Staten Island FerryHawks Host ‘Salute to Shaolin’ Night for Wu-Tang Clan
The Wu-Tang Clan was selected for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2026 in April, becoming the ninth rap group and the first Staten Island act to receive the honor. The Forgotten Borough commemorated its hometown heroes through a special themed event at Staten Island University Hospital Community Park, home of the Atlantic League’s FerryHawks team.
Major League Baseball restructured its minor-league system following COVID-related shutdowns in 2020. The New York Yankees relinquished their Staten Island affiliate, severing ties with Richmond County Bank Ballpark. An investor consortium consisting of Pete Davidson and Colin Jost, a UAE-backed asset management firm owning the YES Network, and local political figures subsequently took over operations, naming the team the FerryHawks.
Salute to Shaolin at Staten Island University Hospital Community Park
The FerryHawks scheduled “Shaolin Night,” also known as the “Salute to Shaolin” game, for August 29. Regular tickets cost up to $26.50, while admission for the themed night included courtesy RZA bobbleheads. Additional perks featured potential tickets to Wu-Tang shows in Long Island and New Jersey alongside an auction for a game-worn, Wu-branded jersey. The team temporarily adopted the name “Shaolin Hawks” for the matchup against the York Revolution, known as the Revs.
Wu-Tang members were absent from the event due to a scheduled performance in Hartford, Connecticut. The venue featured a playlist of Wu-Tang tracks including “Protect Ya Neck,” “Shame on a N—-,” “Can It Be All So Simple,” “Gravel Pit,” and “C.R.E.A.M.,” which accompanied a fireworks display featuring the group’s signature W logo.
Fans Wear Wu-Tang Branded Gear at FerryHawks Game
Spectators sported various items, including green Killa Beez–branded jerseys associated with a local travel flag football team shared by Staten Island and New Jersey. Attendees also wore blue “Wu York Knicks” jerseys displaying “Shaolin 36” on the back, Crossfit/Wu-Tang crossover tees, and custom Wu-Tang-branded FerryHawks merchandise. Official FerryHawks team merchandise was discounted by up to 50 percent during the event.
The team’s record stood at 8–39 prior to a preliminary game, which featured sparse attendance and technical glitches on the jumbotron before ending in an extra-inning walkoff win for the Hawks. The Salute to Shaolin took place amid a series of themed promotions hosted by the FerryHawks that month, which included Italian Heritage, Hispanic Heritage, Country Music, Faith and Family, and Dog nights.