Opening day at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket is a sure sign of warm weather to come.
At Monday’s home opener against Syracuse, hundreds of fans turned out, spreading themselves across the stands, bleachers and grassy knolls.
The season begins on the heels of the latest push to move the franchise into a new stadium. The team is now about two years removed from the attempt to move the PawSox to Providence. The effort failed after the team said it would cost upwards of $100 million to build, and turned into a public relations debacle. The team has since committed to stay through their 2021 lease at McCoy. In the past few months, PawSox leaders have floated two new stadium proposals, both in Pawtucket.
Sitting in the grass, Cumberland resident Emily McKenna said she sees the PawSox a few times a season.
“We are here because we love the PawSox, we love Pawtucket, and we want to have a fun time on opening day,” said McKenna. She added that she doesn’t think the PawSox should move.
“I think we have a beautiful stadium right here, let’s see what we can do to improve this one. There’s no need, especially if it’s going to be in Pawtucket, to move it somewhere else in Pawtucket, I don’t think,” said McKenna.
Standing with his son, Cliff Bettencourt said he hasn’t missed an opening day at McCoy in 20 years.
“I’ve been coming here since the PawSox started playing here in 1973,” said Bettencourt. “I grew up right over here; you can see my house – a three tenement – I grew up there. So I’ve been coming here since I was a toddler.”
Bettencourt said he recognizes that the PawSox need a new stadium.
“It’s old. It needs updating,” said Bettencourt. “The future is these new ball parks. They don’t get the big crowds anymore. Not like they used to.” The home opener did in fact sell out, with more than 10,000 people in attendance, according to the franchise.
“I’m for a new stadium,” said Bettencourt. “But the billionaires should pay, not the public.”
Other fans had fond memories of the historic ball park.
“I love this place,” said Randy Larrivee, of Rehoboth Massachusetts. Larrivee said he’s been attending games at McCoy for years, and would be sad to see them move. But he added, he’d still attend PawSox games. “So if they want to [move] I’ll follow them, but I sure do love this place. So either way I’ll be here next year, or two years, or as long as I can come.”
The PawSox lost Monday’s opener to Syracuse 15-3. The team faces Syracuse again Tuesday at home.
Editor’s note: a previous version erroneously reported the crowd at the game had not reached capacity.
