The Diamond (Richmond, Virginia)

Last updated
The Diamond
Diamond Ballpark
Diamond Richmond.PNG
The Diamond, home of the Richmond Braves.jpg
The Diamond (Richmond, Virginia)
Location3001 North Arthur Ashe Boulevard
Richmond, VA 23230
Coordinates 37°34′18.50″N77°27′49.44″W / 37.5718056°N 77.4637333°W / 37.5718056; -77.4637333
Owner City of Richmond [1]
OperatorCity of Richmond
Capacity 12,134 (VCU Rams)
9,560 (Flying Squirrels) [2]
Field sizeLeft field: 330 ft (100 m)
Center field: 402 ft (123 m)
Right field: 330 ft (100 m) [3]
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Broke groundSeptember 1984
OpenedApril 17, 1985 [4]
Construction cost$8 million
($22.7 million in 2023 dollars [5] )
ArchitectBaskervill & Sons, Architects [6]
Structural engineerThomas A. Hanson & Associates, Inc. [6]
General contractor McDevitt & Street [6]
Tenants
Richmond Flying Squirrels (EL/Double-A Northeast) 2010–present
VCU Rams (A-10) 1985–present
CAA Tournament 1987–1988
Richmond Braves (IL) 1985–2008

The Diamond is a baseball stadium located in Richmond, Virginia, USA, on Arthur Ashe Boulevard. It is the home of Richmond Flying Squirrels of the Eastern League and the Virginia Commonwealth University baseball team. From 1985 to 2008, it was the home of the Richmond Braves, the Triple-A minor league baseball affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. The Diamond seats 12,134 people for baseball; however, for Flying Squirrels games, advertising banners cover up the top rows of the upper deck, reducing seating capacity to 9,560.

Contents

History

The Diamond replaced the demolished Parker Field, [7] which had been built in 1934, as part of the fair grounds. Parker Field had been converted for baseball in 1954, replacing Mooers Field. Parker Field housed the Braves from 1966 to 1984, with the last game played on August 30 of that year. [8]

In 2003, part of The Diamond's roof was destroyed by Hurricane Isabel, and in 2004 a piece of a concrete beam the size of a football fell on the stands below, though no fans were injured.

The Richmond Braves relocated to Gwinnett County, Georgia, after the 2008 season. One factor in the franchise's decision to relocate was reportedly a failure to reach an agreement on building a new ballpark in Richmond. There was plan by a development group called the Richmond Baseball Initiative to build a new stadium in Shockoe Bottom near Main Street Station. [9] But in August 2009 the company that submitted this ballpark plan withdrew it. Under the plan, the Richmond Braves would have moved to the new stadium while the Diamond would become the sole home to Virginia Commonwealth University athletics. VCU Baseball previously shared the facility with the Braves for home games.

Outfield and scoreboard The Diamond Outfield.JPG
Outfield and scoreboard

The new team announced on October 2, 2009 that they were going to spend $1.5 million on renovations to the ballpark and the RMA gave an additional $75,000 for upgrades. [10] On October 28, 2009, the Richmond Flying Squirrels started renovations on the Diamond. They tore out aluminum benches and started to replace them with 3,200 dark green seats with cup holders. There are now 6,200 seats in the lower level. A new larger sized store was built for the Squirrels. Extensive gutting and remodeling of the offices and new indoor batting cages are parts of the renovation plan as well. [2] For 2011, the scoreboard was enhanced and two new party decks were built in the upper level. [11]

Ownership of The Diamond was transferred from the Richmond Metropolitan Authority to the city of Richmond in 2014. [1]

Ahead of the 2020 season, and in consultation with the San Francisco Giants and VCU Baseball, the Flying Squirrels are reducing outfield distances at the Diamond from 8 to 10 feet from left center field around to right center field. Exact distances are yet to be determined. Distances up the foul lines will remain the same. [12] [13]

Other events

The venue hosted the 1987 and 1988 Colonial Athletic Association baseball tournaments, won by East Carolina and George Mason, respectively. [14]

The ballpark hosted the 1992 Triple-A All-Star Game. The team of American League-affiliated All-Stars defeated the team of National League-affiliated All-Stars, 2–1. [15]

The Diamond also hosted the 2019 Eastern League All-Star Game before 9,560 fans, the largest crowd in the game's history. [16]

The ballpark is also home to Virginia Commonwealth University's Rams baseball team. VCU hosts Atlantic 10 and regional teams at the Diamond.[ citation needed ]

The venue was to host the 2020 Atlantic 10 Conference baseball tournament, which was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[ citation needed ]

Replacement

The Flying Squirrels and VCU will be leaving The Diamond in 2026 and will begin playing home games at the new CarMax Park. [17]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern League (1938–present)</span> American sports league in minor league baseball

The Eastern League (EL) is a Minor League Baseball (MiLB) sports league that has operated under that name since 1938, with the exception of the 2021 season, during which the league operated under the moniker Double-A Northeast. The league has played at the Double-A level since 1963, and consists primarily of teams located in the Northeastern United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richmond Braves</span> Minor league baseball team

The Richmond Braves were an American minor league baseball club based in Richmond, Virginia, the Triple-A International League affiliate of the Atlanta Braves from 1966 to 2008. Owned by the parent Atlanta club and colloquially referred to as the R-Braves, they played their home games at a stadium called The Diamond on Richmond's Northside built for them in 1985, and before then Parker Field on the same site. The franchise moved to Gwinnett County, Georgia in 2009 to play in the newly built Coolray Field as the Gwinnett Braves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Progressive Field</span> Baseball stadium in Cleveland, Ohio

Progressive Field is a baseball stadium located in the downtown area of Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is the home of the Cleveland Guardians of Major League Baseball and, together with Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, is part of the Gateway Sports and Entertainment Complex. It was ranked as MLB's best ballpark in a 2008 Sports Illustrated fan opinion poll.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PNC Field</span> Baseball stadium in Pennsylvania, US

PNC Field is a 10,000-seat minor league baseball stadium that is located in Moosic, Pennsylvania, in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area that was built in 1989 and rebuilt in 2013. The stadium is home to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Durham Bulls Athletic Park</span> Baseball stadium in North Carolina, US

Durham Bulls Athletic Park is a 10,000-seat ballpark in Durham, North Carolina, that is home to the Durham Bulls, the Triple-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball. It is also home to the Duke Blue Devils and North Carolina Central Eagles college baseball teams. The $18.5-million park opened in 1995 as the successor to Durham Athletic Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dell Diamond</span> Baseball stadium in Round Rock, Texas

Dell Diamond is the home stadium of the Round Rock Express, the Triple-A Minor League Baseball affiliate of the Texas Rangers major league baseball team. On April 16, 2000, the then-Double-A affiliate Express played their first home game at the stadium.

The Richmond Metropolitan Transportation Authority is an independent authority and political subdivision which serves the Richmond, Virginia metropolitan area. Created by an act of the Virginia General Assembly in 1966, then called the Richmond Metropolitan Authority, the RMTA was originally tasked with building and maintaining a toll expressway system for the Richmond area. Since then, the role of the RMTA has been expanded, and it currently owns and operates other facilities, including a number of parking decks. The RMTA built and previously owned The Diamond, home stadium of the Richmond Braves minor league baseball team until 2008, and the current home of the Richmond Flying Squirrels. The Authority also operates historic Main Street Station on behalf of the City of Richmond.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LECOM Park</span> Baseball field in Bradenton, Florida

LECOM Park is a baseball field located in Bradenton, Florida. It is the spring training home of the Pittsburgh Pirates and is named after a 15-year naming rights deal was signed with the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, which has its main campus in Erie, Pennsylvania, and also a campus in Bradenton. It was formerly known as McKechnie Field, named for Bradenton resident and Baseball Hall of Fame great Bill McKechnie, who led the Pirates in 1925 and the Cincinnati Reds in 1940 to World Series titles. He was also a coach with the Cleveland Indians in 1948.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cashman Field</span> Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada

Cashman Field is a stadium in Downtown Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. It is primarily used for soccer as the home field of Las Vegas Lights FC of the USL Championship. Originally built as a baseball stadium, it was the home of the Triple-A Las Vegas Stars/51s Minor League Baseball from 1983 to 2018, and home to the Vegas Vipers of the XFL in 2023. The stadium is connected to Cashman Center, an exhibit hall and theater operated by the City of Las Vegas. The complex, built on the site of a former stadium of the same name, is named for James "Big Jim" Cashman and his family, who have been Las Vegas entrepreneurs for several generations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Connecticut Defenders</span> Minor league baseball team

The Connecticut Defenders were a Minor League Baseball team based in Norwich, Connecticut. The team, which played in the Eastern League, was the Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants major-league club from 2003 until following the 2009 season, when the Defenders relocated to Richmond, Virginia and are now known as the Richmond Flying Squirrels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huntington Park (Columbus, Ohio)</span> Baseball stadium in Columbus, Ohio, US

Huntington Park is a baseball stadium located in Columbus, Ohio, United States. It primarily serves as the home of the Columbus Clippers of the International League, the Triple-A minor league affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians since 2009.

Silver Stadium was a baseball stadium located at 500 Norton Street in Rochester, New York. It was the home stadium for the Rochester Red Wings of the International League from 1929 to 1996, and for the New York Black Yankees of the Negro National League for their final season in 1948. The ballpark also briefly hosted professional football as it was the home field for the Rochester Braves in 1936 and the Rochester Tigers in 1936 and 1937.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Double-A (baseball)</span> Second-highest level of competition in Minor League Baseball

Double-A is the second-highest level of play in Minor League Baseball in the United States since 1946, below only Triple-A. There are currently 30 teams classified at the Double-A level, one for each team in Major League Baseball, organized into three leagues: the Eastern League, the Southern League, and the Texas League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richmond Flying Squirrels</span> Minor league baseball team

The Richmond Flying Squirrels are a Minor League Baseball team based in Richmond, Virginia. The team, which is a part of the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants major league club, and plays at The Diamond. The Flying Squirrels have been affiliated with the Giants since 2010, making it the longest-running active affiliation in the Giants organization among teams not owned by the Giants. The Squirrels were previously known as the Connecticut Defenders.

Parker Field was a multi-use outdoor stadium in Richmond, Virginia, with a seating capacity of 9,500. The field was built in 1934, as part of the fair grounds, and was named after William H. Parker, who helped with the construction of the field. It was converted for minor league baseball in 1954, replacing Mooers Field.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sports in Richmond, Virginia</span>

Richmond, Virginia, United States, is home to three professional sports teams, though none of which compete in any major professional league. Virginia is the most populated state without a major sports team. In 2008, the Richmond Braves minor league baseball team left for Gwinnett County, Georgia, and was replaced by the Richmond Flying Squirrels in 2010. But now, the Flying Squirrels' owner has threatened to leave Richmond if they do not replace their current stadium, the Diamond. The Richmond Kickers are a non-profit soccer team that plays at City Stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacob Heyward</span> Baseball player

Jacob August Heyward is an American former professional baseball outfielder and current coach. He played college baseball at the University of Miami. He was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the 18th round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft, and played with the organization through the 2022 season. Following the end of his playing career, Heyward remained with the Giants as a minor league coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryder Jones</span> American baseball player

Ryder McKinley Jones is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Francisco Giants.

The Richmond Bluebirds were a minor league baseball team based in Richmond, Virginia. Between 1895 and 1901, the Bluebirds played as members of the Virginia League in 1895 and 1896, Atlantic League from 1897 to 1899, Virginia League in 1900 and Virginia-North Carolina League in 1901. The Bluebirds won league championships in 1895, 1896, 1898 and 1899, all while playing under manager Jake Wells.

References

  1. 1 2 Martz, Michael; Moomaw, Graham (June 7, 2015). "Richmond Squirrels look to secure spot at The Diamond". Richmond Times-Dispatch . Retrieved July 21, 2019– via The Roanoke Times. Last year, ... the authority returned The Diamond to the city.
  2. 1 2 O'Connor, John (March 27, 2010). "Bleacher Banners Give Diamond New Look, Fewer Seats". Richmond Times-Dispatch . Retrieved February 23, 2014.
  3. ↑ "The Diamond info". MiLB.com. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  4. ↑ Harrison, W. Daniel; Mayer, Scott P. (2003). Baseball in Richmond: A History of the Professional Game, 1884–2000. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN   978-0-7864-1489-5.
  5. ↑ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–" . Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  6. 1 2 3 "The Diamond". The Virginia Record Magazine. 107 (4). Richmond: Virginia Publishers Wing, Inc.: 17 1985.
  7. ↑ "RMA :: The Diamond :: Stadium Operating Committee". RMA online.org. Richmond Metropolitan Authority. Archived from the original on February 20, 2012.
  8. ↑ Kollatz, Harry Jr. (August 1, 2001). "Bottom of the Ninth at the Diamond". Richmond Magazine. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  9. ↑ Ress, Dave (February 2, 2008). "Braves, Richmond Failed to Connect". Richmond Times-Dispatch . Retrieved February 23, 2014.
  10. ↑ O'Connor, John (September 30, 2009). "Upgrades at The Diamond Allow Time to Choose Major Renovation or New Ballpark". Richmond Times-Dispatch . Retrieved February 23, 2014.
  11. ↑ O'Connor, John (September 27, 2011). "Squirrels Plan No Additional Diamond Improvements". Richmond Times-Dispatch . Retrieved February 23, 2014.
  12. ↑ O'Connor, John (November 25, 2019). "The Diamond's fences will shortly be shortened, alleys prepped for more HRs in 2020 season". Richmond Times-Dispatch . Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  13. ↑ Casadonte, Lane (November 25, 2019). "Flying Squirrels to bring in outfield walls at The Diamond". WTVR-TV . Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  14. ↑ "Baseball Record Book" (PDF). Colonial Athletic Association. pp. 6–10. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 13, 2015. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
  15. ↑ "Triple-A All-Star Game Results (1988–1992)". Triple-A Baseball. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  16. ↑ "Eastern League All-Star Game Draws Over 9,500 Fans". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. July 11, 2019. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  17. ↑ O'Connor, John (September 4, 2024). "New Richmond baseball stadium will be named CarMax Park". Richmond Times-Dispatch .
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.