With support from Governor Gina Raimondo and legislative leaders, the PawSox’ proposal for a new stadium in Pawtucket is on track for a fall hearings in the General Assembly.
Raimondo announced Monday she’s putting her support behind a revised deal for the baseball stadium.
A source familiar with the change in Raimondo’s position said a key difference is that the state will no longer be the backstop for bonds issued by the City of Pawtucket to help pay for the project.
“Over the last several weeks, Mayor [Don] Grebien has heard my concerns about the initial Slater Mill ballpark proposal which did not adequately protect state taxpayers,” Raimondo said in a statement, after announcing her revised stance following a meeting of the state Commerce Corporation. “He and the team listened and they addressed those concerns.”
In a statement Tuesday, House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello said, “I have been clear that a bill on a Pawtucket Red Sox’ stadium would not be introduced until it had the Governor’s stamp of approval. Now that she has given the proposal her support, legislation will be introduced by the Pawtucket House delegation and it will be at the request of the Commerce Corporation, which the Governor chairs. This bill will be fully reviewed by the House Finance Committee this fall.”
On Monday, Raimondo referred to the revamped pitch as “Mayor Grebien’s revised PawSox stadium proposal. “[It] offers an exciting opportunity to create hundreds of new jobs, jumpstart downtown development in Pawtucket and keep the PawSox in Rhode Island for new generations,” she said. “Under the terms of the proposal, the state ultimately pays nothing for the new ballpark. I support this version of the proposal because without it Rhode Island could potentially lose hundreds of existing jobs and millions of dollars in existing revenue.”
Sen. William Conley (D-East Providence), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, plans to file a bill encompassing the revised stadium proposal Tuesday.
“The bill is being submitted to ensure that the proposed terms become part of the public record for all to see and scrutinize accordingly in the weeks and months ahead,” Conley said in a statement.
The PawSox unveiled a $73 million stadium in proposal in May, with a request for $23 million in state assistance and $15 million from Pawtucket. The team’s ownership said the project would generate more than enough money over 30 years to pay back that assistance.
Although analysts said the terms were better than average for a minor league baseball stadium, the deal ran into immediate uncertainty due to a lack of political support. A week later, with Raimondo declining to rally behind the proposal, state Senate President Dominick Ruggerio said the stadium plan was dead in the current legislative session.
But Ruggerio left the door open for a special fall session to vet a stadium plan. Hearings are now planned, although it remains unclear if the full legislature will meet in the fall.
“The ballpark is a top priority for Pawtucket,” Raimondo said. “I think it’s a good proposal, and I urge the General Assembly to give it a full debate and vetting.”
Conley said the Senate “is strongly committed to maintaining an open, transparent and deliberative process in its vetting of all matters concerning the residents and taxpayers of Rhode Island. The Senate Committee on Finance stands ready to conduct intensive public hearings and receive testimony this fall from anyone wishing to register a position or provide input. We welcome broad participation from our constituents in these discussions to ensure that the voice of the people is heard.”
The PawSox are looking for a new home due to the age and condition of McCoy Stadium, and since the team said it needs nearby development to generate more revenue.
“The proposal preserves the affordable family-friendly asset for families and the $2M in annual revenue to the state for the next thirty years,” Grebien said in a statement. “Additionally, and just as important, this project will spur economic development in downtown Pawtucket and throughout the Blackstone Valley for years to come. At the forefront of all discussions have been the protections for the City and the State with regard to construction, investment dollars, and long-terms commitments, which we have achieved. The PawSox $45M investment in Pawtucket will be the single largest private investment in our city’s history. This project also is entirely self supporting from ballpark revenues and will not require any new or additional tax burdens to Rhode Island taxpayers. We cannot afford to miss this once-in-a-generation opportunity.”
This post has been updated.
