Group hopes to buy baseball team for Richmond by 3/l, wants assurance of new stadium

JOHN O'CONNOR TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
Published: January 6, 2009

A local group aiming to return professional baseball to Richmond hopes to purchase a franchise by March 1. In order to make the deal, the group says, it needs assurance that a new ballpark will be built.

The Atlanta Braves' Class AAA franchise left Richmond and moved to Gwinnett County, Ga., following last season. Braves officials made it clear they were tired of waiting for a firm plan for a stadium to replace The Diamond.

Bryan Bostic, leader of the local group, yesterday said he is confident a franchise will be available by March. He said he could not comment on what level of the minor league baseball the franchise would be.

The highest level of affiliated baseball -- run by Minor League Baseball -- from which a franchise would be currently available to Richmond appears to be the Class AA Eastern League.

If Bostic's group bought a team before the 2009 season, it could continue to operate in its current location this year, then relocate to The Diamond for the 2010 season.

Bostic said Minor League Baseball and his ownership group agree that for Richmond to have a successful team a new stadium is essential.

"I believe that our community recognizes that we've got to create a long-term solution around baseball and that clearly we've learned some lessons from the Braves," he said.

Proposals: Highwoods Properties in October proposed a nearly $800 million, two-pronged project. One development involves the North Boulevard area, where The Diamond is located. The other development would occur in Shockoe Bottom, and include a new stadium with a capacity of about 8,500. Representatives for Highwoods Properties and the potential local ownership group of the baseball franchise continue to talk with city politicians and other groups.

"What we're telling people is we are confident we will get a team if we can get an agreement for a new ballpark," said Pete Boisseau, of Boisseau Partners, the public relations firm involved with Highwoods Properties and the baseball group. "On the opposite side, we probably won't get a team without a new ballpark."

In the meantime: While Richmond waits for a new affiliated franchise and a new stadium, The Diamond may host a handful of independent-league games.

Mike Berry, the general manager of the Richmond Metropolitan Authority, yesterday said he is "very optimistic" some games involving teams from the independent Atlantic League will be played here.

Peter Kirk, a vice president of the Atlantic League, said the league is looking into the possibility of moving several games here.

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