Staten Island University Hospital Community Park - Staten Island FerryHawks

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14

Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH) Community Park 75 Richmond Terrace Staten Island, NY 10301

Staten Island FerryHawks website

Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH) Community Park website

Year Opened: 2001

Capacity: 7,171

Welcome to Hawk City

Following Major League Baseball’s contraction of the minor leagues after the 2019 season, Staten Island was left without affiliated baseball for the first time in two decades. The New York–Penn League’s Staten Island Yankees had come to the borough in 1999, first playing on the campus of the College of Staten Island, before moving into their permanent home at Staten Island University Hospital Community Park, then known as Richmond County Bank Stadium.

That absence did not last long – in 2022 the independent Atlantic League introduced a new team, the Staten Island FerryHawks, with a name honoring one of the borough’s most recognizable symbols, the Staten Island Ferry. The stadium is also the home of both Wagner College and New York University baseball.

Baseball has long had a home on Staten Island’s waterfront, from the Metropolitans of 1880 to the Yankees and now the FerryHawks. Today, Staten Island University Hospital Community Park continues that presence, offering fans a ballpark experience highlighted by its waterfront setting, skyline views, and community atmosphere.

Food & Beverage   3

At SIUH Community Park fans can find something to suit both traditional ballpark tastes and local flavors; concessions here are typical for minor league stadiums, with a touch of local flavor.

Frankie’s Tenders and Tots focuses on classic ballpark favorites, including chicken tenders, crispy chicken sandwiches, and wings, each accompanied by a side of fries, while Hawk City Burgers serves up traditional burgers with optional cheese or bacon, alongside grilled chicken sandwiches and veggie burgers for non-beef eaters, all also served with fries. The standout concession, Flour & Oak by Angelina’s, offers authentic New York pizza slices, mozzarella sticks, and Italian-style fried dough, zeppole.

The Kills Boro beer tent on the third base side provides a selection of craft beers, including the Ferry Hawk-branded Hawk Eye Lager and six additional brews from the Staten Island-based brewery; non-alcohol options are limited to Pepsi products.

Atmosphere   3

The main point of entry is directly behind home plate at street level. The entry plaza features orange and light blue bollards, giving the entrance a personalized touch, while the canopy over the gates resembles the sails of boats in the harbor. Once inside the concourse fans are greeted with a breathtaking view of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Jersey City, with the Statue of Liberty standing proudly in the distance.

The stadium’s sea of light blue seats complements the harbor just beyond the outfield fence, and the playing surface is artificial turf, including the baselines, with a large orange interlocking “SI” woven into centerfield. The main scoreboard, located in left center, is topped with a silhouette of the Verrazano Bridge. While this board provides a detailed rundown of batter statistics, information on pitchers is limited, leaving fans without details about who is on the mound.

The game presentation features several mid-inning contests to fill downtime. The contests are not especially unique, but they provide a lighthearted break and a touch of entertainment between innings. Sound effects are used regularly throughout the game, while remaining subtle enough not to be distracting, helping maintain the stadium’s lively atmosphere.

Common wisdom might say seats closer to the field provide the best game experience, but this comes with some drawbacks. The closer the seats are to the action, the less a view of the skyline and harbor can be enjoyed.

The Atlantic League often features rosters with a handful of former major leaguers – during the most recent game I attended, former World Series MVP Pablo Sandoval played for the FerryHawks. While most former major leaguers may not have the same notoriety as Sandoval, the league has seen stints from legends such as Rickey Henderson, Jose Canseco, and Roger Clemens.

Neighborhood   4

SIUH Community Park sits on New York Bay, adjacent to Empire Outlet mall. The surrounding area is largely urban, where apartment buildings have transitioned from the borough’s single-family houses.

While the Staten Island Ferry offers easy access to Manhattan’s endless food and entertainment, there are plenty of options closer to the ballpark as well. Just across the ferry terminal viaduct, the National Lighthouse Museum highlights the borough’s maritime heritage, while Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Gardens houses both the Staten Island Children’s Museum and the Staten Island Museum.

For dining, Empire Outlets next to the stadium features several national chains, and the nearby St. George ferry terminal has additional casual options. Those looking for something more local might try Mavi Cafe, a highly regarded Mediterranean restaurant. Other acclaimed restaurants in the neighborhood lean a bit more formal for a pregame stop, but fans will find no shortage of choices within a short walk of SIUH Community Park.

Fans 2

Staten Island has long struggled with attendance; neither the Staten Island Yankees nor the FerryHawks have topped 2,000 fans a night since 2017, when the Yankees, then a New York-Penn League affiliate, averaged 2,040 per game. Even in their 2006 title season, the Yankees ranked just 8th out of 14 teams in attendance.

Today, the FerryHawks sit last in the Atlantic League, drawing around 1,100 fans per game. The fans who do show up can spark some excitement, but the small numbers make it hard to sustain a true home-field atmosphere.

Access   3

If you’re visiting just for a game, getting in and out of Staten Island brings the usual challenges of driving in America’s largest city. Traffic along I-278 generally moves reasonably well, but it can be a lot to contend with. In addition, one of the problems with traversing Staten Island is that it is not served by the New York City subway system, creating additional logistical hurdles to contend with.

For most visitors the easiest way to reach the ballpark is to stay in Manhattan or Brooklyn, take the subway to the Whitehall Street-South Ferry station, and then ride the Staten Island Ferry across. Both the subway and ferry run 24 hours, making this route dependable no matter when the game ends.

For those driving, the Empire Outlets parking deck next to the stadium is the most practical option. Limited street parking is available within a short walk of SIUH Community Park, but be sure to watch for posted parking restrictions.

The stadium has three entrances, two in the outfield and one behind home plate, but only the gates along Richmond Terrace are open. The concourse circles the top of the seating bowl from behind home plate down the third base line, and on the first base side, stairs descend to a lower concourse that stretches toward right field. The walkway ends at the outfield wall on both sides, as there is no seating beyond the fences.

One benefit of the ballpark’s urban setting is how quickly the area clears after games – fans seem to disperse fairly quickly afterward, simply blending into the regular commotion of New York City.

Return on Investment   3

With general admission tickets starting at $18, prices are on the high side for independent league baseball, especially compared to other Atlantic League teams where entry often begins at $12. Concessions also carry the usual stadium markups, with several main items running a few dollars more than typical restaurant prices.

The stadium does not have its own designated parking, so the costs there depend on personal choice; either paying $10 to park in the neighboring Empire Outlets garage, which is reasonable by city standards, or searching for a free street spot within walking distance.

Extras   4

In a moving tribute, Staten Island native and former Major Leaguer Anthony Varvaro is honored with his # 24 displayed on the suite level and scoreboard. Varvaro, who pitched for the Mariners, Braves, and Red Sox, retired to serve as a Port Authority police officer before tragically losing his life in a head-on collision with a wrong-way driver.

FerryHawks mascot Frankie is everywhere, seemingly having his feathers in everything from leading the pre-game festivities to keeping fans entertained between innings.

Behind the first-base seating area, the Professional Baseball Scouts Wall of Fame, established in 2008 by the Topps Company, recognizes the accomplishments of the game’s top scouts.

If possible, plan your visit for a fireworks night – the display against the Manhattan skyline is nothing short of spectacular.

Final Thoughts

SIUH Community Park’s location has a rich history of hosting baseball, rooted in the borough’s love for the game and its waterfront setting. With intimate sight lines, breathtaking skyline, and harbor views, the park offers a unique and memorable outing for fans. Today, the borough’s baseball tradition continues at Staten Island University Hospital Community Park, where the FerryHawks provide a modern, family-friendly experience while celebrating waterfront baseball.