Drumroll please. And the winner is...
The Staten Island Ferry Hawks!
That’s right, Staten Island’s new Atlantic League baseball club received its official title on Wednesday evening -- and a sweet new logo, to boot. After countless nominations were submitted, and the fan polling whittled down to three finalists, it was the Ferry Hawks moniker which emerged victorious in a landslide triumph.
The team did not disclose the final tally, but acknowledged that thousands of votes were cast among the three finalists -- which also included Harbor Heroes and Dragon Slayers -- and that Ferry Hawks had won “by far.”
“When we started, the first thing we knew was that we wanted the team name to be of Staten Island, for Staten Island, and reflect well on Staten Island,” acknowledged team partner Eric Shuffler. “This whole voting process was to make sure Staten Island was leading our design.
“I’m overwhelmed by the reaction,” he added. “People gravitated to the name.”
The name encompasses two of the borough’s key features: the Staten Island Ferry and, of course, hawks, which have grown to be synonymous with the Island’s ecosystem. The logo, which vividly displays the team’s sharp burnt orange, Carolina blue, and “surf” green color scheme, portrays a Hawk -- garbed in a full baseball uniform (including a “green belt”), sporting a backwards cap and lumbering baseball bat on its shoulder. In the background, the S.I. ferry and Statue of Liberty are also on display.
“The ferry is part of who we are and people love hawks,” noted Shuffler. “They’re strong, fast, loyal and it makes for a great Minor League sports name that reflects on Staten Island culture. Our merchandise and logos will be very specific to Staten Island.”
“Staten Island is a great borough, full of common sense and hard-working New Yorkers who love their community, love to have fun and deserve a world class year-round entertainment venue,” said team partner John Catsimatidis. “The symbols of Staten Island, the hawk, the Verrazano Bridge and the ferry will last in people’s minds forever. Staten Island, get ready for some awesome promotions and entertainment!”
The vivacious color scheme is almost an amalgamation of the classic looks of the Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Mariners, and Carolina Tar Heels. The “mighty” Ferry Hawk, with its hat flipped back, is pictured clubbing a homer in one logo.
The Ferry Hawk's sharp beak and fierce talons bring the character to life. (Courtesy of Staten Island Ferry Hawks)
“The logo is amazing. It’s our new superhero on Staten Island,” quipped general manager Gary Perone. “Kids will love it. Everyone feels it. It’s a fun mascot for a venue located nearby the ferry.
“It’s a fun, but edgy character. I think people will enjoy it,” he added.
Shuffler acknowledged the millions of people who use the ferry per year, and the nearby Empire Outlets as points of interest and relevance for the name. The team plans to incorporate the other nominations, including Harbor Heroes and Dragon Slayers, in upcoming promotions. Tickets and merchandise are also scheduled to go live this week as well.
“We want to create a place that’s fun, edgy, and Staten Island-centric,” he concluded. “Staten Island decided this and they informed us...they were the focus and they drove this.”