Richmond County Bank Ballpark
Encyclopedia
The Richmond County Bank Ballpark at St. George (RCB Ballpark) is a baseball stadium located on the north-eastern tip of Staten Island. The ballpark is the home of the Staten Island Yankees
, the NY-Penn League
affiliate of the New York Yankees
, and of Wagner College
Seahawks Baseball. The ballpark was also home of the city's Pro Cricket
team the New York Storm
in 2004. In addition, local high schools have the chance to play at least one game at the Richmond County Bank Ballpark. The Ballpark at St. George is more commonly referred to as Staten Island Yankees Stadium instead of its much longer name, whose naming rights
were given to Richmond County Savings Bank.
. The design of the ballpark features sails at the entrances inspired by the Staten Island Ferry
and the St. George Ferry Terminal, which is about 0.33 mile (0.5310822 km) away and less than a five-minute walk from the ballpark. The S40 and S44 buses directly serve the stadium, but the stadium is accessible from the buses that terminate at the St. George Ferry Terminal. The St. George station of the Staten Island Railway
is also at the ferry terminal. From 2001 to 2009, on game days during the baseball season, SIR trains served the RCB Ballpark station
adjacent to the stadium with trains from both St. George and Tottenville
. In 2010, train service to RCB Ballpark station was suspended due to budget cuts from the MTA
.
The site on which the ballpark was built was once the site of the B&O Railroad
rail yards for the City of New York, and the current stadium parking lot was the site of Major League Baseball
in the 1880s. The New York Metropolitans
of the American Association played at the St. George Grounds
in 1886-1887 and the New York Giants played there while awaiting the construction of the second Polo Grounds
.
Richmond County Bank Ballpark was part of a deal with both the Yankees
and New York Mets
, brokered by then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani
. Due to Major League Baseball territory rules, the Yankees and Mets have veto power over each other (and any other Major League Baseball franchise), if they want to bring an affiliated minor-league team in to the New York City
metropolitan area. The Yankees and Mets had attempted to move minor-league teams to the area in the past, only to be turned down with their rival. With help (and public money) from the mayor, both teams agreed to allow each other to have a minor-league team in the city in return for new stadiums. The Mets moved a franchise to a new stadium, called Keyspan Park, (renamed to MCU Park in 2010), in the Coney Island
section of Brooklyn
.
In 2005, RCB Ballpark hosted two of the four concerts of the Across the Narrows Festival. The other two concerts took place simultaneously at KeySpan Park.
On August 17, 2010, RCB Ballpark will host the NY-Penn League All Star Game. This will be the ballpark's first opportunity to host the game and the second time that it will be held in New York City.
. The main entrance to the stadium is located on street level with the seating bowl and field built below street level. Sails at each entrance are a reference to boats which are always passing beyond the outfield wall. The batter’s eye in center field is able to retract so that spectators can view the skyline of New York City.
A replica of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge
is located on top of the main scoreboard.
The outfield walls have changed several times over the course of the stadium’s history. Originally the stadium had four LED
video boards spaced out on the outfield wall that would display rotating advertisements throughout the game. After these boards malfunctioned the team replaced them with traditional signage along the wall. These signs were replaced with a new 200 feet (61 m) video board in right field in 2007. The new video board is one of the longest in the minors. Also in 2007 the Ballpark received a brand new high-definition
main video board on top of the scoreboard.
s along with a 60-person Skyline Suite with one of the best views of the harbor.
Currently RCB Ballpark is home of the very first Professional Baseball Scouts Wall of Fame along the right field concourse. Members of the Scout Wall of Fame include Cesar Presbott, John Hagemann, Billy Blitzer, Gil Bassetti, Ralph Dilullo, Roland Hemond
, and Herb Stein
.
A small kids’ area is located down the left-field line with games.
Staten Island Yankees
The Staten Island Yankees are a minor league baseball team, located in the New York City borough of Staten Island. Nicknamed the "Baby Bombers," the Yankees are a Short-Season A classification affiliate of the New York Yankees and play in the New York - Penn League at Richmond County Bank Ballpark...
, the NY-Penn League
New York - Penn League
The New York – Penn League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the northeastern United States. It is classified as a "Short-Season A" league; its season starts in June, after major-league teams have signed their amateur draft picks to professional contracts, and ends in early...
affiliate of the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, and of Wagner College
Wagner College
Wagner College is a private, co-educational, national liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 2,400 total students located atop Grymes Hill in New York City's borough of Staten Island...
Seahawks Baseball. The ballpark was also home of the city's Pro Cricket
Pro Cricket
Pro Cricket was a professional cricket league in the United States. It was operated by American Pro Cricket LLC , a private company independent of the ICC and the USACA. Kalpesh Patel served as Pro Cricket's chairman and commissioner....
team the New York Storm
New York Storm
The New York Storm were a cricket team that played for the United States Pro Cricket league. It was one of eight founding teams in the league in 2004. This was the only year that the team played as the league was disbanded following the season. The team failed to make the playoffs during...
in 2004. In addition, local high schools have the chance to play at least one game at the Richmond County Bank Ballpark. The Ballpark at St. George is more commonly referred to as Staten Island Yankees Stadium instead of its much longer name, whose naming rights
Naming rights
In the private sector, naming rights are a financial transaction whereby a corporation or other entity purchases the right to name a facility, typically for a defined period of time. For properties like a multi-purpose arena, performing arts venue or an athletic field, the term ranges from three...
were given to Richmond County Savings Bank.
History
RCB Ballpark opened in 2001 and was designed by PopulousPopulous
-External links:*...
. The design of the ballpark features sails at the entrances inspired by the Staten Island Ferry
Staten Island Ferry
The Staten Island Ferry is a passenger ferry service operated by the New York City Department of Transportation that runs between the boroughs of Manhattan and Staten Island.-Overview:...
and the St. George Ferry Terminal, which is about 0.33 mile (0.5310822 km) away and less than a five-minute walk from the ballpark. The S40 and S44 buses directly serve the stadium, but the stadium is accessible from the buses that terminate at the St. George Ferry Terminal. The St. George station of the Staten Island Railway
Staten Island Railway
The Staten Island Rapid Transit Operating Authority, publicly known as MTA Staten Island Railway or SIR, is the operator of the lone rapid transit line in the borough of Staten Island, New York City, USA...
is also at the ferry terminal. From 2001 to 2009, on game days during the baseball season, SIR trains served the RCB Ballpark station
Richmond County Bank Ballpark (Staten Island Railway station)
Richmond Country Bank Ballpark is a closed station on the Staten Island Railway. The newest station on the railway, it opened on June 24, 2001 in conjunction with the Staten Island Yankees baseball season....
adjacent to the stadium with trains from both St. George and Tottenville
Tottenville (Staten Island Railway station)
Tottenville is a Staten Island Railway station in the neighborhood of Tottenville, Staten Island, New York. Located near Main Street and Arthur Kill Road, it is the southern terminus on the main line and the southernmost railway station in New York State....
. In 2010, train service to RCB Ballpark station was suspended due to budget cuts from the MTA
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New York)
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York is a public benefit corporation responsible for public transportation in the U.S...
.
The site on which the ballpark was built was once the site of the B&O Railroad
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was one of the oldest railroads in the United States and the first common carrier railroad. It came into being mostly because the city of Baltimore wanted to compete with the newly constructed Erie Canal and another canal being proposed by Pennsylvania, which...
rail yards for the City of New York, and the current stadium parking lot was the site of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
in the 1880s. The New York Metropolitans
New York Metropolitans
The Metropolitan Club was a 19th-century professional baseball team that played in New York City from 1880 to 1887...
of the American Association played at the St. George Grounds
St. George Cricket Grounds
St. George Cricket Grounds or "St. George Grounds" is a former baseball ground located on Staten Island, New York, USA. St. George was the home park for the New York Metropolitans of the American Association for the 1886 and 1887 seasons...
in 1886-1887 and the New York Giants played there while awaiting the construction of the second Polo Grounds
Polo Grounds
The Polo Grounds was the name given to four different stadiums in Upper Manhattan, New York City, used by many professional teams in both baseball and American football from 1880 until 1963...
.
Richmond County Bank Ballpark was part of a deal with both the Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
and New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
, brokered by then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani
Rudy Giuliani
Rudolph William Louis "Rudy" Giuliani KBE is an American lawyer, businessman, and politician from New York. He served as Mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001....
. Due to Major League Baseball territory rules, the Yankees and Mets have veto power over each other (and any other Major League Baseball franchise), if they want to bring an affiliated minor-league team in to the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
metropolitan area. The Yankees and Mets had attempted to move minor-league teams to the area in the past, only to be turned down with their rival. With help (and public money) from the mayor, both teams agreed to allow each other to have a minor-league team in the city in return for new stadiums. The Mets moved a franchise to a new stadium, called Keyspan Park, (renamed to MCU Park in 2010), in the Coney Island
Coney Island
Coney Island is a peninsula and beach on the Atlantic Ocean in southern Brooklyn, New York, United States. The site was formerly an outer barrier island, but became partially connected to the mainland by landfill....
section of Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
.
In 2005, RCB Ballpark hosted two of the four concerts of the Across the Narrows Festival. The other two concerts took place simultaneously at KeySpan Park.
On August 17, 2010, RCB Ballpark will host the NY-Penn League All Star Game. This will be the ballpark's first opportunity to host the game and the second time that it will be held in New York City.
Design
The Richmond County Bank Ballpark was designed to take advantage of the stadium’s location overlooking New York HarborNew York Harbor
New York Harbor refers to the waterways of the estuary near the mouth of the Hudson River that empty into New York Bay. It is one of the largest natural harbors in the world. Although the U.S. Board of Geographic Names does not use the term, New York Harbor has important historical, governmental,...
. The main entrance to the stadium is located on street level with the seating bowl and field built below street level. Sails at each entrance are a reference to boats which are always passing beyond the outfield wall. The batter’s eye in center field is able to retract so that spectators can view the skyline of New York City.
A replica of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge
Verrazano-Narrows Bridge
The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge is a double-decked suspension bridge that connects the boroughs of Staten Island and Brooklyn in New York City at the Narrows, the reach connecting the relatively protected upper bay with the larger lower bay....
is located on top of the main scoreboard.
The outfield walls have changed several times over the course of the stadium’s history. Originally the stadium had four LED
Light-emitting diode
A light-emitting diode is a semiconductor light source. LEDs are used as indicator lamps in many devices and are increasingly used for other lighting...
video boards spaced out on the outfield wall that would display rotating advertisements throughout the game. After these boards malfunctioned the team replaced them with traditional signage along the wall. These signs were replaced with a new 200 feet (61 m) video board in right field in 2007. The new video board is one of the longest in the minors. Also in 2007 the Ballpark received a brand new high-definition
High-definition television
High-definition television is video that has resolution substantially higher than that of traditional television systems . HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD...
main video board on top of the scoreboard.
Miscellaneous
RCB Ballpark has 18 regular-sized luxury suiteLuxury box
A Luxury box is a special seating section located within stadiums, arenas and other sporting and entertainment venues. They are typically located in the midsection of a stadium grandstand, usually providing the best views of the event...
s along with a 60-person Skyline Suite with one of the best views of the harbor.
Currently RCB Ballpark is home of the very first Professional Baseball Scouts Wall of Fame along the right field concourse. Members of the Scout Wall of Fame include Cesar Presbott, John Hagemann, Billy Blitzer, Gil Bassetti, Ralph Dilullo, Roland Hemond
Roland Hemond
Roland Hemond is a longtime executive in Major League Baseball who in 2007 returned to the Arizona Diamondbacks as Special Assistant to the President, Derrick Hall...
, and Herb Stein
Herb Stein
Herb Stein was an American football player. After high school, Stein attended the University of Pittsburgh and served as the team's center from 1918 until 1921. He was a consensus All-American for Pitt in both his junior and senior years and served as the team captain in 1920...
.
A small kids’ area is located down the left-field line with games.