A Pennsylvania developer of minor-league ballparks has released renderings of a possible $40 million, 8,500-seat stadium for the Boulevard, but he’s open to building downtown, too. Peter Kirk, a long-time team operator from the independent Atlantic League and a partner with Opening Day Partners, is working with former Richmond mayor Robert Bobb to develop the… Read more »
Sports & Recreation
Selling Recess
From afar, it looks like gym class. Only the guy rolling the rubber ball towards home plate has a 5 o’clock shadow and beer gut. And the girl playing first base, wearing makeup and tight tube socks, just told her friend she’s f$*%ing awesome. Everybody clearly drove to the park. Some seem to be drinking… Read more »
Possible new owner for Richmond baseball team?
A savvy entrepreneur might make a bundle by bringing another minor league team to Richmond and running the entertainment business. Profit margins can approach 20%. And according to a great profile in the latest Portfolio Magazine, owning a minor league team is the hot thing for celebs. Might that apply locally??
$10 gas card for playing golf
Gas-related promotions are spreading like errant balls on a driving range. On August 4, golf course owner Tradition Golf Prosperities started running a promotion at Stonehouse in New Kent. Play golf, get a $10 gas card to Wawa. So far about 250 golfers have used the coupons, which expire today. The promotion might be extended,… Read more »
Just don’t call it a golf cart
Virginia Golf Cars, a Harrisonburg-based seller of golf carts with a large showroom in Richmond’s Southside, has started selling a street-legal vehicle. Golf carts are typically not allowed on public roads. Their normal habitat is more often gated communities, RV parks and for business use, apartment complexes and college campuses. Property managers and house keeping… Read more »
Sell some peanuts and Cracker Jack
Editor’s Note: Every once in a while we like to lighten things up and look at the subplots, and the underpinnings of the working world. In this piece, reporter Alec Depcrynksi tags along with a vendor at a Richmond Braves game. We start at the Flamingo Joe’s base camp, the snow cone stand near the… Read more »
Blue Chips: Local business helps coaches keep track of recruits
As owner of Game On Recruiting Systems, Julie Lewis helps college coaches at smaller schools stay organized. Most Americans retire when they are 65 – or at least hope to. Julie Lewis contemplated retirement at 30. Of course that was before Lewis put aside retirement plans in favor of a small business venture aimed at… Read more »
Work. v. Play
I’ve decided I live an altered version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. (or in my case Ms.) Hyde. Last Wednesday I was at work being professional and doing the 9 to 5 thing. As soon as 5:00 rolled around, I turned off my computer and changed from my work clothes to my bike clothes. In… Read more »
Seventh Inning Questions
I’ve been thinking a lot about the business of minor league ball. A few questions: How much would a local business pay for the naming rights to a new stadium? What businesses might be likely candidates? Does paying for parking illicit some emotional reaction from consumers and turn them off, and would the Diamond get… Read more »
Bush League
Josh Leventhal, a blogger for baseballamerica.com, has a nice response to the weekend’s T-D coverage of the ongoing baseball saga. He writes, “Discounting the importance of a ballpark and fan experience is what got Richmond into this mess. Triple-A baseball is not coming back to Richmond, certainly not anytime soon. If Richmond focuses its attention… Read more »