Though he says there are no new developments to announce, Richmond Flying Squirrels (Class AA; Eastern League) owner Lou DiBella is still positive about the prospects of a new ballpark.
For years, the Flying Squirrels have been attempting to secure a new home in Richmond to replace The Diamond. That effort looked to have reached a turning point last fall, when it was announced that the Flying Squirrels, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), and the City of Richmond agreed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for a new Boulevard-area ballpark that was anticipated to cost in the range of $50 to $60 million.
While that agreement was not final, it did provide some broad strokes for construction and development terms. Since then, however, no major announcements concerning the project have surfaced, and DibBlla said recently that there are no new developments to report. However, in an interview this week with the Richmond Times Dispatch, DiBella indicated that he is still optimistic about the plan:
When last we spoke, you said you were optimistic. Do you remain so?
“Nothing has occurred to change that at all.”
The Flying Squirrels have called The Diamond home since relocating from Norwich, CT prior to the 2010 season. The Diamond originally opened in 1985 as the home of the Richmond Braves (Class AAA; International League).
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