Baseball stadium in Richmond, Virginia, United States
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.
History
[
edit
]
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.
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.
[8]
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.
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.
[9]
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.
[5]
For 2011, the scoreboard was enhanced and two new party decks were built in the upper level.
[10]
Ownership of The Diamond was transferred from the
Richmond Metropolitan Authority
to the city of Richmond in 2014.
[2]
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.
[11]
[12]
Other events
[
edit
]
The venue hosted the 1987 and 1988
Colonial Athletic Association baseball tournaments
, won by
East Carolina
and
George Mason
, respectively.
[13]
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.
[14]
The Diamond also hosted the 2019
Eastern League
All-Star Game before 9,560 fans, the largest crowd in the game's history.
[15]
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
]
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
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
.
- ^
a
b
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.
- ^
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
.
- ^
a
b
c
"The Diamond".
The Virginia Record Magazine
.
107
(4). Richmond: Virginia Publishers Wing, Inc.: 17 1985.
- ^
a
b
O'Connor, John (March 27, 2010).
"Bleacher Banners Give Diamond New Look, Fewer Seats"
.
Richmond Times-Dispatch
. Retrieved
February 23,
2014
.
- ^
"The Diamond info"
.
MiLB.com
. Minor League Baseball
. Retrieved
December 3,
2019
.
- ^
"RMA :: The Diamond :: Stadium Operating Committee"
.
RMA online.org
. Richmond Metropolitan Authority. Archived from
the original
on February 20, 2012.
- ^
Ress, Dave (February 2, 2008).
"Braves, Richmond Failed to Connect"
.
Richmond Times-Dispatch
. Retrieved
February 23,
2014
.
- ^
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
.
- ^
O'Connor, John (September 27, 2011).
"Squirrels Plan No Additional Diamond Improvements"
.
Richmond Times-Dispatch
. Retrieved
February 23,
2014
.
- ^
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
.
- ^
Casadonte, Lane (November 25, 2019).
"Flying Squirrels to bring in outfield walls at The Diamond"
.
WTVR-TV
. Retrieved
December 3,
2019
.
- ^
"Baseball Record Book"
(PDF)
. Colonial Athletic Association. pp. 6?10. Archived from
the original
(PDF)
on April 13, 2015
. Retrieved
February 18,
2012
.
- ^
"Triple-A All-Star Game Results (1988?1992)"
. Triple-A Baseball
. Retrieved
July 7,
2017
.
- ^
"Eastern League All-Star Game Draws Over 9,500 Fans"
.
Ballpark Digest
. August Publications. July 11, 2019
. Retrieved
July 21,
2019
.
External links
[
edit
]
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