ST. GEORGE — Winter is coming to Staten Island.
The Staten Island Yankees will change their name to the Staten Island Direwolves in August during a "Game of Thrones" night where author George R.R. Martin will watch a game against the Hudson Valley Renegades and sign autographs, Michael Holley, director of marketing for the team, said.
The team created special players jersey featuring Direwolves, a mythical breed of wolf featured in the books and TV series, and the first 2,500 people who enter the stadium will get a free hat with the logo, Holley said.
Martin, who grew up in Bayonne, N.J., had said in interviews that he based King's Landing off what he imagined Staten Island looked like when he saw the bright lights across the river from his apartment window.
Holley saw the interviews and invited Martin to the borough.
Martin — who's known for taking a long time to write his books — responded quickly through email he was interested in coming for a game, but said he had one problem.
"I was surprised that he responded in the hour, but said he was a Mets fan and couldn't wear the jersey," Holley said.
"I responded, 'How about I change the name of the team to the Direwolves' and he said, 'Alright you got me there.'"
After the game, the team will auction off the jerseys worn by players and donate all the funds to the Santa Fe, N.M, based Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary that Martin has donated money towards.
A wolf from the sanctuary will also be on hand for the event and serve as the team's mascot, Holley said.
Aside from the jerseys and hats, Holley said the team is planning other skits and ways to celebrate the popular fantasy book and T.V. series during the "Game of Thrones" night.
"There’s going to be a lot of other stuff just related to what's going on," Holley said.
"We’re in the minor leagues and that's about the ballpark experience. We're trying to come up with things that are interesting for people that are not normally baseball fans."
The "Game of Thrones" night will be on Aug. 8 at the Richmond County Bank Ballpark. Gates open at 6 p.m. for the 7 p.m. game. For more information or tickets, visit the Staten Island Yankees' website.
