A purchase of The Diamond by the city of Richmond from the Richmond Metropolitan Authority is on hold after the city council put off a final decision. From Richmond BizSense: The two ordinances that made up the proposal were scheduled to be heard last night, along with another to accept from the RMA a release […]
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Opposition to Shockoe Bottom ballpark intensifies
The very idea of a new Richmond Flying Squirrels (Class AA; Eastern League) ballpark in the city’s Shockoe Bottom district is causing protests today because of the site’s past as a slave-trading area. The coalition of activists and academics oppose putting a ballpark in an area that was once the second-most-busy area for slave trading […]
Poll: Squirrels home should be built next to current home
In a nearly worthless poll, the Richmond Times-Dispatch discovered suburban voters love the idea of a new Richmond Flying Squirrels (Class AA; Eastern League) ballpark be built for maximum suburban access. The poll of 694 people in Richmond (which, under Virginia law, isn’t within a county) and the counties of Chesterfield, Henrico and Hanover showed […]
Richmond: No vote on ballpark location
The Richmond City Council made it official last night: Residents will not get to choose the location of a new Richmond Flying Squirrels (Class AA; Eastern League) ballpark. Council President Charles R. Samuels had proposed putting the location to voters in the form of a fall referendum. And while that initially was seen as a […]
Flying Squirrels: Fans don’t know what they are missing
A key selling point for the Richmond Flying Squirrels (Class AA; Eastern League) in the team’s quest for a new ballpark: fans don’t know what they’re missing when it comes to upgrades. There is a certain sentiment among Richmond baseball fans that The Diamond is a perfectly adequate venue for pro baseball, so what’s the […]
Richmond committee: Don’t put ballpark location to vote
The decision where to build a new ballpark for the Richmond Flying Squirrels (Class AA; Eastern League) should not be left to voters in a November referendum, according to a city committee recommendation. Though the recommendation from the Organizational Development Committee doesn’t technically kill the proposal, it does send a clear signal that the full council […]
Richmond ballpark location may be decided by voters
In a sign the discussion is shifting, a plan is afoot to put the issue of a new Richmond Flying Squirrels (Class AA; Eastern League) ballpark location to voters via referendum. The move is significant: the assumption is that a new ballpark will be built, with the unresolved issue the location of the facility. That’s […]
Busy weekend for Storm: bomb threats and patriotic jerseys
It was a busy weekend for the Lake Elsinore Storm (High Class A; California League): staff dealt with a bomb threat emptying The Diamond on Thursday and then unveiled a very unique uniform design. The bomb threat during Thursday’s game forced the Storm front office to clear the ballpark; the game was scoreless in the […]
Progress made on new Richmond ballpark: McEacharn
It sounds like the city of Richmond and the Richmond Flying Squirrels (Class AA; Eastern League) are making serious progress on a new-ballpark plan, though some major decisions are still in the offing. When Lou DiBella and crew moved the team from Norwich, the assumption was that a new-ballpark plan could be worked out rather […]
Flying Squirrels: New ballpark still a priority
Despite an agreement by local municipalities to spend $300,000 on ballpark improvements, the Richmond Flying Squirrels (Class AA; Eastern League) front office says a new facility should be a priority after the fall elections. It seems like ballpark discussions in Richmond go in fits and spurts; city officials will pay heed to the team’s needs […]
Flying Squirrels extend Diamond lease, setting stage for ballpark improvements
With a new ballpark several years down the road, the Richmond Flying Squirrels (Class AA; Eastern League) signed a lease extension for The Diamond through 2015, with options through 2017. With the lease extension in hand, the Richmond Metropolitan Authority will accede to the team’s wish for new lighting at the ballpark, with a new […]
Experts: Downtown ballpark could revitalize Richmond
As Richmond officials continue to debate the best course of action regarding a new Richmond Flying Squirrels (Class AA; Eastern League) ballpark, experts advise a downtown location for the most impact. Former Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy was on a panel discussing new ballpark at the Real Estate Trends Conference, and his advice was clear: build […]
Worker dies after fireworks accident at Lake Elsinore game
A 20-year-old student died after being injured in a fire while he was prepping postgame fireworks at The Diamond for the Lake Elsinore Storm (Higb Class A; California League). William Calabrese was part of the work crew setting up the fireworks two hours before the Aug. 31 Storm game. The explosion set a vehicle on […]