Sports Backers’ decision to move from its stadium adjacent to The Diamond to a former bank building on the Richmond-Henrico County line is one of several steps needed to facilitate the construction of the Diamond District.
The nonprofit, which operates the Monument Avenue 10k and Richmond marathon, announced Wednesday it will move its headquarters to a half-acre site along the anticipated fall line trail. The relocation also affected Virginia Commonwealth University’s plan for its athletics village.
Initially, VCU offered Sports Backers a home in its upcoming 42-acre athletics campus. But that would have been an expensive move, said Jon Lugbill, Sports Backers’ executive director. And the building near the fall line trail was too good to pass up.
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“Our future is really with the fall line trail,” Lugbill said.
The Diamond is seen next to Sports Backers Stadium in this drone photo from March. Between the two facilities is the proposed site for the new baseball stadium.
Built in 1999 on North Arthur Ashe Boulevard, Sports Backers Stadium was a joint venture between the nonprofit, the city of Richmond, VCU and Virginia Union University.
Because Sports Backers raised much of the money needed to build the stadium, the sports authority’s name was attached to it. Sports Backers’ 23 employees work in the stadium’s offices, and several sports teams call it home — VCU’s track and soccer squads and VUU’s track teams.
The field, track and building are scheduled to be demolished to make way for the $2.4 billion, 67-acre Diamond District redevelopment, which includes a minor league baseball stadium for the Richmond Flying Squirrels.
VCU, which owns the 3,200-seat Sports Backers Stadium, will sell it to the city’s Economic Development Authority for $25 million to make way for new construction.
The university invited Sports Backers to relocate to a new track and field facility across Hermitage Road. But such a move would have been significantly more expensive, Lugbill said.
Sports Backers would have needed to raise the money for its office space. New construction costs more, and fundraising for office space isn’t as easy as asking for donations for a community-wide facility, added Lugbill, who declined to share the cost.
The Diamond District would include a new baseball stadium adjacent to the site of the current stadium. VCU is planning a 42-acre athletics village on the east side of Hermitage Road, across the street from the development.
The sports authority plans to vacate its stadium by the end of 2024. The baseball stadium is scheduled to open in 2026 and, for that to happen, construction needs to begin early next year.
Based on concept images, it appears work on the baseball stadium can begin before Sports Backers is razed.
Construction on VCU’s $38 million outdoor track and field stadium is expected to begin before the end of the year. An opening date has not been announced. Next, VCU said it will begin work on a $45 million tennis facility between 2024 and 2026. The following step is a soccer stadium, whose cost has not been determined. Its construction is scheduled to start between 2026 and 2028. The final piece is an indoor track and field building, which will go up sometime after 2028. Its cost has not been figured out either.
Sports Backers will have access to the new outdoor track stadium for its events, Lugbill said.
Sports Backers Stadium is adjacent to where the city of Richmond plans to build a new baseball stadium. The baseball stadium’s site is the large parcel to the left of Sports Backers Stadium.
There were a number of good reasons to move to the former bank building: it’s cheaper, it’s adjacent to the fall line trail, and it eliminated any question about where Sports Backers would operate in the months to come.
Setting up shop along the trail shows Sports Backers’ confidence in the trail and its ability to transform the region, Lugbill said.
“We’re literally putting a flag in the ground,” he said. “It’s perfect for us.”
A 43-mile path, the fall line trail will stretch from Petersburg to Ashland. Work is expected to finish in 2030 at a cost of $300 million. The section in Henrico, though, should open in early 2026, Lugbill said.
Construction on ‘transformative’ Fall Line Trail begins in Henrico
The new home isn’t without its quirks. The border between Richmond and Henrico cuts through the parcel. The bulk of the building is in Richmond, but its drive-thru is in Henrico. Richmond lists the property as 4921 Hermitage Road, but Henrico calls it 4921 Lakeside Drive, as the name of the road changes when you cross the county line.
Over the years, the building hosted a number of bank brands, most recently Bank of America. Henrico bought the half-acre parcel for about $1 million in June, and Sports Backers plans to raise another million to renovate and add a fitness center.
Sports Backers and the county agreed to a 20-year lease with two five-year renewable extensions, said Lugbill, who declined to reveal the financial value. Construction is scheduled to begin early next year.
Sports Backers and Henrico have a shared vision for activating the space and highlighting the fall line trail, Lugbill said.
“We were exactly what Henrico was looking for as a partner, and vice versa, Henrico will be a huge partner of ours,” he said.
This morning’s top headlines: House speaker race; Joran van der Sloot’s confession; Netflix prices; WNBA champions
House speaker race; Joran van der Sloot’s confession; Netflix prices; WNBA champions; and more top news this morning:
Refusing to drop out, Republican Rep. Jim Jordan is telling GOP colleagues he is still running for House speaker. But he says he would back a temporary speaker for several months until January as he works to shore up support to win the gavel himself. However, neither plan seems viable at the moment after Jordan failed on two ballots, and no immediate third vote is planned. Jordan delivered his message Thursday at a closed door meeting of Republicans at the Capitol, according Republicans familiar with the meeting and insisting on anonymity to discuss it.
Israel’s defense minister has told ground troops to be ready to enter the Gaza Strip, though he didn’t say when the invasion will start. Israeli airstrikes pounded the territory on Thursday, including parts of the south that it had declared as safe zones. The attacks heightened fears among Palestinians that nowhere was safe. Gaza’s overwhelmed hospitals were trying to stretch out dwindling medical supplies and fuel for generators, as authorities worked out logistics for a delivery of aid from Egypt. Doctors in darkened wards across Gaza stitched wounds by the light of mobile phones, and others used vinegar to treat infected wounds.
A Russian-American journalist working for a U.S. government-funded media company has been detained in Russia and charged with failing to register as a “foreign agent.” Alsu Kurmasheva is an editor for Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty. She is the second U.S. journalist to be detained in Russia this year. Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was arrested for alleged spying in March. Russian state news agency Tatar-Inform said Thursday that authorities accused Kurmasheva of collecting information about Russia’s military activities “in order to transmit information to foreign sources.” The Committee to Protect Journalists said Kurmasheva could be sentenced to up to five years in prison if convicted.
Coalition forces were slightly injured in Iraq in a spate of drone attacks over the last 24 hours at U.S. bases in Iraq as regional tensions flare following the deadly explosion at a hospital in Gaza. Two drones targeted the al Asad base in Western Iraq used by U.S. forces and one drone targeted a base in Northern Iraq. U.S. forces intercepted all three, destroying two but only damaging the third, which led to minor injuries among forces at the western base. Iranian-backed militias in Iraq have threatened to attack U.S. facilities there because of American support for Israel.
The Biden administration has announced $3.5 billion for 58 projects across the country to strengthen electric grid resilience as extreme weather events such as the deadly Maui and California wildfires continue to strain the nation’s aging transmission systems. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm says Wednesday’s announcement marks the largest federal investment ever in grid infrastructure. Funding will support projects to harden electric systems and improve energy reliability and affordability. The federal spending, combined with money promised by private partners, could result in up to $8 billion in investments nationally to upgrade the grid and help it withstand natural disasters and extreme weather worsened by climate change.
The chief suspect in the 2005 disappearance of Natalee Holloway has admitted to killing her. New details in the killing emerged Wednesday as Joran van der Sloot pleaded guilty to extorting money from Holloway’s mother. He confessed in submitted court filings to bludgeoning Holloway to death on a beach in Aruba before dragging her body out to sea. He had sought a quarter of a million dollars from Holloway’s mother in exchange for information about the location of her daughter’s remains. His confession resolves a case that has captivated the public’s attention for nearly 20 years. His 20-year sentence for extortion will run concurrently with prison time he’s serving for another killing in Peru.
Oscar-nominated actor Burt Young has died. Young played Paulie, the angry, grumbling best friend and brother-in-law of Sylvester Stallone in six “Rocky” movies. His daughter, Anne Morea Steingieser, tells the New York Times Young died Oct. 8 in Los Angeles at age 83. Young appeared in films including “Chinatown” and “Once Upon a Time in America” and on TV shows including “Miami Vice” and “The Sopranos.” But he was best known for playing Philadelphia meat packer Paulie Pennino starting in 1976’s original “Rocky.” Young earned a best supporting actor nomination for the role.
Netflix has disclosed summertime subscriber gains that surpassed analysts’ projections, signaling the video streaming service’s crackdown on password sharing is converting former freeloaders into paying customers. In an effort to bring in even more revenue, Netflix also announced it’s raising the price for its most expensive streaming service by $2 to $23 per month in the U.S., a 10% increase. The $15.50 per month price for Netflix’s most popular streaming option in the U.S. will remain unchanged, as will a $7 monthly plan backed by ads. The company’s shares more than 12% in extended trading.
The Las Vegas Aces became the first team in 21 years to win back-to-back WNBA championships, getting 24 points and 16 rebounds from A’ja Wilson and a defensive stop in the closing seconds to beat the New York Liberty 70-69 in Game 4 of the Finals. The Aces joined the Los Angeles Sparks in 2001-02 and the Houston Comets from 1997-2000 as the only teams in league history to win consecutive titles. Las Vegas did it without starters Chelsea Gray and Kiah Stokes, who were both sidelined with foot injuries suffered in Game 3.
Ranger Suárez says last year’s World Series loss is on the minds of the Philadelphia, who hold a 2-0 NL Championship Series lead going into Game 3 on Thursday. Philadelphia swept the first two games at home, winning 10-0 with another power display. Kyle Schwarber hit two of Philadelphia’s three solo homers off Merrill Kelly. Houston tries to even the AL Championship Series 2-2 when it plays at Texas on Thursday night. José Urquidy starts for the Astros and Andrew Heaney for the Rangers.
Eric Kolenich (804) 649-6109
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