Public to decide stadium fate?

House Speaker Nicholas A. Mattiello says public support will be needed for a new Pawtucket Red Sox stadium proposal for Providence to move forward, though it remains unclear how much time and opportunity voters would get to weigh in.

The Cranston Democrat last week said negotiations with PawSox owners are ongoing, with a new proposal expected to be made public in the next few weeks. He said lawmakers could consider the deal during a special legislative session.

Acting swiftly would allow Rhode Island to take advantage of low interest rates, saving the state financially in the long run, Mattiello said. But he underscored the need to give the public enough time to respond.

“We’ll learn pretty quickly whether they’re very much in favor of it,” Mattiello said. “If the public doesn’t like the proposal, we’re going to respect the will of the public.”

- Advertisement -

A spokeswoman for Gov. Gina M. Raimondo did not directly respond to a question about a timetable for public vetting of any new proposal.

“The governor is in regular contact with House and Senate leaders,” said Raimondo communications director Joy Fox. “We will look to them about when the General Assembly will next meet.”

Asked whether a vote by lawmakers on a new proposal this year would give the public enough time to weigh in, Brown University associate professor of political science Wendy J. Schiller said, “It’s not as much about time as it is about the way the proposal is packaged and explained to voters. The number that sticks in taxpayers’ minds is the $120-$130 million in tax breaks.”

The PawSox’s original proposal to build a new stadium in the I-195 redevelopment district along the Providence River was rejected by most public officials – including Raimondo – and in the court of public opinion.

The ownership proposed paying roughly $85 million to build the stadium and its amenities, but asked for a state contribution of $4 million a year for 30 years and to be charged no property taxes by the city.

Both Mattiello and the PawSox declined to provide specific details of a possible new deal, but team spokeswoman Patti Doyle said it will be “dramatically different.”

Mattiello expects a revenue-neutral deal, meaning the state’s direct costs would match its direct revenue.

Schiller says clearly explaining to the public the financial details surrounding the deal will be a big challenge for stadium advocates.

“They’ve lost the messaging battle so far, so the question is whether they can regain that footing,” she said.

But having Mattiello could help the effort, she says.

“If he wants to sway voters and he works hard at it, I think there’s still a chance,” she said. •

No posts to display

1 COMMENT

  1. OK, here’s a proximity of the PR release we can expect. “The public has weighed in on bringing the excitement of the PawSox having a state -of-the art, family friendly stadium in downtown Providence close to the hotels. We held listening meetings throughout the state. A vocal minority opposed the stadium but the main objection were to the financial details of the original proposal. We listened, we fought for the RI taxpayer, and we negotiated a dramatically new deal that will be cost and revenue neutral for the state. We achieved a fair deal and a great deal for the future of Providence and Rhode Island. The RI legislature therefore has overwhelmingly approved this deal and saved the PawSox franchise for Rhode inland. We can all be proud of this deal and the future of Providence metropolitan area as a major tourist attraction. This deal will enriching our businesses, our cultural diversity, our options for family friendly entertainment, and our tax revenues throughout the grater Providence metropolitan area and the entire state. Well done, Rhode Island.” The fix is in.