Rhode Island FC issues statement about construction plans stall

PAWTUCKET R.I. (WLNE) — After plans to move forward with construction of the Tidewater Landing stalled, the Rhode Island F.C., the soccer team that is expected to move into the stadium once it’s complete, issued a statement to fans and ticketholders on Sunday.

Brett Luy, President of the Rhode Island F.C. said they will be playing soccer in the Ocean State in 2024.

“Plans are underway to ensure a great fan experience from the very first match. Our leadership team is evaluating all venue options while the construction of the stadium at Tidewater Landing progresses,” Luy said.

“We will finalize those plans in the near future. Once the venue for next year is finalized, we will announce plans and policies for how you can convert your deposit to season tickets for our historic inaugural season,” he continued.

A spokeswoman for the city of Pawtucket confirmed that the $27 million of public bonds to aid in developing the project, housing and retail come to Pawtucket have not yet been issued.

The latest news on the funding not being added comes after the project has been met with split reaction.

In July, Gov. Dan McKee had to cast the tie-breaking vote to allocate that public funding to an earlier phase in the project to keep the development alive.

The vote was necessitated after city leaders and the developer said inflation added nearly $40 million to the original price tag.