Pete Davidson and Colin Jost buy Staten Island ferry for $280,000
New owners are reportedly planning to turn vessel into ‘live entertainment event space’
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Pete Davidson and Colin Jost reportedly have big plans for a decommissioned Staten Island Ferry after they purchased the boat for $280,000.
The Saturday Night Live stars, both of who are from Staten Island, teamed up with real estate agent and comedy club owner Paul Italia to purchase the boat after it went up for auction, according to The New York Post.
While speaking to The Post, Italia, the co-owner of The Stand comedy club in Manhattan, said that the trio have “grand plans” for the retired ferry, which include turning the vessel into a “live entertainment event space, with comedy, music, art, et cetera”.
“We’re in the early stages, but everybody involved had the same ambition - not to see this thing go to the scrapyard,” he said of the boat, named the John F Kennedy.
The New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services put the boat up for auction on 12 January - with bidding starting at $125,000 - after it was decommissioned due to mechanical issues, The Post reports, with the boat sold to the comedic trio on Wednesday.
According to New York 1, the vessel, which was built in 1965, has the capacity to carry more than 3,000 passengers.
The purchase doesn’t just mean access to a floating venue, however, as Jost, Davidson and Italia are first required to move the 277-foot boat from its current location in the St George Ferry Terminal, according to the outlet, with NBC News reporting the new owners have 10 days from Wednesday to do so.
According to Italia, the tentative plan is to move the ferry to a shipyard for the time being, with the comedy club owner telling The Post that they have been “talking to a lot of shipyards in the area”.
While the ferry purchase may seem odd, Staten Island makes up a significant portion of Davidson’s identity, as the comedian previously starred in the film The King of Staten Island, loosely based on his upbringing, and owns a condo in the borough. Jost also frequently references his childhood home on SNL.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments