Though there’s been little public discussion, progress is being made in talks between the Richmond Flying Squirrels (Class AA; Eastern League) and the Richmond Metropolitan Authority over a new ballpark next to The Diamond in the city’s Boulevard district.
The area has been the center of baseball in Richmond for decades; Parker Field sat at the Diamond site before being replaced. Building a new ballpark next to The Diamond at a current transit site makes sense; it’s easily accessible and with government-controlled land, construction costs will be lowered.
A target goal for a new ballpark: the 2014 season. Negotiations are to the point where both sides are looking at there revenues like naming rights will go, according to John O’Connor. We were told at the beginning of the season that discussions were moving along, albeit on a very quiet scale; we’re certainly seeing some evidence of movement.
RELATED STORIES: DiBella: Time to start talking new ballpark; Flying Squirrels throw out first offer on new ballpark; Baseball returns to Richmond’s Diamond — but for how long?; Baseball returns to Richmond tonight; Flying Squirrels unveil uniform designs; Flying Squirrels unveil logo, color schemes; Richmond contest yields another dreadful name; Five finalists for Richmond team name announced
—-
Share your news with the baseball community. Send it to us at editors@augustpublications.com.
Subscribers to the weekly Ballpark Digest newsletter see features before they’re posted to the site. You can sign up for a free subscription at the Newsletter Signup Page.
Join Ballpark Digest on Facebook and on Twitter!