The model minor league baseball operation – everything from the front-office to the fan base, to the public/private collaboration – is about three hours away. Salem, for those of you who are not minor league baseball fanatics, is home to the Class A Avalanche. The team doesn’t have a great record or produce any more… Read more »
baseball
Is the ‘Curse of Diamond Duck’ over before it took hold?
Richmond might some day lament the day Diamond Duck left for Atlanta, ushering in an era without baseball. A new stadium would probably cure any budding curse before it becomes debilitating. (Read: Curse of the Bambino) Developer Highwoods Properties and their team have until March 1 to submit a letter of intent and outline their… Read more »
Developers throw Richmond a meatball. Or is it a knuckle ball?
On Monday the City of Richmond finally announced its plans for Shockoe Bottom and North Boulevard: Tear down the Diamond, and build a new stadium downtown. Throw in an ample mix of retail, office and residential development at both sites. Just $765 million later, fans will have a new baseball team, the city will once… Read more »
Charlotte baseball team might fit in Richmond
Balpark Digest is reporting that the Tripple A Charlotte Nights are the most likely team to move to Richmond so far. According to the website, “Multiple sources in ownership ranks and the N.A. confirm the Charlotte Knights (Class AAA: International League) are first in line to claim the open Richmond market, with Ken Young and… Read more »
Eastern League Coming to Richmond?
Eastern League president Joseph McEacharn has left the door open for a new EL-affiliated Richmond baseball team. Major League Baseball places restrictions on what can be said about new teams, because certain hurdles need to be cleared before information is made public. But judging from McEacharn’s comments to the Times of Trenton in New Jersey,… Read more »
$40 million ballpark — Boulevard or elsewhere
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 »
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??
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 »