STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- With the NY Wheel and Empire Outlets moving in next door, the Staten Island Yankees are looking for something to offer visitors at Richmond County Bank Ballpark when it's not baseball season. Perhaps a zipline, ice skating rink, laser tag, concert venue, tequila bar?

All these options and more are on the table right now, as the Staten Island Yankees seek to make the 7,171-seat stadium a year-round "multi-use" facility, said Steven Violetta, CEO of Staten Island Yankees, who has an overall vision for transforming the stadium into a major recreation complex.

"When the Wheel and the outlets are online, all of a sudden that right field location becomes our second front door. ...I think the sky is the limit, with all the traffic the Wheel and outlet mall will draw here, there are so many different opportunities," he said.

"We are looking at gradually making that side of the ballpark a place people want to go. In the long-term we need some 24/7 365 (days of the year) type of programming because we need to be more than just a baseball stadium for four months out of the year," he added.

COMING IN JUNE

A new Craft Beer Central and separate barbecue concession are taking shape at the ballpark for the 2015 baseball season, which starts June 19, said Violetta.

"We are starting to creep down that right field line with the concession stands. Historically, the right field side are the last tickets to sell. Since that's the side closest to the Wheel, our new front door, we need to start making some inroads now. We can't wait until the Wheel starts operating," he said.

The Brooklyn-based Union Beer Distributors will operate the new Craft Beer Central, with six different beers, he said. Also on that side of the stadium will be a concession stand offering patrons a wide selection of barbecue, added Violetta.

"We will have a local barbecue guy. It will be pulled pork, brisket, short ribs. ... This is all part of our 'going local.' We are trying to get as many local guys into the ballpark that we can," he said.

IN THE WORKS



Violetta said he is also working on a concession that will sell liquor.

"The concession stand underneath section 14 is the only spot in the ballpark that can serve liquor. And we are not that far along on this as the Craft Beer Central, but we want to make a margarita or tequila bar there," said Violetta.

"This is all going along the right field corridor in anticipation of the Wheel. By the time they get here in 2017 we will have that side all built up with games, restaurants and bars. It will be a fun zone for everybody."

LONG-TERM PLANS



Violetta has hired a full-time event planner who is entertaining various uses for the stadium, including a zipline, laser tag, paint ball and more.

"We've looked at the idea of a zipline from the roof of the upper deck down to the field. I could see Scooter (Staten Island Yankees mascot) doing that on game nights. And can you imagine a zipline with the skyline view we have?" said Violetta, noting a zipline and other amenities would need city approvals.

"This is just an idea we've been kicking around."

He said he's also been entertaining hosting rock concerts, putting in an outdoor ice skating rink in the winter and hosting other sporting events.

"We'd love to have a boxing match here," he said. "A winter skating rink where we could have cabanas where you can get hot chocolate and skate at night under the lights is also something that would be pretty cool."

The Yankees already have begun hosting some non-baseball events at the stadium. On Saturday, the fourth SIBrewfest allowed thousands to sample craft beers and wings at the annual event.

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