Jenny Allen, Staff Writer
The Richmond Flying Squirrels released a statement on Jan. 9 saying negotiations with VCU over the use of the new CarMax Park have ended.
VCU and the Flying Squirrels minor-league baseball team have shared The Diamond baseball stadium since 2010, claiming its ground as a Richmond landmark.
The Diamond has housed VCU since 1985, with its first game being a 16-9 win over Virginia Tech. It was also the home stadium for the Richmond Braves until 2008, and most recently the Richmond Flying Squirrels until 2025.
The Diamond is operated by the Richmond Metropolitan Authority and leased by VCU. It has provided VCU players one of the best home-field advantages in all of college baseball.
VCU baseball has compiled an impressive 439-198-1 record at The Diamond, a winning percentage of nearly 70% since the 1998 season.
The Rams set a school record with 22 straight home victories spanning the end of the 2000 season through the start of the 2001 campaign, according to VCU Athletics.
CarMax Park was announced to replace the aging Diamond in September 2024. The project was set with verbal agreements during construction, but VCU had not signed a final contract stipulating terms.
This comes as the Rams continue negotiations over how much they would have to pay to use CarMax Park. The majority of CarMax Park sits on property owned by the city, however a portion of the land currently holds the VCU-owned Sports Backers stadium. The negotiation also included how much VCU would sell Sports Backers Stadium for.
Members from all three parties — the city, VCU and the Squirrels — signed a memo of understanding to finalize the terms in October.
VCU was set to pay the city $410,000 a year in rent on the new stadium, and an additional $300,000 to the Squirrels. The Economic Development Association would then pay $25 million to VCU for the land Sports Backers Stadium rests on, according to reports in Richmond BizSense and the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
The original plan was for VCU to begin its season in February at the Diamond, then transfer to CarMax Park once the stadium was complete in April. However, the stalled negotiations leave that in limbo.
Whether VCU will be allowed to finish out the season at The Diamond if no agreement is reached remains undetermined. VCU President Michael Rao and Richmond Mayor Danny Avula issued a joint press release emphasizing their hopes of finding a solution.
“We are optimistic about bringing to closure the final details and are committed to doing so because our partnership with the other players on this project is important,” Rao wrote, according to The Richmonder.
VCU holds leverage due to its possession of the site, however holding out would risk it standing in the way of the Diamond District’s full construction.
If a deal is not reached, VCU will have to plan on where to finish the season, according to The Richmonder. Stadium lights have already been transferred over to CarMax Park, but VCU will likely be able to continue at the Diamond for this season if need be.
VCU Athletics declined requests for comment by The Commonwealth Times.