New RI PawSox bill garners support; Worcester still in talks
Photo | Grant Welker
The former Apex site in Pawtucket is being eyed for a new PawSox stadium.
A revised proposal to prevent the Pawtucket Red Sox from setting up shop in Worcester still needs to be fleshed out after a hearing Thursday night, but the new proposal has more support than a previous bill didn't have.
The draft proposal suggests creating a tax-increment-financing district in Pawtucket near the proposed ballpark site to repay the bonds for the $83-million project.
The team would still be on the hook for $45 million in project costs. The draft did not specify contributions from the city and state, but those are still expected to be $15 million and $15 million, respectively, and the state would not be responsible for the bonds if the deal doesn’t pay for itself.
Despite backing by labor groups and Gov. Gina Raimondo, some officials on Thursday expressed concern that the plan is expected to be more expensive without the state’s backing, and others were skeptical of the undefined area in Pawtucket that could end up being too large and cut into the city’s tax base, according to the Providence Journal.
The new proposal, revised at the urging of House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello -- who refused to take a Senate-approved bill to the House floor -- was announced Tuesday and introduced Thursday as reports of PawSox delegates meeting with Worcester officials become more common.
Though the team has been relatively mum on the prospect of moving to Worcester, city officials have publicly acknowledged their efforts to lure the team to the gateway city, and a spot in the Canal District has already been eyed for a new ballpark.
City Manager Ed Augustus in an emailed statement offered no new information Friday morning.
"We remain focused on our discussions with the PawSox and continue to promote Worcester as an ideal location for their new home,” he said.
After Thursday’s hearing, PawSox president Charles Steinberg declined to comment to reporters on the new proposal, as well as the talks with Worcester.
When asked how serious the team is about potentially relocating to Worcester, Steinberg said, “It’s best to ask that to Worcester.”
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