. There is also a Skyline Suite. It offers amazing views of the harbor. A kids’ area is located down the left-field line.
A replica of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge sits on the main scoreboard. It once had the letters “RC” on it. This resembled the logo of Richmond County Bank. The letters were removed in 2022.
Getting to Richmond County Bank Ballpark is easy. The St. George Terminal of the Staten Island Ferry is nearby. Several buses serve the stadium. The St. George station of the Staten Island Railway is also at the ferry terminal.
The Richmond County Bank Ballpark station used to serve the stadium. It operated on game days only. Budget cuts led to its closure in 2010.
Today, the Richmond County Bank Ballpark stands as a testament to baseball. It shows community spirit, and resilience. So next time you are near the Richmond County Bank Ballpark at Saint George, take a moment. Remember its history. Think about its role in bringing people together.