Flying Squirrels shift fireworks after wild CarMax Park scare
The Richmond Flying Squirrels are moving all postgame fireworks offsite after a Thursday malfunction at CarMax Park sent shells skittering toward the stands. No one was seriously hurt. The scare, captured in viral video after a Double-A contest that was not a San Francisco Giants game but featured the Giants' affiliate, prompted a safety review with show operator Pyro Shows.
Cellphone clips show fireworks launching near second base, then veering parallel to the ground toward seating areas instead of climbing into the sky. Fans scrambled for cover while others stayed put, unsure whether the low trajectories were part of the park's "in-your-face" pyro branding.
The Double-A club, which lost 3-1 to the Hartford Yard Goats before the display, said in a statement released after midnight that it was a "fireworks malfunction" and that no one was seriously hurt. For more odd sports-world moments, see our Bizarre World coverage.
Key Takeaways
- Postgame fireworks at CarMax Park misfired Thursday, sending shells toward the stands.
- Richmond Fire Department said devices left their secured placement in an unintended direction; no serious injuries were reported.
- Future Flying Squirrels fireworks will be set off offsite at The Diamond while protocols are reviewed.
- Pyro Shows apologized; some fans dispute the company's claim that the show was stopped immediately.
What went wrong at CarMax Park?
According to WTVR, fan Jack Snead, sitting in center field at his first game in the new stadium, said the roughly 2.5-minute show seemed normal until about halfway through, when smoke and shells moved in unexpected directions.
His video shows small flashes at the launch pad, two larger base explosions, then a firework heading toward the stands nearly three seconds later. Snead said outfield-bound shells appeared to hit the wall, with at least one going toward the bullpen, and that some may have reached the infield.
"It was just wild and I was kind of nervous," Snead told WTVR. After the show, he said officers told people to clear the area near the outfield stands. Two fire marshals were on scene, as is standard for permitted Richmond displays.
Why are fans and the pyro company disagreeing?
Pyro Shows' president apologized for the "distressing event" and said technicians followed protocol and "immediately terminated" the show. Snead and fellow fan Diana Robarts, who filmed from the first-base side, say fireworks kept firing about a minute or more after the first misfire—about 1 minute and 7 seconds in Snead's clip.
Robarts said the operator she watched never waved people away or appeared distressed, which, with the park's close-range fireworks branding, left many unsure anything was wrong. Fox News OutKick also noted fans in viral footage either bolted for the concourse or barely flinched as shells careened near the seats.
Where will Flying Squirrels fireworks go next?
In an updated Friday statement, the team said postgame fireworks will be shot from The Diamond for the foreseeable future, out of caution and to review safety protocols. Officials thanked VCU for the accommodation and said they look forward to hosting shows safely for the rest of the season.
City officials said the event had followed Virginia's permitting rules. Both Snead and Robarts said the scare will not keep them from future Squirrels games—though Snead joked he may not sit quite so close next time.