Richmond Sports

[eandslee]

Are my eyes deceiving me...was this a misprint...or was this the actual attendance figure for the Richmond Squirrels home opener last week!?  According to Style Weekly, "The Richmond Flying Squirrels win their home opening series against the Altoona Curve, drawing 33,386 fans to the crumbling Diamond."  If that is true, where in the world did all the fans sit/stand?  doesn't the Diamond only hold about 10K now?  If you have any inside information, please confirm Style's claim.  Got this from here:

 

http://www.styleweekly.com/TheScore/archives/2014/04/15/the-score'>http://www.styleweekly.com/TheScore/archives/2014/04/15/the-score

 

Edited April 17, 2014 by eandslee

[Icetera]

Are my eyes deceiving me...was this a misprint...or was this the actual attendance figure for the Richmond Squirrels home opener last week!?  According to Style Weekly, "The Richmond Flying Squirrels win their home opening series against the Altoona Curve, drawing 33,386 fans to the crumbling Diamond."  If that is true, where in the world did all the fans sit/stand?  doesn't the Diamond only hold about 10K now?  If you have any inside information, please confirm Style's claim.  Got this from here:

 

http://www.styleweekly.com/TheScore/archives/2014/04/15/the-score

 

It looks like the games were over a 4-day period.  Saturday had around 8500 patrons (though it did not seem that packed to me) so average around 8300 per game.

[eandslee]

Ah, got it!  That make more sense, but still an impressive number even if over just 4 days!  I like it when Richmond supports its sport teams!  Thanks Icetera!

[eandslee]

Lots of positive feedback regarding the 2014 Collegiate Road National Championship in Richmond this past weekend.  Looks like Richmond is on track for hosting the UCI next year.  I can't wait to see my hometown televised worldwide in September 2015!  I was excited to see positive feedback from many of the contestants and visitors alike.  This article is just one of many I've read that sheds a positive light on the events over the weekend.  I did hear one negative - many cars were towed this weekend for being parked where they should not have...something like 150 cars, I believe!  Wow!

 

http://wtvr.com/2014/05/04/collegiate-road-nationals-are-warm-up-for-next-years-world-championships/'>http://wtvr.com/2014/05/04/collegiate-road-nationals-are-warm-up-for-next-years-world-championships/

[Icetera]

Lots of positive feedback regarding the 2014 Collegiate Road National Championship in Richmond this past weekend.  Looks like Richmond is on track for hosting the UCI next year.  I can't wait to see my hometown televised worldwide in September 2015!  I was excited to see positive feedback from many of the contestants and visitors alike.  This article is just one of many I've read that sheds a positive light on the events over the weekend.  I did hear one negative - many cars were towed this weekend for being parked where they should not have...something like 150 cars, I believe!  Wow!

 

http://wtvr.com/2014/05/04/collegiate-road-nationals-are-warm-up-for-next-years-world-championships/

 

Overall I think they did a good job with the event though the towing Saturday night was poorly handled.  Someone came up with the bright idea to tow at 1am in Shockoe Bottom on a club night rather than wait until 2-3am.  Even though signs were posted for 1am the tow trucks began around 12:30am.  Thankfully, I usually park in the garage regardless.

 

I was disappointed to see that Conch Republic did not bother to open Sunday which I feel was a mistake.  Even if there were no spectators hanging out at that end of the course many people definitely tried to go only to be disappointed.  The Boathouse appeared to be doing well.

Edited May 5, 2014 by Icetera

[eandslee]

In addition to the ICA announcement, the new VCU Basketball Practice Facility will also break ground in June!  Looks really nice; top-of-the-line, even!  See article and renderings here:

 

http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/latest-news/vcu-offers-sneak-peek-at-basketball-practice-complex/article_a7d43862-d7a4-11e3-9059-0017a43b2370.html?mode=jqm_rel

 

I think this is it.  I ran out of my 20 free articles a month (dumb).

 

Here's one that I know works:

 

http://www.vcuathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2013-14/releases/20140509cozdh8'>http://www.vcuathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2013-14/releases/20140509cozdh8

Edited May 12, 2014 by eandslee

[eandslee]

I don't know if you are into soccer or not, but if so, you might find this news exciting.  I'm not into soccer that much, but apparently, this is a big deal and that's good for Richmond!  Richmond Kickers to face Crystal Palace on 28 July at City Stadium in Richmond!

 

http://rvanews.com/sports/kickers-to-face-crystal-palace/112950?fan-of-the-fan

Edited May 20, 2014 by eandslee

[eandslee]

A huge movement of fans in the Richmond area lobbying to get a new pro hockey team.  There is a meeting tonight at the Captial Ale House at 7:05 PM to discuss what the next steps are to landing a pro hockey team in Richmond.  Like the page below, follow the developments, and heck, participate if you can!

 

https://www.facebook.com/#!/BringHockeyBackToRichmond'>https://www.facebook.com/#!/BringHockeyBackToRichmond

[Cadeho]

Richmond's best bet is racing.... now if we can only grab that HOF...

http://www.styleweekly.com/ScrumBlog/archives/2015/01/13/red-flag 

 

We dodged a bullet. I was for us winning this and was sad we didn't, but... now... take that Charlotte!

[Cadeho]

/www.richmond.com/news/local/henrico/article_53f21edd-a95b-5a19-a787-9395f25fe450.html

 

I'm not certain what could be developed around RIR. Who really wants to live there? The traffic is terrible during the races and the noise is unbearable. The neighborhoods around it are poor and the people don't have easy means to escape.  Wealthier folks wouldn't want to live there. Then inside RIR, how else could the site be used?

[eandslee]

I say build a new, longer tack further away from town and then redevelop the land RIR currently sits on. Sky's the limit on the redevelopment plan!

[RVA-Is-The-Best]

I say build a new, longer tack further away from town and then redevelop the land RIR currently sits on. Sky's the limit on the redevelopment plan!

 

A baseball arena jk,jk

[Shakman]

I say mow down the Bottom and build the RIR there.    

[Icetera]

The whole draw of RIR is short track racing.  I cannot imagine them ever changing that.

[eandslee]

The whole draw of RIR is short track racing.  I cannot imagine them ever changing that.

 

You say that, but every NASCAR race fan I know of answers (when asked what track is their favorite), says something like Daytona, Charlotte, or one of the longer tracks.  I've never heard someone actually answer Richmond.  I think most fans like the longer tracks...at least from the NASCAR fans I've met.  I'm not a fan, but I'm a fan of whatever brings Richmond some positive attention!

[eandslee]

I thought we had a Richmond 2015 UCI thread, but I couldn't find it.  I guess this thread will work.  Anyway, here are a couple good things regarding the UCI coming up this year in September:

 

Nice UCI commerial:

 

Richmond is even getting positive press in Washington DC:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/super-bowl-is-small-fries-compared-to-this-world-cycling-race-is-coming-to-richmond/2015/01/21/5140e2e4-974c-11e4-8005-1924ede3e54a_story.html

[Downtowner]

Saw this article that briefly mentions Richmond as getting another ECHL Team one day. Sad to see Norfolk lose its AHL team. Found this article on facebook from a facebook page called bring hockey back to Richmond. Has 4600 members in the group

 

http://hamptonroads.com/2015/02/area-will-be-recruiting-tool-echl-team-exec-says

Edited February 14, 2015 by Downtowner

[eandslee]

What we need is a good corporate sponsor to help build a new Coliseum to attract a new team. The city will never build one on its own. Just think of the possibilities with a new, state of the art arena!

[eandslee]

I heard today that Richmond is on the brink of landing a new ECHL hockey team - that's basically "AA" professional hockey (rememer the Renegades?)!  There are some hurdles that have to be overcome first (probably financial in nature), but if it comes to fruition this would be a very good thing!  Now if we can only get a new arena.  I think we need a new arena more than we need a new baseball stadium.  The Coliseum is just garbage!  We need a forward thinking sponsor to help finance it...and a professional team.  If things keep moving in the right direction like they have been lately (just saw that the city of Richmond is growing at a faster rate, population wise, than the suburbs), I think this might not be such as far fetched dream.  I see Stone Brewery really helping bring new business and residents (also more tourists) downtown as well!  Manchester looks great and there are many new projects in the works (Reynolds South, plus many more projects), BRT is the start of a real public transit system...boy, so many good things are afoot!  I think our future is looking up despite the dysfunction in City Hall.

[Wahoo 07]

I heard today that Richmond is on the brink of landing a new ECHL hockey team - that's basically "AA" professional hockey (rememer the Renegades?)!  There are some hurdles that have to be overcome first (probably financial in nature), but if it comes to fruition this would be a very good thing!  Now if we can only get a new arena.  I think we need a new arena more than we need a new baseball stadium.  The Coliseum is just garbage!  We need a forward thinking sponsor to help finance it...and a professional team.  If things keep moving in the right direction like they have been lately (just saw that the city of Richmond is growing at a faster rate, population wise, than the suburbs), I think this might not be such as far fetched dream.  I see Stone Brewery really helping bring new business and residents (also more tourists) downtown as well!  Manchester looks great and there are many new projects in the works (Reynolds South, plus many more projects), BRT is the start of a real public transit system...boy, so many good things are afoot!  I think our future is looking up despite the dysfunction in City Hall.

 

I agree that a new arena would be a far better use of funds.  It would allow RVA to attract bigger acts, host first round NCAA tournament games, etc and could be used year round.  Maybe down the road, we could land an NBA franchise (I know -- wishful thinking).

[HRVT]

I heard today that Richmond is on the brink of landing a new ECHL hockey team - that's basically "AA" professional hockey (rememer the Renegades?)!  There are some hurdles that have to be overcome first (probably financial in nature), but if it comes to fruition this would be a very good thing!  Now if we can only get a new arena.  I think we need a new arena more than we need a new baseball stadium.  The Coliseum is just garbage!  We need a forward thinking sponsor to help finance it...and a professional team.  If things keep moving in the right direction like they have been lately (just saw that the city of Richmond is growing at a faster rate, population wise, than the suburbs), I think this might not be such as far fetched dream.  I see Stone Brewery really helping bring new business and residents (also more tourists) downtown as well!  Manchester looks great and there are many new projects in the works (Reynolds South, plus many more projects), BRT is the start of a real public transit system...boy, so many good things are afoot!  I think our future is looking up despite the dysfunction in City Hall.

Would be nice if Richmond got an ECHL team to pair with Norfolk now being relegated back to the ECHL. We could revive the Admirals vs Renegades rivalries! I agree that Richmond needs a new arena overall. I've been to Richmond Coliseum twice and it has all the bad of a large arena compensated by all the bad aspects of a small arena combined with none of the charm that age sometimes brings.

[Richmonopoly]

AGREED (and keeping the boards active)!  

 

Richmond is among the fastest growing regions and we are finally in the spotlight.  If we expect our music scene and sports scene to grow with us (and create a destination for ticketholders) then we MUST improve the condition of the Richmond Coliseum.  It may cost money, but it is a must if we expect to keep up with other regions and compete for tourist dollars.  

[Wahoo 07]

http://richmondbizsense.com/2016/11/17/kickers-look-to-take-over-city-stadium-20m-in-upgrades-planned/

News about potential upgrades to City Stadium. 

[tparkerzut]

That's good new! I really need to go to a game sometime, I've never been.

[drayrichmond]

That's awesome news, it sounds like a win win for the city!