Gilbane Building and Richmond Flying Squirrels Celebrate Field Installation Milestone at CarMax Park
Field surface installation marks a major step toward Opening Day 2026 at Richmond’s new ballpark
Richmond, VA – October 13, 2025 – Gilbane Building, in association with Prestige Construction Group, and the Richmond Flying Squirrels marked a major milestone in the construction of CarMax Park with a “bottoming out” ceremony, celebrating the completion of the field surface installation. This moment signifies a key step toward delivering a first-class venue for the Richmond community ahead of Opening Day 2026.
The ceremony commemorated the final phase of field construction, featuring the installation of Tahoma 31 Bermudagrass sod, a critical component in creating a championship-caliber playing surface. The event took place atop the suite level near third base, offering a unique vantage point to view the progress.
“There have been a number of moments since we broke ground last September where CarMax Park has felt more and more real,” said Anthony Oppermann, General Manager of the Richmond Flying Squirrels. “Seeing the field installed inside the ballpark is another one of those milestone moments. It’s an incredibly exciting step toward delivering Richmond a first-class venue the people in this region deserve.”
Team members participated in the ceremonial laying of the final sod pieces alongside Carolina Green Corp., the field installation partner. James Petrella, Director of Field Operations for the Flying Squirrels, and Jason Linker, Superintendent for Carolina Green, shared remarks at the ceremony, highlighting the technical precision and collaborative effort behind the field’s construction.
“This milestone is a testament to the teamwork and coordination driving this project forward,” said Pat Albrecht, Project Executive, Gilbane Building. “Working alongside Prestige and our partners, we’re proud to help deliver a high-performance field and facility that reflects the energy and pride of the Richmond community.”
CarMax Park is scheduled to open in April 2026 as the new home of the Richmond Flying Squirrels, with continued progress on schedule. The venue will serve as a cornerstone of Richmond’s Diamond District redevelopment, designed to enhance the city’s sports, entertainment, and economic landscape.
About Gilbane Building
Gilbane Building is a global leader in construction management, delivering high-quality projects for clients across various markets. Gilbane provides a full slate of construction and facilities-related services – from preconstruction planning and integrated consulting capabilities to comprehensive construction management, general contracting, design-build, and facility management services. Founded in 1870, Gilbane is still a privately held, family-owned company. With more than 45 office locations worldwide, Gilbane brings world-class experience to local communities. Gilbane has been a trusted partner in Richmond, Virginia for over 30 years, delivering iconic and transformative projects such as the Virginia General Assembly Building, the Altria Corporate Headquarters Campus, the University of Virginia School of Data Science, and the new Central State Hospital. For more information, visit www.gilbaneco.com.
About Prestige
Prestige Construction Group provides general construction services to the Federal, State, Institutional, and Commercial markets in the Central Virginia area. Kenneth J. Jones founded Prestige Remodeling and Construction, Inc. in 1991 as a regional construction firm specializing in residential renovations and improvements. After building an impressive roster of residential projects, and in response to the growing demand for full-service contractors, Mr. Jones expanded into the commercial and industrial arenas in 1997. As a result of this expansion, he also changed the company name to Prestige Construction Group, Inc. Subsequently, Prestige has become one of the region’s fastest-growing minority-owned construction firms, experiencing a 60% average growth rate over the past four years. For more information visit https://prestigeconstruction.com/