The Diamond Parker Field Discussions of new stadium
Download 51.15 Kb.
|
- Navigate this page:
- Naming
- Opening Post-Opening
| The Diamond
Parker Field Discussions of new stadium Questions and Answers on the New Stadium at Parker Field A Case for a New Stadium for the Richmond Area Projected Attendance for New Parker Field Stadium Architecture Finances City of Richmond and counties of Henrico and Chesterfield RMA Financial reports
Superbox $250,000 use for 10 years, 10 season tickets for baseball, 2 parking passes, admissions to other stadium events, paid utilities, paid cleaning service, decorated by tenant The Great Diamond Giveaway Wall of Fame $4 million to be raised by public – as of June 10, 1987, $4,278,432 raised by 678 donors plus fund-raising efforts. Reached $4 million in August of 1985.
Include letter suggesting name (11/84) Dr. William H. Parker Frank Soden Tommie Aaron
Finnegan & Agee Diamonds Aren’t Forever poster Let’s Pitch In To Build A New Ballpark. Buttons sold at Central Fidelity Bank, C.P. Dean, Easco Photo, East Coast Gas, Shoney’s, Bill’s Barbecue Ballpark Special – donations from items sold For Baseball like you’ve never seen it, give The Diamond a ring. Opening Post-Opening Cover photo of 1986 Great Minor League Baseball Parks Calendar (Baseball America) RMA minutes of meetings 1985 IL All-Star Game Superbox Tenants (as of April 5, 1985)
1 UVB ½
Universal Leaf ¼ Wheat First Securities ¼ 2 A.H. Robins 3 Ukrop’s 4 Ethyl 5 Braves VIP Box Left Field 6 First Va Bank-Colonial ¼ Best Products ¼ Massey Wood & West ¼ Life of Virginia ¼
Available ½ 8 CSX Corporation ½ Sovran Bank ½ 9 Reynold’s Metals 1/3 Eskimo Pie 1/3 Robertshaw Controls 1/3
James River Corporation ¼ Owens & Minor ¼ CF Sauer ¼ 12 Mid-Atlantic Coke ½ Brown Distributing ½ 13 Available Timeline 8/8/79 Report on Multipurpose Stadium for Metropolitan Richmond area 9/30/82 Report on Physical and Structural Condition of Parker Field Oct. and Nov. 1982 discussion of Parker Field 12/8/82 Budget for replacing Parker Field 3/14/83 Report for repairs and alterations to Parker Field estimated at $1.5 million Spring/83 Stadium Committee formed at request of Chamber of Commerce 9/20/83 Meeting with Richmond Area Business Leaders to present progress report on new stadium 9/83 Research report on perceived need for new stadium and whether residents feel his/her local government should support 1/30/84 Attendance and revenue projections for new Parker Field Stadium 3/29/84 Announcement of new stadium in front of main gates at Parker Field early 1984 Formation of Stadium Operating Committee 7/1/84 Effective date RMA authorized by General Assembly to acquire land, construct and own an athletic stadium and lease such land, stadium and attendant facilities 7/2/84 Press conference at Parker Field to announce two-month campaign for 100 retail outlets offering portion of sales going to new ballpark, Diamonds Aren’t Forever poster unveiled 7/24/84 design contract awarded to Baskervill and Son, building contract awarded to McDevitt and Street 8/31/84 Last game at Parker Field, Friday, finished at 10:40 EDT 10/28/84 Appeal to public for name suggestions 11/84 Letter suggesting name 12/17/84 or 12/18/84 Announcement of name 4/17/85 First game (Diamond is birthstone for April) First pitch: Steve Shields, pitcher, Larry Owens, catcher, Mike Sharperson, hitter (ball) 6/14/85 Dedication of The Diamond
First and last lists in Richmond Braves 1985 game program Find list of Diamond firsts City of Richmond City Council Roy A. West, Mayor Mrs. Claudette Black McDaniel, Vice Mayor Andrew J. Gillespie Walter T. Kenney William J. Leidinger Henry L. Marsh, III Henry W. Richardson Mrs. Carolyn C. Wake Mrs. Geline B. Williams Manual Deese, City Manager Henrico County Board of Supervisors John A. Waldrop, Jr., Chairman David A. Kaechele, Vice Chairman Anthony P. Mehfoud John B. Mckenney, Jr. L. Ray Shadwell, Jr. William F. LaVecchia, County Manager
Harry G. Daniel, Chairman Geoffrey H. Applegate, Vice Chairman Joan Girone R. Garland Dodd Jessee J. Mayes Richard L. Hedrick, County Administrator
James L. Jenkins, Chairman William A. Thornton, Vice Chairman W. Brooks George Read F. Goode David K. Hunt Jonathan Murdoch-Kitt Reginald H. Nelson, IV Robert A. Quicke Mrs. Virginia Ritchie Lawrence D. Smith, Sr. Archer L. Yeatts, Jr. Stadium Operating Committee Richard A. Hollander, Chairman Daniel W. Allen (Assistant City Manager of Richmond) *Richard L. Andersen (Richmond Braves General Manager) George W. Cheadle (RMA General Manager) *Frederick T. Cooper Robert J. Dahlstedt (Director of Planning of Henrico County) Harry G. Daniel (Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors Chairman) *Beverly Dew Elmer C. Hodge (Assistant County Administrator of Chesterfield) William J. Leidinger (Richmond City Council member) Lee A. Putney Robert S. Ukrop John A. Waldrop, Jr. (Henrico County Board of Supervisors Chairman) Andrew M. Dreelin, III Gilbert O. Nicholson, Jr. Douglas R. Maxwell
Architect – Baskervill & Son Structural Engineer – Thomas A. Hanson & Associates, Inc. RMA Representative – Torrence, Dreelin, Farthing & Buford, Inc. Diamond Trivia (according to 1985 Richmond Braves Media Guide) The first footer was poured on Sept. 12, 1984. Construction for The Diamond took place in 226 days. It took 4,000 man hours per week, or 128,000 total man hours to complete the construction. The Diamond consists of 12 million pounds or 8,000 yards of precast cement. One roof riser weighs 32 tons. One of the 16 outer”Y”-shaped supports weighs 55 tons. The price tag exceeded $8 million. There are 3,205 box seats, 2,198 reserved seats and 7,097 general admission seats in The Diamond. (12,500 total seats) The last row of general admission seats is 75 feet off the ground or 7.5 stories high. Tommie Aaron Training Facilities Dedicated April 20, 1985 In appreciation of his dedication and professionalism as a renowned Richmond Braves player from 1966 to 1972 and for his outstanding leadership as manager of the Richmond Braves in 1977 and 1978.
Dedicated August 12, 1985 In grateful recognition of Dr. William H. Parker, beloved physician, civic leader, and sportsman. When AAA baseball came to Richmond in 1954, the ballpark was named Parker Field in his honor.
Dedicated August 26, 1985 In appreciation of his outstanding and enthusiastic contribution to sportscasting in the Richmond area. His distinguished career as a broadcast journalist has included leadership participation in an incredible number of community activities.
1974 – Stadium feasibility study by Richmond Regional Planning District 1975 – Stadium feasibility study by Metropolitan Richmond Chamber of Commerce 1978 – Improvements to Richmond Municipal Stadium by City of Richmond 1978 – Preliminary general specifications for a new stadium CRA Stadium Location Committee Chuck Boone Stadium Committee formed in spring of 1983 Concluded that $20 million multipurpose stadium was not viable approach Focus on top-notch sports facility at current Parker Field site (primarily for baseball) Sept. 1983 survey by the Southeastern Institute of Research, Inc Is Richmond Area perceived to need Parker Field type stadium Does resident feel his/her government should support stadium effort
1975 68,348 1979 159,864 1980 187,462 17.3% increase 1981 218,208 16.4% increase 1982 255,864 17.3% increase 1983 300,896 17.6% increase
Year Rank in IL Average Team record 2008 14 4,454 63-78 2007 12 4,945 77-64 2006 12 4,731 57-86 2005 10 6,014 56-88 2004 10 6,250 79-62 2003 7 7,093 64-79 2002 10 6,565 75-67 2001 8 6,574 68-76 2000 7 6,946 51-92 1999 4 7,481 64-78 1998 4 7,440 64-80
Total: 3,060,493 (161,079 average) Tentative Time Schedule RMA/Parker Field Project May 14, 1984
EC – the Evaluation Committee SOC – the Stadium Operating Committee Richmond – the City of Richmond Henrico – the County of Henrico Chesterfield – the County of Chesterfield RMA – the Richmond Metropolitan Authority Banks – the financing bank group Braves – the Richmond Braves baseball club
May 22 – RMA Board adopts a resolution appointing the EC and requesting the EC to review, evaluate and make appropriate recommendations with respect to PF Design-Build proposals received May 30 – Pre-proposal meeting of potential bidders at PF to inspect the site May-June 30 – (a) Private sector fund raising; (b) development of financing package; (c) negotiations with the Braves on a new lease (including negotiations with concessionaires if they are not contracted for by the Braves) June 11 – Richmond City Council: first reading of ordinance containing deed of the PF property to RMA June 18 – Publication of first notice of RMA public hearing on the issuance of bonds to finance the PF project (as required by federal tax law and Virginia Industrial Development Bond law) June 19 – Publication of RMA RFP soliciting proposals from engineering/architectural firms to assist it in overseeing construction of the PF project (as required by the Virginia Public Procurement Act). Publication of the RMA RFP soliciting bond counsel proposals. June 25 – Publication of second notice of RMA public hearing on the issuance of boncs to finance the PF project. June 25 – Richmond City Council: second reading and adoption of ordinance containing deed of the PF property to RMA June 26 – Cut-off date for receipt of proposals by the EC in response to the Design-Build RFP June 26 – Notice of special meeting of the RMA Board to be held on July 2 is sent out June 28 – Evaluation by the EC of proposals received in response to the Design/Build RFP June 29 – Cut-off date for receipt of all proposals to serve as RMA engineering/architectural “overseer” for the PF project and to serve as bond counsel July 2 – RMA Board meeting at which the following actions are taken by the RMA Board:
July 9 – EC holds contract development meetings with the three top bidders (talks designed to answer any questions about proposals made and to further refine the proposals) July 9 – Richmond City Council:
July 11 – Henrico and Chesterfield Boards of Supervisors: each adopt the moral obligation contract supporting the RMA PF bonds July 17 – RMA regular meeting: Cost proposals on the Design-Build RFP are opened and RMA Board (with the assistance of the EC) chooses and announces the winning bidder July 20 – RMA staff (with the assistance of the EC) holds talks with the winning bidder to put any finishing touches on the construction contract and to discuss project scheduling July 20 – Notice of special meeting of the RMA Board to be held on July 24 is sent out July 23 – Richmond City Council: second reading and adoption of moral obligation contract supporting the RMA PF bonds July 24 – RMA Board meeting at which the following actions are taken:
July 25 – Detailed design work begins (fast track basis) September 4 – Demolition at PF begins April 15, 1985 – New PF ready for occupancy Richmond Braves and Richmond Virginians Top Ten attendance marks 1985 368,656 1983 293,328 1967 264,814 1957 258,861 1982 255,874 1966 234,005 1954 223,981 1959 220,198 1981 218,208 1956 214,533 (8/14/85 edition of Richmond News Leader) Tom Haudricourt article 4/16/85 supplement “This just doesn’t happen everywhere,” said Andersen. “I’ll treasure this experience for the rest of my life. It’s a monument to the dedication of all the people who worked to put it together.” “I walked out on the field the other day and took a look at what has been done,” said Hollander, “I could only look at it and say, ‘My God, did we really do this?” Spring 1983 City wanted Braves to build the stadium. Braves said it was the city’s obligation. Team was close to leaving Andersen convinced Moffatt & Chamber of importance of baseball Moffatt & Andersen went to Atlanta to talk with Sanders. SOC formed Fall & winter 1983-84 Governments commit Richmond committed first Henrico & Chesterfield came on board Summer 1984-Spring 1985 Private sector funds Design, construction Bill Millsaps Richard 32-year old GM Two years of calling attention to deplorable conditions at PF Speech to civic club: PF is not safe
Will stadium inherit Parker character (s)? History of baseball in Richmond 1884 Richmond in AA Various teams, ballpark locations Crowded clubhouse March 1983 presentation to Chamber Bill Deekens 2/18/85
Hurdles through the process Team almost left Deficit reduction act, limited the amount of revenue bonds that could be issued by any locality. Chesterfield had given up its quota. Reps of General Assembly talked to Gov. Charles S. Robb to see if state had some bonds that could be allocated to Chesterfield. 11-hour non-stop meeting on Aug. 31 Charles Sanders, Doug Maxwell (RMA’s attorney), Andersen, Dan Allen (Richmond’s assistant city manager). Lease had to be signed so demolition of PF could start the next day July 2, 1984 press conference by fund-raising committee to announce community to ‘pitch in’ to help build new ballpark. Shelley Rolfe RTC 11/27/85 The column also invoked memories of three decades ago, when a group of public-spirited people banded together to form Greater Richmond Civic Recreation Corp. to sell $360,000 for the conversion of Parker Field into a home for a new Richmond International League team. The recounting of what happened in 1954 had caught Ukrop’s attention when he was cleaning his desk. He wished he had known more about it when he embarked on the Diamond project. A knowledge of history, Ukrop said, always is instructive. He wished some of the leading players in GRCR had left memoirs. Only one of them is alive, Dr. Ed Haddock, who was mahor in 1954. Haddock, Ukrop said, has put together a memoir, a 16 mm film on Parker Field’s formative days. Ukrop wondered if the GRCR fund-raisers had ‘bitten their fingernails’ as he had done. Emphatically, yes. Ukrop began articulating a philosophy. “Life is a series of crises,” he said. “You finish college. You settle down at work. You get married. At each stop, you figure it’s going to get easier/” And there always is a fresh hurdle to surmount. Jennings Culley 4/18/85 The Diamond will stand as the House That Community Spirit Built. 7/5/84 Editorial Into the Windup August deadline for committed funds Having a Triple A baseball franchise, especially a quality operation like the Atlanta Braves’, is a precious asset for the metropolitan area. There are also the intangibles associated with having a regular source of wholesome family entertainment and having Richmond’s name circulated widely as an International League member. So, go government. Go private enterprise. Go fans. GO TEAM! 7/3/84 Bill Millsaps column Fastballs mark Stadium’s ‘pitch’ Fenton Hord, president of Eskimo Pie Corp., announced the start of a two-month campaign that involves 100 local retail outlets, all of which will earmark portions of the sale of certain products for the new ball park. Then there will be “I’m Pitching In To Build a New Ball Park” buttons; they’ll sell for $10 and the money will go into the stadium construction fund. The goal is to raise $500,000 from those efforts, Hord said. Jan. 1, 1985 RTD City, counties cooperating Paula C. Squires and Frank Green The grandstands, sky boxes and dugouts at the Diamond (old Parker Field) will embody a spirit of regional cooperation that flourished in the Richmond metropolitan area in 1984. 8/30/84 NL Lawyer may seek to prevent start of stadium work City manager Manuel Deese decided not to hire minority subcontractor to do part of the job The subconstractor, Robert L. Snow of Snow’s General Services, says his company was not chosen to demolish the aging Parker Field grandstand to make way for the new stadium because he is black. Snow was the low bidder on the demolition. McDevitt & Street argued that they would have taken too long to knock down grandstand
1986 attendance: 403,252 Let’s Play Ball Together (Fundraising Game Plan for New Stadium) Goal of $4 million $3 million pledged by July 1, 1984, campaign running through May, 1985 3-year payment plan 1984, 1985, 1986
Medium size firms 5/7-7/13 $25,000-75,000 1,000,000 goal Smaller firms 6/4-8/31 $5,000-20,000 600,000 goal Professionals 5/14-8/31 $100-25,000 100,000 goal Public Appeal/Marketing 6/4-5/1985 $1 and up 200,000 goal $4,200,000 goal Braves badge $10 each (kid wearing or accompanied by wearer in free to PF Bumper stickers Print on Grocery Bags Fact sheet on Stadium POP materials Pledge card 7/3/84 NL: Community goes to bat again – 30 years after big hit In Play By Jennings Culley They say it’s unsafe, unsightly, inadequate…and they’re right. But 30 years ago, Parker Field was a baseball delight. No architectural beauty, mind you, but a monument to what spirited citizens of a community could do in a short time. … Three decades ago, the drama in Richmond’s return to the International League was not in the awarding of the AAA franchise to a city where Class B baseball had long thrived. The excitement and suspense in the story was the way community effort made it work…the way enthusiastic citizens pulled together. The franchise was awarded in the dead of winter, 1953, but a park large enough to meet IL standards was not available. That’s when community leaders such as Ed Phillips, Andrew Welch, Ed Haddock and many others formed Greater Richmond Civic Recreation and went about raising funds to convert a grandstand from the old fairgrounds on North Boulevard into an 11,000-seat baseball park. Of course, in those days, you were speaking of $400,000, not $8 million. But the challenge, especially as far as time, was as great then as it is now. It was a matter of months and money. Back then, the groundswell of support was mind-boggling. Civic clubs, church groups, organizations of all kind and private citizens by the thousands contributed funds and bought GRCR bonds. In two months, the goal was reached, and on March 17, 1954, a contract was let to begin the conversion. That was just 22 days before the New York Yankees were due here for an exhibition. It seemed an impossible task. They poured a concrete concourse and hooked it to the grandstand (the first base side now). They built box seats and dugouts. They erected a lighting system. They rented and set up bleachers from the Washington Redskins. Cozy park Workmen were still hammering and saws were still buzzing as fans came in the game for the Yankee exhibition. Even a violent thunderstorm that struck minutes before the game couldn’t spoil the day. The game went on, and Parker Field was a reality. It was a year later before the park took its current configuration. Again, through the financial backing of community leaders, GRCR purchased a wooden stadium in Scranton, Pa., and hauled it here. It was set up behind home plate and along the third base line. It wasn’t pretty, but it was the largest ball park in Virginia. It was a cozy park from which a generation of fans have enjoyed watching baseball. They remember the Mel Stottlemyres, the Tommie Aarons, the Deron Johnsons, the Dale Murphys who have paraded through. But they remember most the public excitement and community spirit that brought it all about. Now the community has to go to bat again. … B&W Photo (L to R): John A. Waldrop Jr., chairman of the Henrico Board of Supervisors; Richmond Mayor Roy West; local businessman Robert Ukrop; Chesterfield Supervisor Geoffrey Applegate; and Lee Putney, chairman of the Metropolitan Richmond Chamber of Commerce, celebrate the joint effort to replace Parker Field’s stadium. Staff photo by Masaaki Okada (Richmond Times-Dispatch) (March 1984) Appeared in March 30, 1984 edition of RTD Directory: Clinics Clinics -> Out of the area and local command Clinics -> Name: Emma Kazaryan Lesson: Consumer Law – Deceptive Advertising goals Clinics -> Name: Meghan McCabe Lesson: Internet Privacy Source Clinics -> Source: Megan Smith’s Model Lesson Plan and Clinics -> Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation Vision Clinics Clinics -> 2017 Region 8 optional clinic Official Entry Form Club: Coach #1 Download 51.15 Kb. Share with your friends:
|