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Going “Nuts” with the Richmond Flying Squirrels. My Experience at “The Diamond” as Richmond Awaits a New Ballpark.
- John Welch
- Jun 3
- 4 min read
After driving on Interstate 85 for the past 4 hours on the way back home from school, it was time to take a break from driving. In addition, I was also planning on stopping in Fredericksburg, which lies an hour north of Richmond. In Fredericksburg, my dad, who was driving back from Florida, and I decided to get a hotel where we would stay the night to continue the drive back home to New Jersey. However, since I was three hours ahead in my drive to Fredericksburg, I decided to stop for a Flying Squirrels game at The Diamond.
Having been to Richmond before, I have always enjoyed the people and the city. While some areas in the city are unsafe, the ballpark was in a great location. Across the street on the third base side of the field were a brand new Wawa and Starbucks. Since the first game started at 5:00 and since I arrived at 6:00, there weren’t a large number of workers to direct me where to go. However, I hit the Richmond Flying Squirrel jackpot: free parking at a baseball game. I was able to snag a spot right off the main street where I did not have to pay for parking.
When I entered the stadium, everyone was super friendly about directing me on what to do in terms of how to buy a ticket and where the security lines were. Tickets for general admission were $10, which is fair considering The Diamond does not have any outfield seating. The game took place on a Thursday afternoon, so I was not expecting a major crowd with it being a midweek game. I was able to sit three rows up from the 3rd base dugout without being asked to leave the seat. Unfortunately, I was in someone’s seat, but rather than getting yelled at, the woman smiled and thanked me for getting up after I apologized. I guess Virginia is for lovers after all.
The Flying Squirrels won game 1 of the doubleheader 3-1 courtesy of a complete game by Joe Whitman, the former Kent State Golden Flash. With 45 minutes in between games one and two, I decided to venture around the ballpark.
Being brutally honest, the ballpark was extremely ugly. While it was easy to navigate, the concourse was narrow, and the architecture was something I had never seen before. The stadium felt like a giant concrete boulder plopped in the middle of the city. The Cities new development plan according to ABC8 News plans to demolish the ballpark once the new ballpark is constructed next year.
While the concession lines were extremely long, I was impatient and decided to snack on an ice cream sandwich instead. During the break, the fans as well as the entertainment staff were extremely laid back. I hate going to baseball games where the entertainment staff tries too hard to entertain the fans, or the PA announcer adds an unnecessary comment during the game. Bianca Bryan, the Flying Squirrels' PA announcer, was fantastic. She called the game extremely well while not adding too much extra noise between pitches, batters, and innings. As the 2nd game was about to begin, I felt out of style and decided to blend in with the Flying Squirrel fans.
The 2nd game started around 7:15. Unfortunately, I was not able to watch the entirety of the game since I had to get back on the road to drive to Fredericksburg. The Flying Squirrels were celebrating Hanover Night for local food charities, and the players even wore special jerseys, which were to be auctioned for those charities at the end of the game. The Erie Seawolves ended up winning the game by a score of 3-2, thanks to dominant pitching as well as a 2-run single by Justice Bigbie in the 1st inning. The Seawolves, affiliated with the Detroit Tigers, have had a tremendous amount of great prospects, as the Detroit Tigers currently hold the best record in Major League Baseball.
Next year, CarMax Park will be the new Epicenter for Flying Squirrel Baseball. The new park will include outfield seating, something The Diamond could not provide, as well as better quality seating, food, suites, and amenities.
Overall, I loved my experience at The Diamond. While the stadium may not have been the greatest of all time, it was a lot of fun to watch baseball on my way back up from college. I could sense that the fans are ready for a change, and CarMax Park is going to be a special place for the city of Richmond. The people at the stadium were super helpful and friendly, making it an enjoyable atmosphere. By the end of the night, I was chanting “Let's Go Nuts,” with the Richmond faithful excited for the city and its future.
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