Locals react to PawSox stadium proposal

April 15, 2015 11:52 pm

By: Rebecca Turco Email: rturco@abc6.com

The new owners of the Pawtucket Red Sox unveiled designs for a proposed ballpark on the Providence waterfront Wednesday afternoon.

President James Skeffington announced the new 10,000 seat ballpark is estimated to cost $70 million and the owners will pay for 100% of the design and construction costs with its private funds. They plan to pitch in $85 million.

Meanwhile, they are asking state taxpayers to put in $4 million a year. “I think Providence people – we’re sick of paying for deals that don’t work,” said capital city resident Irene Bates.

“There’s a lot of back-door, back-room bargaining going on from the looks of it,” speculated Anne Pillsworth of Cranston. “I think taxpayers in Providence need to have a lot more say in the matter.”

A study commissioned by the team, done by Brailsford & Dunlavey, revealed the new ballpark is expected to generate an estimated $12.3 million annually in direct spending for the city and state.

The study also projects the State would receive approximately $2 million in recurring tax revenues each year, while Providence would receive about $170,000 every year.

Bates feels there’s a greater plan in the works. “This is a ploy for [the PawSox owners] to leave the state and it is an excuse to go someplace else,” she said. “And then you see that other people are courting them.”

Skeffington claims that is not the case. “Our objective is to stay in Rhode Island.”

He addressed skeptical taxpayers head-on at Wednesday’s press conference. “Join us in a great endeavor,” he said. “Help us change the spirit of the state. Help us lift people’s aspirations.”

The General Assembly would have to approve this proposal in order for the project to move forward. Skeffington hopes this will happen within the next few months.