BringingBklnBack
NEW YORK (77WABC) – In a new partnership between the Brooklyn Cyclones and Maimonides Medical Center (MMC), the Cyclones are playing their home opener under a new stadium name — Maimonides Park.
A ceremony Tuesday at the former MCU Park in Coney Island was meant to celebrate MMC’s 110 years of existence and dedication to the borough of Brooklyn. MMC Executive Vice President Michael Antoniades says the Cyclones organization shares the same goals as the hospital, so the partnership was a no-brainer.
“We have a lot in common,” Antoniades said in an interview with 77WABC CEO John Catsimatidis and Rita Cosby. “We have a shared commitment to serve Brooklyn, and our missions at some point intersect. In entertainment and health, there is a great opportunity to use the time and to use the platform that the Brooklyn Cyclones provide for all of the residents of Brooklyn for us to be able to educate, to be able to bring some of our programs, some of our screening programs because we want to keep Brooklyn healthy.”
Over 100 years, Brooklyn has changed. But, two things remain perpetual: Maimonides & baseball! We're thrilled to expand our relationship with the @BKCyclones, unveiling a new chapter in Brooklyn history. Introducing: Maimonides Park, the beautiful home of the Brooklyn Cyclones! pic.twitter.com/gdQTKheRyY
— Maimonides Health (@MaimoHealth) May 18, 2021
Antoniades added that MMC plans on setting up a number of health and safety clinics for fans so that people can both enjoy the games as well as learn more about their health and wellness. Currently MMC is a leader in the world of health, being one of the top hospitals in the country for heart attacks, strokes, as well as being Brooklyn’s only children’s hospital.
Eugene Keilin, Chair of the Board of Trustees at MMC, spoke at the ceremony on the partnership of Maimonides Medical Center and the Brooklyn Cyclones.
“Our new partnership with the Cyclones is intended to make this point clear,” said Keilin. “You don’t have to leave Brooklyn to get great baseball, and you don’t have to leave it for great medical care either. Many people probably assume that the best medicine is across the river, in Manhattan.”
“But it’s simply not true,” added Keilin.
Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Randy Peers told 77ABC that Brooklyn has “the resiliency of no other borough” in regards to the challenges New York City faced during the coronavirus pandemic.
“The only reason why we were shut down was because the governor shut us down,” Peers said. “The reality is we’ve got all of this amazing resiliency that is kind of bursting out, and you can see it right now.”
The Cyclones were founded in 2001 as a High-A affiliate of the New York Mets. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a 2020 season was completely wiped out. This is the first game for the Cyclones at their home stadium in 616 days.
Randy Peers, president and CEO of @BrooklynChamber, reflects on the ball park and its history.#Cyclones #Baseball pic.twitter.com/Qw8jWKBzZ8
— TalkRadio 77 WABC (@77WABCradio) May 18, 2021
Kenneth Gibbs, President and CEO of the @MaimonidesMC, speaks on the spirit of the @BrooklynCyclone team being “a spirit of Brooklyn.” #cyclones #coneyisland pic.twitter.com/IcrsXb9G9R
— TalkRadio 77 WABC (@77WABCradio) May 18, 2021
