Mayor discusses economic impact of RIFC’s new stadium

PAWTUCKET, R.I. (WLNE) — Nearly three years after announcing Rhode Island would be home to its first ever football club, Centerville Bank Stadium hosting its inaugural game Saturday in Pawtucket.

“It’s hard to explain to folks, you think about the impact to the building and trades and construction workers, all the jobs that have been happening now that the stadium is 95% complete,” Mayor Donald Grebien said.

Besides the 10,500 seats inside, the next phase of the project included building waterfront apartments.

“The development of this stadium is going to spur all the other economic impacts: there’s some more small businesses, the local businesses that will be selling food in the stadium,” Grebien said.

Local business like Maven’s Deli, which opened a store front in Pawtucket in 2023 and now have a stand along the concourse.

“We smoke our own pastrami, we make our own rye bread, you can’t beat it,” owner Jason Sugarman said. “I think it will be great, we will hire more staff and do other events here, not just soccer.”

In its first year, the stadium is expected to play host to some 45,000 non-Rhode Islanders, and the mayor said about 80 cents of every dollar spent will stay in the state.

“There’s value there,” Grebien said. “Whether it’s an event for this or a concert they bring in and all those people coming in and spending dollars, they’re investing in the community.”