The sale of the Connecticut Defenders has been delayed, but that’s fairly irrelevant, as the planned new home of the Eastern League franchise — Richmond — continues to debate a new ballpark versus a renovated Diamond.
The sale of the Connecticut Defenders has been delayed, but that’s fairly irrelevant, as the planned new home of the Eastern League franchise — Richmond — continues to debate a new ballpark versus a renovated Diamond.
A consultant’s report concerning the financial viability of a new ballpark in downtown’s Shockoe Bottom area is expected to guide city leaders in making a decision between Shockoe Bottom, a renovated Diamond or a new facility at the Diamond site.
MiLB is pretty adamant about Richmond having a firm ballpark plan in place before a move of the Defenders is even considered. In an interview with the Richmond Times-Dispatch, MiLB counsel Scott Poley made that abundantly clear. The Times-Dispatch makes it sound like MiLB would prefer the Shockoe Bottom plan.
But the Times-Dispatch is playing a little fast and loose with the real situation; the folks at MiLB would not be stupid enough to endorse a specific plan at this time. We continue to hear a renovation of The Diamond is still an option that could be approved by MiLB, depending on the extent of the renovations. Of course, it may get to the point where it would be cheaper to build a new ballpark at the Boulevard site and tear down the Diamond, but no one has done those cost estimates. Yet.
It is not uncommon for MiLB to approve the sale of a team and then withhold permission to move it; that situation happened most recent when John Simmons had a deal to buy the South Bend Silver Hawks (Low Class A; Midwest League). The purchase was approved, but he was denied permission to move the team to Marion, Ill.; he subsequently moved an independent Frontier League team there.
RELATED STORIES: Bostic: It makes no sense to renovate The Diamond; Richmond baseball study didn’t consider renovated Diamond, stacks deck for new downtown ballpark; Richmond ballpark consulting deal draws criticism; Norwich approves Defenders lease transfer; Richmond to study new ballpark; Defenders ballpark lease transfer on tap for next week; new team for Norwich chosen?; Renovated Diamond may do in Richmond; MiLB to Richmond: Show us the ballpark plan; Richmond group applies for permission to buy team; New Richmond ballpark would rely on sales-tax rebates; Richmond group says it’s close to buying team
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