MLB

Fans show support for Rivera Avenue

Joe Lajara wore his Mariano Rivera jersey as he signed a petition to change River Ave. outside of Yankee Stadium to Rivera Ave.

“He’s a New York icon,” the Queens resident said after adding his name to the petition at Foley’s Pub in Midtown Wednesday. “He deserves an honor like this.”

So far, the petition, which will be at Foley’s until Nov. 29 — Rivera’s 44th birthday — has generated about 500 supporters, halfway to the goal of 1,000.

The City Council is set to vote on the measure by the end of the month, and one of the creators of the petition is confident the backing of New Yorkers will help the cause.

“Once they see how many people are behind this, they won’t vote no,” said Nicole Saulter, who slapped an “A” on to the end of River Ave. during a game in September and helped organize Wednesday’s event.

Tom Ferrara, one of the first to be struck with the idea to change the name, said nearly everyone he has talked to agrees with him.

“We’re very optimistic this is going to happen,” Ferrara said. “It would be a perfect way to remember Mariano now that he’s retired.”