PawSox owners present vision for new city stadium, $12.3M in economic impacts expected

A VIEW OF WHAT the development around the proposed AAA baseball stadium on the former I-195 land in Providence would look like. / COURTESY DAIQ AND POPULOUS
A VIEW OF WHAT the development around the proposed AAA baseball stadium on the former I-195 land in Providence would look like. / COURTESY DAIQ AND POPULOUS

PROVIDENCE – The Pawtucket Red Sox new ownership group on Wednesday gave the public its first glimpse of its proposed plan to build a new ballpark in downtown Providence, which includes a sublease agreement with the state and a 30-year real estate tax treaty with the city.
There’s no appeal for the issuance of public bonds or debt.
The team’s new president, James J. Skeffington, held a press conference at the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce to reveal the proposed plan and detail some highlights from an economic impact study produced through Brailsford & Dunlavey, an economic consulting firm commissioned by the owners.
“All minor league baseball parks require some substantial form of financial support from government. But most ballparks are built by cities or quasi-governmental entities using public bonds and are leased to the AAA ball club at low rents to induce teams to locate in the city,” said Skeffington in a statement. “We’re proposing something different.”
The consultants project the proposed ballpark could generate an estimated $12.3 million annually “in direct spending for the city and state.” The state would receive $2 million in recurring tax revenue each year, according to the study, and Providence would receive about $170,000 in annual incremental tax revenue.
The ownership group would pay 100 percent of the cost for design and construction using entirely private funds; it estimates the project could total $85 million. The cost includes $70 million for the ballpark design and construction, $10 million for a joint investment – with developer of the South Street Landing project – for a new 750 car garage, and $5 million to relocate a National Grid gas line and Narragansett Bay Commission water/sewage facility currently under the proposed site at the intersection of Dyer, Eddy and Ship streets.
Beyond construction, the ownership’s request for subsidies comes two-fold.
First, similarly to what is currently done with McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket, the group proposes leasing the stadium to the state for 30 years at an annual rate of about $5 million per year. The ownership would subsequently sublease the stadium back at $1 million per year, which – when added to the consultants projected $2 million in annual tax revenue – would end up costing the state about $2 million per year, according to the ownership group.
“The lease/sublease arrangement provides the mechanism for the state to offer financial support to help offset the $85 million cost of building the ballpark project,” the ownership group said in a release.
Second, the ownership is asking the city to amend its current zoning code to allow the ballpark to be built, not permitted under its current use, which allows it as a variance. The ownership is also asking the city to enter into a 30-year tax treaty that will make the ballpark exempt from city real estate taxes, which Skeffington – in a statement – says is common for most AAA ballparks.
“Our proposal represents a good faith effort to propose a way for the state and the city to help support the new owners in their efforts to keep the team in Rhode Island,” he said. “Hopefully the submission of the lease/sublease proposal will allow us to start a dialogue with the state and city that will lead to the formulation of join proposal that will meet with the approval of all three parties – the state, city and new owners.”
Ballpark overview
The architecture firm DAIQ, of Boston, designed schematics which were also released on Wednesday.
The visuals show more clearly what Skeffington has only been describing over the last couple months since the new ownership announced its idea to move the team into Providence.
The design includes a three-story, brick-exterior ballpark standing about 50 feet tall, with maximum spectator capacity at 10,000. An elevated walkway circles the entire concourse, which overlooks the Providence River and East Side from the right field fence and the downtown from left field.
It also includes a lighthouse in right center field.
The ballpark is designed for baseball, but ownership says it could also accommodate full NCAA playing fields for football, soccer and lacrosse, which Skeffington has said will help keep the stadium full during days when the AAA ball team isn’t playing at home.
About three acres of landscaped public open space would be available to the public use and includes picnic and play areas.
A “Kids Corner” would include a picnic and BBQ area with Wiffle ball fields and seating to watch games. The design also includes a food court.

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8 COMMENTS

  1. “… – would end up costing the state about $2 million per year, according to the ownership group.
    “The lease/sublease arrangement provides the mechanism for the state to offer financial support to help offset the $85 million cost of building the ballpark project,” the ownership group said in a release.”

    Look I’m sorry but this state can’t afford one penny more as it is, and we’re already being asked to pay $2 million+ a year for a AAA baseball team’s stadium? The owners are millionaires, how about pay it yourselves or relocate it in Massachusetts. If you don’t want to spend $85 million to build it, then leave it in Pawtucket.

  2. I see they build it and then the State PAYS them $5 million a year for 30 years. The rest is estimates but it’s $4 million a year which is minus the $1 million they will pay back to the State.

    I take it the land is given to them? Yeah, that’s great.

    Where has the NBC come out with an estimate to fill that hole and dig another one elsewhere?

  3. This deal is so outrageous that it is bound to be rejected by the state and the city of Providence. Before approving the PawSox move to another city, the International League should guarantee that Pawtucket would allowed to provide incentives to attract another International League team to Pawtucket. The Syracuse Chiefs are having trouble drawing fans to their stadium. In 2014 they drew less than 4000 fams per game. The PawSox have averaged more than 8,400 fans per game over the last 10 years. Soon, thousands of tourists will be visiting the Blackstone River Valley area when the new Blackstone River Valley National Park is up and running. The Syracuse Chiefs might consider coming to Pawtucket where 10,000 sell crowds would be possible.« less

    Edit or remove this post.

  4. Higher ticket prices, more congestion for traffic, costly parking, vs. free parking now and Taxpayer subsidy of millionaires project.

    Wrong use of property intended to bring in good paying jobs, badly needed in RI

    Costly infrastructure repairs upgrades (more taxpayer subsidy)

    Why? Hasn’t the taxpayer suffered enough???Subsidize this project???

  5. Ken B. Your Chiefs information is very inaccurate. Their double deck NBT Stadium is much more beautiful than McCoy, it seats more, 11, 071 to be exact, and is located in a better neighborhood. Their opening day crowd this week was 8,861, the biggest since 2001 given the success of their 2014 season. Why would they want to move to an inferior ballpark?

  6. Obadiah2, My facts and predictions are based on a 10 year history of successful attendance at McCoy Stadium by the PawSox. Your predictions are based on one game. During the last seven years of recession in Pawtucket, the PawSox averaged 8,400 fans per game. The PawSox fans are very loyal. Syracuse is a basketball and a football city. It is obvious that the chiefs do not have a loyal fan base. During the last seven years, the Chiefs have averaged less than 6000 fans per game. The bottom line for International League team owners is attendance. It looks like the PawSox owners will take the team to another city. The International League will be looking to put a team in Pawtucket where there is a proven record of team support. If the Chiefs came to Pawtucket, there would be a great rivalry between the “Worcester Red Sox” and the Pawtucket Chiefs. There probably will be sellout crowds every time these teams play each other. Lastly, the PawSox fans do not think that McCoy Stadium is an inferior stadium. PawSox fans love McCoy Stadium.

  7. Okay, so the FACTS as I see them today are that the team will pay for all of the development and contruction of the ball park. The land is currently slated to be a completely 100% NON-REVENUE generating park. No jobs here! The owners will pay for the garage and for utility moving. The land will be owned by the STATE of Rhode Island and leased to the team for 30 years. Ticket prices will be the same as they are today and the parking garage will be $3 for games. Whew! I’m so glad I can read and comprehend what I’m reading. If I listed to others I might have come up with a completely different view of this…one not based on any type of reality. Amazing! Either way, if the team does not move to Providence for whatever reason, I would like to see all current subsidies given to the team for McCoy stopped immediately, you know, becasue “we can’t afford it.”

  8. Ken B. I didn’t say that McCoy is an inferior ballpark. I said it is inferior as compared to the NBT stadium in Syracuse.

    Here’s another question for you. Over the last several years, PawSox attendance has declined by 23% which represents a significant loss of revenue for the owners. Usually, minor league franchise attendance follows the performance of their parent organization and the BoSox have been pretty successful over the same period. Why the PawSox attendance decline???