The journey toward a new baseball diamond continues. With site prep work reportedly underway, the design team presented the latest ballpark renderings to the Urban Design Committee on Aug. 8.
We’re digging into the designs and want to hear from readers. We’ll ask some prompting questions throughout our breakdown.
First, some facts
According to the final application, the cost of the stadium is expected to be $110 million. The city announced in July that it had sold $130 million in bonds to fund the construction.
When complete, the stadium will be owned by the Economic Development Authority of the City of Richmond.
Breaking down the designs
The new stadium will welcome guests near the outfield, with the entry plaza backing up to the future “Festival Street” perpendicular to Arthur Ashe Boulevard. The concourse will wrap around the whole field.
Q: Are you more likely to walk around and explore the stadium or stay in your seat to watch the game?
A: Around 51% said they’d want to walk some, sit some.
Richmonders can expect more amenities at the new ballpark. Plans include space for a beer garden and cabanas themed around Richmond’s train history.
Q: What brewery would be a must-have at the new ballpark?
A: Hardywood led the way in suggestions, with Legend getting a number of shout-outs as well.
Other amenities include a baseball-themed public play area for kids, a lawn terrace, and a picnic terrace. There are also plans to include a mural on the concourse walking path.
Q: Do you think terrace areas should be ticketed or open?
A: The consensus is open.
What’s next?
The Planning Commission approved the designs at its Aug. 20 meeting. The city expects the groundbreaking to take place in August and construction to begin in the fall.
Want to answer any of the questions above, or just have burning thoughts about the ballpark? Tell us what you think.
What you said
Our readers and social media followers were happy to share their takes and questions about the baseball stadium renderings. Here’s what you had to say about the new ballpark — and what questions are still up in the air.
Some comments have been lightly edited for clarity, spelling, and grammar.
Make sure there’s shade
Prioritizing shady spaces was top of mind for a lot of people, especially given the heat of the summer baseball season.
“PLEASE plant trees and design maximum shaded areas!!”
– @beccaponderosalita
“I imagine taking inspiration from the Diamond and installing some giant sun sails in the southwestern corner to provide light diffusion and cooling without obscuring the view.”
– @spillow804
Others recommended adding more cooling features, like water mist stations and plenty of water fountains.
Needs more RVA
Some readers thought the renderings could use a little more River City flavor.
“It needs a more RVA architectural feel. [The rendering] looks like it could be in Anytown, USA.” – J.J. M.
“They look kind of utilitarian. It should be a GEM.” – Sharon T.
In the project narrative, the design team said the ballpark “will have an industrial, warehouse feel meant to pay homage to Richmond’s railway lineage.”
The renderings reference the possibility of public art to be installed after the stadium is built.
Questions for the future
Several people commented with questions about the plans to make the stadium accessible and sustainable.
The Urban Design Committee made environmental recommendations to the design team about being sensitive to light pollution, using permeable hardscape materials, and including sustainable stormwater features where appropriate.
There were also questions about how many fans the new stadium will seat. The design team said it will accommodate ~10,000. At full capacity, the Diamond seats ~12,000, however the top rows have been covered for several years, reducing seating capacity to ~9,500.
Dreams for the whole district
While these renderings only concern the future ballpark, people also shared wishes for the future Diamond District which will surround the new stadium.
We’ll keep readers updated on these developments — including the future of a bike-ped path, opportunities for local businesses, and more Diamond District details.
