From today's Richmond newspaper:

By JOHN O'CONNOR
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
The minor-league baseball team that left town last month had out-of-town ownership dedicated almost exclusively to player development.

Bryan Bostic intends to shake up that formula.

"We're about family entertainment," said the local businessman.

Bostic leads a potential ownership group, Richmond Baseball Club, LC, that wants to bring baseball back to Richmond after the departure of the Richmond Braves, owned by the Atlanta Braves.

Wins and losses will be important if Bostic's group acquires a team, he said, but providing entertainment to baseball fans and non-fans will be paramount to the organization.

Bostic didn't specify how many investors are involved in his group but said it includes more than 10.

The group is working through Minor League Baseball in hopes of purchasing a franchise for Richmond. There will not be an affiliated team in Richmond next season, because 2009 minor-league schedules have been finalized.

There is a slight chance that an independent-league team could play here next season.

The Richmond Braves, Atlanta's Class AAA franchise, moved to Gwinnett County, Ga., after last season because of the Braves' dissatisfaction with The Diamond and the lack of a firm plan to replace it. Bostic's goal of acquiring a team is predicated on construction of a stadium that will be part of the development planned for Shockoe Bottom.

A Class AAA franchise is not available at this time. Bostic's group is aiming to purchase a Class AA franchise with membership in the Eastern League.

His group may buy a team -- last year, the Eastern League's Harrisburg, Pa., franchise sold for a league-record $13.25 million -- in about five months and keep it in its current city for 2009.

Bostic's group would like to have a team at The Diamond in 2010 and then occupy a new stadium in the proposed Shockoe Center in 2011 or 2012. The stadium would cost $60 million, have 24 entertainment suites, and a capacity of 8,500.
Contact John O'Connor at (804) 649-6233 or joconnor@timesdispatch.com.