The
Richmond Flying Squirrels and Richmond-based
CarMax, Inc. (NYSE: KMX), the nation's largest
retailer of used cars, announced today that the new Richmond
ballpark and community entertainment venue will be named CarMax
Park
. The multi-year exclusive naming rights for the new
ballpark expands the partnership between the Flying Squirrels and
CarMax, which began in 2016.
In addition to serving as
the home of the Flying Squirrels, CarMax Park will also host
large-scale events year-round, including concerts, festivals, and
community gatherings. A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for
Friday at 4:30 p.m., and construction is expected to be completed
before the start of the Flying Squirrels’ 2026
season.
CarMax’s naming rights
partnership is instrumental for securing the future of baseball in
Richmond and its ability to thrive in the city. This includes a
continued focus on delivering a variety of engagement initiatives
that give back to the RVA community, as well as promotional
activities that create memorable fan experiences. CarMax plans to
utilize the ballpark as a platform to support and uplift local
community partners through offering in-stadium advertising and
opportunities to host events at the ballpark.
Bill Nash, president and
chief executive officer at CarMax, shared how the company is
committed to supporting its hometown. “This is an exciting time for
Richmond, and CarMax's naming rights partnership reflects our
commitment to our city, its people, and its growth,” said Nash.
“CarMax Park will bring the community together through
unforgettable experiences. We're thrilled to take this next step
with the Squirrels, continuing to build on our history of community
engagement, innovation, and progress for our hometown.”
Flying Squirrels Managing
General Partner Lou DiBella credited CarMax and other community
stakeholders with making it possible to keep professional baseball
in Richmond.
"Our long-term
partnership with CarMax allowed our future home to become a
reality. This commitment reflects the corporate and community
leadership CarMax consistently demonstrates here in Richmond," said
DiBella. "Thank you to CarMax, Mayor Stoney, the City Council, our
Richmond community leaders, and our incredible, loyal,
league-leading fanbase for believing that Flying Squirrels baseball
belongs in Richmond and that we all deserve a ballpark we can be
proud of."
CarMax was founded in
Richmond in 1993 and opened its first store on West Broad Street in
Glen Allen. Today, CarMax employs more than 2,300 associates in the
Richmond area across its West Broad and Midlothian stores and two
headquarter locations. CarMax’s Digital and Technology Innovation
Center in Richmond city, where its marketing, product, corporate
strategy, and technology departments are based, is located less
than a mile and a half from the future CarMax Park. Associates from
these locations regularly volunteer hundreds of hours annually in
the Richmond area. The company has been recognized as a Top
Workplace by the Richmond Times-Dispatch for 11 consecutive
years.
As a national partner for
renowned sports leagues like the WNBA, NBA, and NWSL, and several
professional basketball and soccer teams across the country, CarMax
has established itself as a trusted and engaged brand in the world
of sports on a national scale. CarMax’s support of local sports
partners like the Flying Squirrels, VCU Basketball, Richmond
Kickers and Ivy, University of Richmond Women’s Athletics and Men’s
Basketball, Sports Backers, and Sportable underscores its
dedication to investing time, talents, and resources in its
hometown and helps foster Richmond as a vibrant place to live,
work, and play.
Richmond Mayor Levar
Stoney praised the partnership, saying both the Squirrels and
CarMax represent the best of what the City of Richmond has to
offer.
“CarMax has a long
history of being committed to its hometown, and Richmond is proud
to be home to such an innovative company,” said Stoney. “CarMax
Park, the future home of the Richmond Flying Squirrels, will bring
together all corners of Richmond, and as mayor, I am thrilled to
see this partnership move forward.”
A cornerstone of the new
Diamond District development, CarMax Park will be a premier
entertainment venue in the Richmond area. The state-of-the-art
facility will feature a 360-degree, wrap-around concourse with
distinct experiences and vantage points located throughout,
highlighted by a field-level dugout suite that will put fans in
closer proximity to home plate than the opposing team. Group and
social spaces will span the outfield and include a multi-tiered
beer garden – emblematic of neighboring Scott's Addition – in left
field and a kids’ zone with adjacent terraced outfield lawn seating
in right-center field. The venue will also offer fans several
climate-controlled, indoor spaces as well as 20 luxury suites and a
corner party suite showcasing views of the downtown Richmond
skyline. Additional planned features inside CarMax Park will
celebrate Richmond's history and culture, including a series of
rail car suites, public art spaces, and commemorative displays and
murals.
The facility will also
provide a unique destination for conferences, banquets, weddings,
and many other functions. CarMax Park will connect directly to the
Diamond District neighborhood and green space with opportunities to
open parts of the ballpark during non-event hours.
To celebrate the launch
of CarMax Park, the Flying Squirrels and CarMax will be hosting a
fan festival on Friday, Sept. 6, from 5-6:30 p.m. on the front lawn
of The Diamond. The event will feature live entertainment,
autographs from Flying Squirrels players, CarMax Park swag
giveaways, food vendors, yard games and more. Additionally, fans
will have the chance to enter and win four tickets to the inaugural
home game at CarMax Park. The fan festival is open to the public
and a game ticket is not required to attend the
festivities.
The evening will
culminate with an In-Your-Face Fireworks show following the Flying
Squirrels' game against the Akron RubberDucks. About
CarMax
CarMax, the nation’s
largest retailer of used autos, revolutionized the automotive
retail industry by driving integrity, honesty and transparency in
every interaction. The company offers a truly personalized
experience with the option for customers to do as much, or as
little, online and in-store as they want. During the fiscal year
that ended February 29, 2024, CarMax sold approximately 770,000
used vehicles and 550,000 wholesale vehicles at its auctions. In
addition, CarMax Auto Finance originated more than $8 billion in
receivables during fiscal 2024, adding to its more than $17 billion
portfolio. CarMax has more than 245 store locations, nearly 30,000
associates, and is proud to have been recognized for 20 consecutive
years as one of the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For®. CarMax
is committed to making a positive impact on people, communities and
the environment. Learn more in the 2024 Responsibility Report. For
more information, visit www.carmax.com.
About the Richmond
Flying Squirrels
The Richmond Flying
Squirrels, Double-A Eastern League affiliate of the San Francisco
Giants, have established themselves as one of the most recognizable
brands in Minor League Baseball since their inaugural season in
2010. Guided by three pillars – be different, be impactful and have
FUNN – the organization has ingrained itself in Central Virginia,
annually reaching more than 10,000 students through the club's
education programs while making 400-plus community appearances.
Additionally, the team has renovated multiple youth baseball and
softball fields across the city and awarded more than $150,000 in
scholarships through its 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Flying Squirrels
Charities. The Flying Squirrels consistently rank among the
top-drawing teams in MiLB having led the Eastern League in total or
average attendance nine times while topping all 30 Double-A teams
in total and average attendance each of the past two seasons. For
more information, visit www.squirrelsbaseball.com.
- Richmond Flying Squirrels and CarMax announce new ballpark and
entertainment venue as CarMax Park
- Richmond Flying Squirrels and CarMax announce new ballpark and
entertainment venue as CarMax Park
Public Relations
CarMax
(855) 887-2915
PR@carmax.com
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