CarMax Park

Last updated
CarMax Park
CarMax Park
Location2705 North Arthur Ashe Boulevard
Richmond, VA 23230
Coordinates 37°34′11″N77°27′55″W / 37.5696622°N 77.4652544°W / 37.5696622; -77.4652544
Public transit Aiga bus trans.svg GRTC: 20
Capacity 10,000
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Broke ground September 6, 2024 [1]
Opened2026
Construction cost$110 million [2]
ArchitectKEi Architects, Architects [3]
Structural engineerLaBella Associates [3]
General contractor Gilbane [3]
Tenants
Richmond Flying Squirrels (EL) 2026–present
VCU Rams (A-10) 2026–present

CarMax Park is a planned ballpark in Richmond, Virginia, that is currently under construction. Once the ballpark opens, it will serve as the home of the Richmond Flying Squirrels of the Eastern League, and the VCU Rams college baseball team. The construction cost is estimated to be $110 million, and will replace The Diamond, which has been the home field of the Flying Squirrels since 2010, and the VCU Rams since 1985.

Contents

Timeline

Previously proposed Shockoe Bottom stadium

The idea of replacing The Diamond as a home minor league ball park began as far back as 2000. [4] One of the original locations for a replacement ballpark was in the Shockoe Bottom neighborhood of Richmond, near Downtown Richmond. The several Shockoe Bottom proposals aimed to replace The Diamond with a modern ballpark closer to downtown, while simultaneously spurring economic development in the area.

In the early 2000s, Richmond officials began exploring the possibility of relocating the city's then-minor league baseball team, the Richmond Braves (Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves), to a new stadium in Shockoe Bottom. Proponents argued that a downtown ballpark would attract more visitors and provide a catalyst for urban redevelopment. However, concerns about flooding, traffic congestion, and the historic significance of Shockoe Bottom—once a major hub for the domestic slave trade—sparked strong opposition. The Richmond Braves eventually left the city in 2008, citing delays and uncertainty surrounding the stadium project. The Braves were replaced by the Richmond Flying Squirrels in 2010, as a Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.

The stadium proposal resurfaced in 2013 under Mayor Dwight C. Jones, who introduced an ambitious plan to build a multi-use development in Shockoe Bottom. This $200 million project included a 7,200-seat stadium, apartments, a hotel, a grocery store, and a museum to commemorate the area’s history. The administration promoted the project as a way to revitalize the neighborhood, but it faced significant backlash from community activists and preservationists who felt the stadium would erase or overshadow the area’s painful but vital history related to slavery. [5] [6]

Public opposition grew stronger in 2014, with local historians, preservation groups, and residents emphasizing the need to preserve Shockoe Bottom’s history and protect its archeological integrity. Protests, petitions, and alternative proposals calling for the creation of a memorial park in the area gained traction. After failing to gain sufficient support from the Richmond City Council, the stadium proposal was shelved by the end of 2015. [7]

In subsequent years, plans for a stadium in Shockoe Bottom remained dormant, while community efforts to establish a memorial park and museum continued. Meanwhile, discussions about a new stadium shifted focus back to the area surrounding The Diamond on the city’s Northside.

Acca site

As of 2022, the City of Richmond and its partners have moved forward with plans to replace The Diamond with a new stadium as part of a broader redevelopment project known as the Diamond District. Shockoe Bottom remains the focus of historic preservation efforts, with plans to commemorate the neighborhood’s past rather than introduce large-scale commercial projects like a baseball stadium.

References

  1. ↑ "Richmond celebrates CarMax Park with official groundbreaking ceremony: 'A true game changer'". WTVR. September 6, 2024. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
  2. ↑ O'Connor, John (December 10, 2024). "Earth moved, steel on the way: CarMax Park project on track". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 Spiers, Jonathan (December 20, 2024). "Project Snapshot: New CarMax Park stadium starting to take shape". Richmond BizSense. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
  4. ↑ Kolenich, Eric (September 9, 2024). "Richmond stadium plan resembles an idea pitched 24 years ago" . richmond.com. Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  5. ↑ Svrluga, Susan (June 23, 2014). "Shockoe Bottom ballpark proposal could bury Richmond's slave history, group warns". The Washington Post.
  6. ↑ Casadonte, Lane (May 9, 2024). "The history of baseball in Richmond is full of curveballs". WTVR-TV. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
  7. ↑ Wise, Scott; St. George, Joe; Hipolit, Melissa (May 27, 2024). "Mayor withdraws Shockoe Bottom ballpark proposal". WTVR-TV. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
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