With some ceremonial shoveling and tossing of dirt, the new home of baseball in Richmond is now officially under construction.
Officials with the city, Major League Baseball and naming-rights sponsor CarMax joined the Richmond Flying Squirrels’ owners and staff on Friday for a groundbreaking ceremony of the newly named CarMax Park, site work for which is already underway.
Nutzy and Nutasha were among the crowd that included the minor league ballclub’s season-ticket holders to celebrate the start of the $117 million stadium that in turn kicks off the larger Diamond District mixed-use development.
The Goochland-based used car giant’s name will grace the ballpark at its entrances. (File images)
The $2.4 billion, 67-acre development will be anchored by the new stadium, which is being built beside the decades-old Diamond it will replace. The 10,000-capacity stadium is targeted for completion before the start of the 2026 baseball season.
Speakers at Friday’s event included Flying Squirrels President Lou DiBella, Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, City Council members, and officials with CarMax and MLB, which oversees Minor League Baseball and has required all pro venues to meet new facility standards.
That requirement has necessitated the new stadium that had been promised to the Double-A ballclub when it arrived in Richmond 15 years ago, Stoney noted in his remarks.
“Before the team even arrived in Richmond, city officials had already failed to deliver a new ballpark for the Richmond Braves, ultimately leading to their relocation,” Stoney said, referring to the AAA team that the Squirrels replaced.
To DiBella, Stoney added: “Thank you for your patience. Many would not have tolerated a 15-year delay, so all I can say is thank you for never giving up on Richmond.”
“Fifteen years is a long time to wait for something,” DiBella said in his remarks before crediting Stoney’s administration for making the project happen.
Flying Squirrels President and co-owner Lou DiBella during Friday’s event. (Jonathan Spiers photos)
“The reason we’re here today is because the people of Richmond, our fans, the people who came in 6,500 a night into a place that really sort of should be condemned, those people made this day necessary, they made it inevitable, and it’s because of them that we’re here today,” DiBella said. “Those are the people that I am the most grateful to.”
Council President Kristen Nye and district rep Katherine Jordan noted the outdated conditions at The Diamond that the Squirrels have endured while being a leader in its division in attendance and merchandise sales.
“It was clear we could not renovate our way into MLB compliance. We needed a new stadium to provide the best health and safety environment for our players, staff and fans,” Nye said. “Mayor Stoney and council, we made this a priority, and after many years of public input, we finally got the right proposal at the right time, in the right location. This plan is a total grand slam.”
“I am so proud to be part of this home team,” Jordan added. “It took dogged determination, it took passion, it took ingenuity. It took teamwork, even when it felt like we weren’t all on the same team. And sometimes we weren’t, but we all had the same goal: keep baseball in Richmond, keep baseball on the boulevard, keep the Squirrels here and give them the stadium they deserve.”
A rendering of the new ballpark.
Lincoln Saunders, the city’s chief administrative officer, thanked his staff and fellow administrators, as well as their families, for their work and support.
“I’m thrilled that at the end of this project, the Squirrels are going to have a facility that reflects the value that you’ve brought to this community over these past 15 years, and one that you can use year-round to create those memory-making experiences for our entire community,” Saunders said.
“It’s for all the kids and families of Richmond and this region that we’re doing this, so that they can have the same opportunity to build a lifetime of memories at CarMax Park that we’ve had at The Diamond.”
Other speakers at the event included the Squirrels’ Todd “Parney” Parnell, CarMax executive Diane Cafritz and MLB Senior Vice President Chris Brumm, who noted baseball’s history in Richmond.
“This new ballpark speaks to the passion of the city of Richmond for baseball,” Brumm said. “It is great to see baseball acting as a catalyst for the local investment into the Diamond District here in Richmond.”
The Squirrels are working with consultant Machete Group on the stadium, which is being built by Gilbane Building Co. and designed by LaBella Associates and KEI Architects.
With some ceremonial shoveling and tossing of dirt, the new home of baseball in Richmond is now officially under construction.
Officials with the city, Major League Baseball and naming-rights sponsor CarMax joined the Richmond Flying Squirrels’ owners and staff on Friday for a groundbreaking ceremony of the newly named CarMax Park, site work for which is already underway.
Nutzy and Nutasha were among the crowd that included the minor league ballclub’s season-ticket holders to celebrate the start of the $117 million stadium that in turn kicks off the larger Diamond District mixed-use development.
The Goochland-based used car giant’s name will grace the ballpark at its entrances. (File images)
The $2.4 billion, 67-acre development will be anchored by the new stadium, which is being built beside the decades-old Diamond it will replace. The 10,000-capacity stadium is targeted for completion before the start of the 2026 baseball season.
Speakers at Friday’s event included Flying Squirrels President Lou DiBella, Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, City Council members, and officials with CarMax and MLB, which oversees Minor League Baseball and has required all pro venues to meet new facility standards.
That requirement has necessitated the new stadium that had been promised to the Double-A ballclub when it arrived in Richmond 15 years ago, Stoney noted in his remarks.
“Before the team even arrived in Richmond, city officials had already failed to deliver a new ballpark for the Richmond Braves, ultimately leading to their relocation,” Stoney said, referring to the AAA team that the Squirrels replaced.
To DiBella, Stoney added: “Thank you for your patience. Many would not have tolerated a 15-year delay, so all I can say is thank you for never giving up on Richmond.”
“Fifteen years is a long time to wait for something,” DiBella said in his remarks before crediting Stoney’s administration for making the project happen.
Flying Squirrels President and co-owner Lou DiBella during Friday’s event. (Jonathan Spiers photos)
“The reason we’re here today is because the people of Richmond, our fans, the people who came in 6,500 a night into a place that really sort of should be condemned, those people made this day necessary, they made it inevitable, and it’s because of them that we’re here today,” DiBella said. “Those are the people that I am the most grateful to.”
Council President Kristen Nye and district rep Katherine Jordan noted the outdated conditions at The Diamond that the Squirrels have endured while being a leader in its division in attendance and merchandise sales.
“It was clear we could not renovate our way into MLB compliance. We needed a new stadium to provide the best health and safety environment for our players, staff and fans,” Nye said. “Mayor Stoney and council, we made this a priority, and after many years of public input, we finally got the right proposal at the right time, in the right location. This plan is a total grand slam.”
“I am so proud to be part of this home team,” Jordan added. “It took dogged determination, it took passion, it took ingenuity. It took teamwork, even when it felt like we weren’t all on the same team. And sometimes we weren’t, but we all had the same goal: keep baseball in Richmond, keep baseball on the boulevard, keep the Squirrels here and give them the stadium they deserve.”
A rendering of the new ballpark.
Lincoln Saunders, the city’s chief administrative officer, thanked his staff and fellow administrators, as well as their families, for their work and support.
“I’m thrilled that at the end of this project, the Squirrels are going to have a facility that reflects the value that you’ve brought to this community over these past 15 years, and one that you can use year-round to create those memory-making experiences for our entire community,” Saunders said.
“It’s for all the kids and families of Richmond and this region that we’re doing this, so that they can have the same opportunity to build a lifetime of memories at CarMax Park that we’ve had at The Diamond.”
Other speakers at the event included the Squirrels’ Todd “Parney” Parnell, CarMax executive Diane Cafritz and MLB Senior Vice President Chris Brumm, who noted baseball’s history in Richmond.
“This new ballpark speaks to the passion of the city of Richmond for baseball,” Brumm said. “It is great to see baseball acting as a catalyst for the local investment into the Diamond District here in Richmond.”
The Squirrels are working with consultant Machete Group on the stadium, which is being built by Gilbane Building Co. and designed by LaBella Associates and KEI Architects.