New owners willing to make upgrades to The Diamond

The ownership group moving a Class AA baseball franchise to Richmond next season will commit more than $1 million for short-term improvements to The Diamond, the Eastern League president said yesterday.

"We want to bring a first-class product to Richmond," Joe McEacharn said. "We are going to show our good faith not only by coming with a team, but we are going to substantially upgrade the product for the short term."

The Eastern League has not determined which of its 12 franchises will relocate to Richmond, or the composition of its ownership/management team, according to McEacharn.

The Richmond Metropolitan Authority, which owns and operates The Diamond, will contribute a maximum of $75,000 to short-term facility improvements, said Mike Berry, the RMA's general manager.

More than $1 million of additional upgrades will be "a cost borne entirely by the franchise," McEacharn said. He added that some of the expected upgrades will go beyond those "absolutely necessary" for the stadium to be functional. The Diamond needs painting, probably a new scoreboard, furniture for the executive offices, clubhouse furnishings and other necessities, Berry said.

Generally, improvements at The Diamond would involve fans' amenities, player-development facilities and front office structure, McEacharn said. Funding for upgrades would not be available until an ownership group is determined.

"We will make a significant investment to further our commitment to the folks in Richmond," he said. "We want them to know how committed we are going to be to Richmond for the long haul."

The new team will play at The Diamond until a new ballpark is built, or the club could stay at The Diamond if area officials determine that a transformation of facility on the Boulevard is the preferred alternative.

Discussion of what franchise is coming to Richmond and its ownership/management group is expected to be the agenda-topper at tomorrow's Eastern League board of directors meeting. McEacharn said the process has moved from the "exploratory" phase to the "decision-making" stage.

Berry said RMA representatives "have been meeting with various groups that have been brought here by the Eastern League to look at The Diamond. . . . We've shown the facility to quite a few teams, and we made sure they understand exactly what we have to offer right now."

The Connecticut franchise relocating to Richmond remains the most likely scenario, sources said.

That franchise -- contractually bound to the San Francisco Giants through next season -- in Richmond could feature a management team that includes executives from two of the Eastern League's most successful operations, Reading, Pa., and Trenton, N.J.

That move would allow the Eastern League to vacate Norwich, Conn., which many in the baseball industry believe is too small for a Class AA franchise, and occupy Richmond, which would be one of the league's top markets.

The Eastern League will identify a franchise for relocation to Richmond in July, according to McEacharn. Then, the league, Minor League Baseball and Major League Baseball will study the plan and be required to formally approve the relocation before it is announced, according to McEacharn.

A long-term ballpark solution is necessary, McEacharn has said repeatedly.

The Shockoe Center proposal, with its $60 million ballpark, was withdrawn last week. Opening Day Partners in early June submitted to area officials a $28 million proposal to transform The Diamond. Removal of the roof and upper deck are part of the plan.

Peter Kirk, ODP's chairman, said yesterday he hasn't been contacted by city officials or officials from neighboring counties.

Contact John O'Connor at (804) 649-6233