Redskins Officially Announce Training Camp Move to Richmond/Ashburn Renovations

[SmootSmack]

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

[los panda]

i had my fingers crossed for roanoke

[mlmpetert]

@ 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 not 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.

So all this could force a couple key decisions that are partially contingent on each other:

1) VCU's football intent & where theyll eventually play
2) Commitment via stadium funding to the Flying Squirrels & where to build the new stadium
3) What to do with City Stadium and eventually The Diamond

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.

[SmootSmack]

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

[tryfuhl]

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

[milellie111]

Im not fond of this change at all

[milellie111]

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

[Chico23231]

Originally Posted by milellie111

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

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.

[skinsguy]

Originally Posted by Chico23231

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.

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!

[Slingin Sammy 33]

Originally Posted by Chico23231

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.

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.

[Jak101]

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!

[mlmpetert]

Could Redskins move bring football to VCU? - NBC12.com-Richmond, VA News, Weather, Traffic & Sports

^ 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?

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by mlmpetert

Could Redskins move bring football to VCU? - NBC12.com-Richmond, VA News, Weather, Traffic & Sports

^ 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?

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

[mlmpetert]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

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

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

[mbedner3420]

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