Re: Redskins Officially Announce Training Camp Move to Richmond/Ashburn Renovations
 

I still find it funny, we're the Washington Redskins, yet we play games in Maryland and Practice in Virginia..We have nothing to do with DC.

Re: Redskins Officially Announce Training Camp Move to Richmond/Ashburn Renovations
 

[quote=CultBrennan59;920274]I still find it funny, we're the Washington Redskins, yet we play games in Maryland and Practice in Virginia..We have nothing to do with DC.[/quote]

You can see dc from FedEx field technically...

Re: Redskins Officially Announce Training Camp Move to Richmond/Ashburn Renovations
 

[quote=mredskins;920180]As a person that has been to many training camps it sounds more fun then it is.[/quote]



....well you can always stop off here!!



[url=http://www.kingsdominion.com/]Welcome to Virginia's Premier Themed Amusement Park | Kings Dominion[/url]

Re: Redskins Officially Announce Training Camp Move to Richmond/Ashburn Renovations
 

[quote=mbedner3420;920275]You can see dc from FedEx field technically...[/quote]

People in Alaska can see Russia, that doesn't make them Russians ;)

[QUOTE=CultBrennan59;920281]People in Alaska can see Russia, that doesn't make them Russians ;)[/QUOTE]

But it does give them valuable foreign policy experience. ;)

Re: Redskins Officially Announce Training Camp Move to Richmond/Ashburn Renovations
 

[quote=firstdown;920245]I've never had the desire to go to training camp but at 1 1/2 hours away I might have to check it out.[/quote]

Its fun. The one time I went I saw a fight between Jessie Armstead and Chad Morton

Re: Redskins Officially Announce Training Camp Move to Richmond/Ashburn Renovations
 

I guess this officially does away with any sort of Redskins facility in Washington D.C towards Lot 8 as hoped earlier this year. Damn shame.

Re: Redskins Officially Announce Training Camp Move to Richmond/Ashburn Renovations
 

The ride to Richmond from DC is traffic hell. Frostburg & Carlisle were much nicer rides.

They didnt say on the news where the camp would actually take place. They showed a couple of dumpy stadiums in Richmond which look like they will need a bunch of renovation before hosting the Skins. I remember all the controversy with the field condition at Carlisle, hopefully this will be better and nobody gets hurt.

Re: Redskins Officially Announce Training Camp Move to Richmond/Ashburn Renovations
 

[quote=mooby;920203]Idk where you live but it shouldn't be that bad. I'm about an hour away from Ashburn and 1 1/2 hours from Richmond. I would assume if you take the Beltway down to 95 and then down to Richmond it would only add a couple hours for you, so probably a 4 hour drive instead of 5-6.[/quote]

Pennsylvania, near Harrisburg (and Carlisle!).

Takes me about 45 to get to Baltimore if no construction/problems/traffic. Took me 2 hours even to get to Ashburn down Route 15.

Took me 6.5 hours to get to VA Beach when we went.

Re: Redskins Officially Announce Training Camp Move to Richmond/Ashburn Renovations
 

[quote=irish;920316]The ride to Richmond from DC is traffic hell. Frostburg & Carlisle were much nicer rides.

They didnt say on the news where the camp would actually take place. They showed a couple of dumpy stadiums in Richmond which look like they will need a bunch of renovation before hosting the Skins. I remember all the controversy with the field condition at Carlisle, hopefully this will be better and nobody gets hurt.[/quote]

Definitely agree

Believe they said it would be within city limits

Re: Redskins Officially Announce Training Camp Move to Richmond/Ashburn Renovations
 

A lot of the talk on radio down here was where in the hell are they going to host this thing.

Something i hadnt really thought about is training camp needs more then just a couple fields. Directly connected to the fields they need a locker room, a place to study/watch flim and stuff, and a place to eat.

City Stadium - needs massive renovation plus facilities which it has none of.

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]UR - Its probably the best suited to host training camp but its a political hot bed. Technically part of the campus is in Henrico (perhaps more than half), and Richmond put up the 400k. Many/most impacted restaurants, hotels and commercial places in the area will be outside of the city.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]The surrounding neighborhoods are some of the nicest in the Richmond area and they fought hard against the new UR stadium being built because of noise and traffic concerns. These are well connected people that are gonna be against training camp. [/FONT][/COLOR]

I mentioned the fields behind Flying Squarels' field yesterday, which turns out to be owned by Sports Backers and VCU. Ive heard a couple people say its probably the fall back spot right now, hopefully theyll find something better. Kind of a crappy area and i think the fields are turf.

VUU - Historically black college (Ben Wallace tore it up there). Their stadium is more like a bigger HS stadium, but probably big enough, and it has the practice field adjacent to it. Parking probably sucks. Not in the nicest part of town.

Browns Island - I havent heard anyone else mention it, but i think it will be in play. I think the facilities/busineses around it could support lockerroom/indoor needs, but it would definitely need some bleachers/seating. However having seating at Browns Island would come in handy for the other events there. Not sure if downtown could handel the additional parking on weekdays though.

Re: Redskins Officially Announce Training Camp Move to Richmond/Ashburn Renovations
 

Also i just remembered Bruce Allen played football at UR, i think he was the punter. Not sure if that could impact anything or not.

Re: Redskins Officially Announce Training Camp Move to Richmond/Ashburn Renovations
 

[quote=mlmpetert;920376]Also i just remembered Bruce Allen played football at UR, i think he was the punter. Not sure if that could impact anything or not.[/quote]

It just impacts my opinion of him.

Re: Redskins Officially Announce Training Camp Move to Richmond/Ashburn Renovations
 

[quote=Monksdown;920377]It just impacts my opinion of him.[/quote]

Hahaha. Agreed. His father is a legendary NFL head coach and all he can play is punter? Really?

Re: Redskins Officially Announce Training Camp Move to Richmond/Ashburn Renovations
 

[quote=mlmpetert;920367]A lot of the talk on radio down here was where in the hell are they going to host this thing.

Something i hadnt really thought about is training camp needs more then just a couple fields. Directly connected to the fields they need a locker room, a place to study/watch flim and stuff, and a place to eat.

City Stadium - needs massive renovation plus facilities which it has none of.

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]UR - Its probably the best suited to host training camp but its a political hot bed. Technically part of the campus is in Henrico (perhaps more than half), and Richmond put up the 400k. Many/most impacted restaurants, hotels and commercial places in the area will be outside of the city.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]The surrounding neighborhoods are some of the nicest in the Richmond area and they fought hard against the new UR stadium being built because of noise and traffic concerns. These are well connected people that are gonna be against training camp. [/FONT][/COLOR]

I mentioned the fields behind Flying Squarels' field yesterday, which turns out to be owned by Sports Backers and VCU. Ive heard a couple people say its probably the fall back spot right now, hopefully theyll find something better. Kind of a crappy area and i think the fields are turf.

VUU - Historically black college (Ben Wallace tore it up there). Their stadium is more like a bigger HS stadium, but probably big enough, and it has the practice field adjacent to it. Parking probably sucks. Not in the nicest part of town.

Browns Island - I havent heard anyone else mention it, but i think it will be in play. I think the facilities/busineses around it could support lockerroom/indoor needs, but it would definitely need some bleachers/seating. However having seating at Browns Island would come in handy for the other events there. Not sure if downtown could handel the additional parking on weekdays though.[/quote]

Great summary of what is available, thanks. Now that you say it, they showed City Stadium and the VCU field on last night's news. Both looked pretty bad. The more I think about it and see that Richmond is far away from an acceptable/modern facility it seems that this is a money grab by the Skins and a publicity stunt by VA and Richmond. So far I dont see how this will do anything to make the Skins training camp more productive.

Re: Redskins Officially Announce Training Camp Move to Richmond/Ashburn Renovations
 

I know nothing about Richmond, but what I have been told is that the leading option is to expand City Stadium and partner it up with VCU's medical school campus somehow.

Again, I know nothing about Richmond so I don't how this would work. But as of right now, that's apparently what they're primarily looking at

The other strong contender is that Flying Squirrels field that mlmpetert referred to

Re: Redskins Officially Announce Training Camp Move to Richmond/Ashburn Renovations
 

[quote=irish;920384]Great summary of what is available, thanks. Now that you say it, they showed City Stadium and the VCU field on last night's news. Both looked pretty bad. The more I think about it and see that Richmond is far away from an acceptable/modern facility it seems that this is a money grab by the Skins and a publicity stunt by VA and Richmond. So far I dont see how this will do anything to make the Skins training camp more productive.[/quote]

From what I can tell through mlmpetert's post (I don't know much about Richmond) there isn't a leading contender at this point to host it. They'll need a pretty big stadium to hold the fans too, during the weekdays it's not so bad but last year Fan Appreciation Day drew 28k (I think?) and with RG3 in the fold it might even draw around 30k or more now. So having an area that can hold that many people will be important. Not to mention all the facilities players need, training room, film room, cafeteria, etc.

Re: Redskins Officially Announce Training Camp Move to Richmond/Ashburn Renovations
 

i had my fingers crossed for roanoke

Re: Redskins Officially Announce Training Camp Move to Richmond/Ashburn Renovations
 

@ Smoot - that doesnt really make a lot of sense. VCU's medical school is MCV, which is on a seperate campus about 2 miles east in downtown Richmond next to big buildings and stuff. The main VCU campus is kind of at the juncture where downtown meets the old uptown residential type area. City Stadium is about 2-3 miles futher west. So all 3 places are spread out from each other with VCU in the middle.

Its openly known that VCU can have City Stadium if they want it, but VCU's been putting it off. Im starting to feel like this whole training camp thing is gonna make them commit one way or another.

Ever since UR stoped playing there people have been trying to figure out what to do with City Stadium. VCU was/is the likely sucessor but its not a sure thing. VCU's old president wouldnt even entertain the idea of a football team. I think the new president is ambivalent to the idea. VCU's old AD, Norwood Teague, wanted a football team, and pulled a HUGE shocker when he left Shaka to go to Minnesota about a month ago.

This happened right after Shaka committed to VCU, and combined with VCU joining the A10 has created some speculation that Shaka Smart is against VCU getting a football team. After Shaka stayed, and because of the amount we are paying him, he's gonna get his way (imo Teague could be the bigger loss (digression)). Also with VCU's recent success at bball there hasnt been a push for football like there was 10 years ago. In fact i would say most of the VCU community is against getting a football team right now.

But now that i know the other place behind the Flying Squirrels (fun fact - flying squirrels are [I]not [/I]indigenous to Richmond) is owned by VCU i got to think that if VCU was to ever get a football team thats where they have been planning to build a stadium.

The previous minor leauge bball team (for the Braves) was pushed out of town because like City Stadium the baseball stadium (called The Diamond) was in disrepair. After they left we got the Flying Squirrels and helped them "band aid" fix it up. Attendence has been great and theyve done really well, but at some point theyll need a new stadium. Im thinking once they get their stadium, or leave, VCU will take over The Diamond with the intent to eventually rip it down and start a football program.

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]So all this could force a couple key decisions that are partially contingent on each other:[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]1) VCU's football intent & where theyll eventually play[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]2) Commitment via stadium funding to the Flying Squirrels & where to build the new stadium[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]3) What to do with City Stadium and eventually The Diamond[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]My guess is they wont be able to figure all this out and there will be a "make do" type solution, at least initially. City Stadium has seating for 22k, the VCU fields behind The Diamond have 3k seats but could easily be expanded to 6k or more. Parking and traffic wont be a problem for either site. I guess it all depends on how good RGIII looks early on. [/FONT][/COLOR][/FONT][/COLOR]

Re: Redskins Officially Announce Training Camp Move to Richmond/Ashburn Renovations
 

Maybe I heard wrong. Like I said, I know nothing about Richmond so don't know how the layout could work logistically

Re: Redskins Officially Announce Training Camp Move to Richmond/Ashburn Renovations
 

[quote=irish;920316]The ride to Richmond from DC is traffic hell. Frostburg & Carlisle were much nicer rides.

.[/quote]


To bypass the DC traffic take 301 south over the Harry Nice bridge into VA go about and 90 min from there and you hit 95 just above Kings Dominion.Not a bad ride (some police )

Re: Redskins Officially Announce Training Camp Move to Richmond/Ashburn Renovations
 

Alright ive [I]almost [/I]completely lost interest, but i had to work late and since it was on the way home i drove by City Stadium.

It isnt as bad as i remembered. It was built in the late 20's and has a certain kind of charm to it. But theres a lot less parking then i thought. It would be really hard to add another field to the area without loosing a lot of the parking or doing some major excavating.

[url=http://www.hogshaven.com/2012/3/7/2851681/richmond-va-the-new-redskins-training-camp-spot]Richmond, VA the New Redskins Training Camp Spot? - Hogs Haven[/url]

When people go to training camp are they just sitting there watching practice? Or are they walking around to different tents and exhibits and merchandise carts? Seems like sitting on bleachers in the full sun during july/august watching practice with nothing else to do could get not-so-fun after 20-30 minutes.

Whats odd to me is that this is the place Snyder checked out a couple months ago. Seems kind of weird this is where he would want to host camp, unless Shanahan is cool with 1 field.

Re: Redskins Officially Announce Training Camp Move to Richmond/Ashburn Renovations
 

[quote=CultBrennan59;920274]I still find it funny, we're the Washington Redskins, yet we play games in Maryland and Practice in Virginia..We have nothing to do with DC.[/quote]

How far in SE do you want to go to find open land for all facilities?

Re: Redskins Officially Announce Training Camp Move to Richmond/Ashburn Renovations
 

If they tore down city stadium you can fit some fields and small facilities in that "block" from what I recall... perhaps MCV would just house the dorms and film rooms.. shuttle to the fields

Re: Redskins Officially Announce Training Camp Move to Richmond/Ashburn Renovations
 

Im not fond of this change at all

Re: Redskins Officially Announce Training Camp Move to Richmond/Ashburn Renovations
 

Will less fans show up to training camp now that it will be in Richmond?

Re: Redskins Officially Announce Training Camp Move to Richmond/Ashburn Renovations
 

[quote=milellie111;920971]Will less fans show up to training camp now that it will be in Richmond?[/quote]

Quite the reverse. Your gonna see a ton of fans from southern Va and the tidewater area coming into richmond for camp. I went to a couple BBQs over the weekend, it was the top thing being talked about.

Re: Redskins Officially Announce Training Camp Move to Richmond/Ashburn Renovations
 

[quote=Chico23231;920979]Quite the reverse. Your gonna see a ton of fans from southern Va and the tidewater area coming into richmond for camp. I went to a couple BBQs over the weekend, it was the top thing being talked about.[/quote]

Even though I'm moving just across the border into NC, I'll definitely try to see if I can make it to training camp next year!

Re: Redskins Officially Announce Training Camp Move to Richmond/Ashburn Renovations
 

Richmond is an amazing town with some pretty great ways to pass a weekend; this will only add to it. This was a nice move, and I'm really looking forward to getting there sometime soon!

Re: Redskins Officially Announce Training Camp Move to Richmond/Ashburn Renovations
 

[quote=Chico23231;920979]Quite the reverse. Your gonna see a ton of fans from southern Va and the tidewater area coming into richmond for camp. I went to a couple BBQs over the weekend, it was the top thing being talked about.[/quote]I'll definitely be up for it. Have you heard any more about the locations, the City Stadium is a wreck, U of R is out, not sure where the facilities are without MAJOR renovations.

Re: Redskins Officially Announce Training Camp Move to Richmond/Ashburn Renovations
 

[url=http://www.nbc12.com/story/18723342/vcu-president-comments-on-redskins-announcement]Could Redskins move bring football to VCU? - NBC12.com-Richmond, VA News, Weather, Traffic & Sports[/url]

^ Probably only interesting to VCU fans. But it turns out RG3's grandma Juley Allen lives down here. I had no idea he had VA roots. I know his dad's roots are New Orleans, anyone know if his mom's are VA?

Re: Redskins Officially Announce Training Camp Move to Richmond/Ashburn Renovations
 

[quote=mlmpetert;922324][url=http://www.nbc12.com/story/18723342/vcu-president-comments-on-redskins-announcement]Could Redskins move bring football to VCU? - NBC12.com-Richmond, VA News, Weather, Traffic & Sports[/url]

^ Probably only interesting to VCU fans. But it turns out RG3's grandma Juley Allen lives down here. I had no idea he had VA roots. I know his dad's roots are New Orleans, anyone know if his mom's are VA?[/quote]

Pretty sure his grandmother just happened to move there about a decade ago, but no roots there.

Re: Redskins Officially Announce Training Camp Move to Richmond/Ashburn Renovations
 

Have they released any details for the planned renovations? I'm curious to see what they have in mind.

Re: Redskins Officially Announce Training Camp Move to Richmond/Ashburn Renovations
 

They have reasons for it. Maybe the best for the team.

Re: Redskins Officially Announce Training Camp Move to Richmond/Ashburn Renovations
 

[quote=SmootSmack;922326]Pretty sure his grandmother just happened to move there about a decade ago, but no roots there.[/quote]


Okay i was wondering if he maybe had some of that Newport News athlete dna.

Re: Redskins Officially Announce Training Camp Move to Richmond/Ashburn Renovations
 

[quote=mbedner3420;922345]Have they released any details for the planned renovations? I'm curious to see what they have in mind.[/quote]


Nothing yet. Theyre susposed to make the decision of where sometime during the Fall

Re: Redskins Officially Announce Training Camp Move to Richmond/Ashburn Renovations
 

[quote=irish;920316]The ride to Richmond from DC is traffic hell. Frostburg & Carlisle were much nicer rides.

They didnt say on the news where the camp would actually take place. They showed a couple of dumpy stadiums in Richmond which look like they will need a bunch of renovation before hosting the Skins. I remember all the controversy with the field condition at Carlisle, hopefully this will be better and nobody gets hurt.[/quote]

Not if you live in Richmond! I think the idea is to spread the Redskins brand to different areas other than DMV. I know I am biased since I live in Richmond but I like the idea of spreading out, not necessarily to Richmond, but in general. Smart move business-wise if you ask me.

Re: Redskins Officially Announce Training Camp Move to Richmond/Ashburn Renovations
 

[url=http://wtvr.com/2012/08/02/vuu-top-contender-for-redskins-site-visit-planned-sunday/]VUU top contender for Redskins, site visit planned Sunday | WTVR.com – Richmond News & Weather from WTVR Television CBS 6[/url]

Looks like a couple of these sites are close to where my sister lives, also right near a brand new brewry thats opened within the last year. I actually when down to the brewery a couple weekend ago and got a private tour with some friends by the co-owner. If VUU or the sportsbacker stadium site hold up, the brewery would be an ideal meet up spot, hell maybe a spot for an event.brewery: [url=http://www.hardywood.com/]Hardywood Park Craft Brewery | Integrity, Heritage, Inspired Creation[/url]

Re: Redskins Officially Announce Training Camp Move to Richmond/Ashburn Renovations
 

[url=http://www.nbc12.com/story/19302638/redskins-eye-land-behind-science-museum-for-training-camp]Redskins eye land behind Science Museum for training camp - NBC12.com - Richmond, VA News, Weather, Traffic & Sports[/url]

I dont know about this spot, like a couple others much better (VUU being my favorite). This is a vacant, underdeveloped tracts of land. Interesting choice imo. Some of these choices really dont 'show off' the city too well, but thats not the primary goal.

Re: Redskins Officially Announce Training Camp Move to Richmond/Ashburn Renovations
 

They don't even have a site yet?

A tract of land behind a museum? Hope it's flat and level.

They can't use any existing football fields, even high schools? If they had a place lined up, the move would make sense but despite the horrible parking lots, Ashburn seems to be a better, already intact place to practice.