The City Council voted 8-1 Tuesday to approve a resolution to support the city’s effort to draw the Pawtucket Red Sox into a new stadium in Worcester.
The resolution called on City Manager Edward Augustus to do everything in his power to woo the Red Sox Triple-A affiliate to the city.
The vote comes after an outpouring of support from not only city officials but the local business community. Nearly 100 business leaders signed a letter to team owner Larry Lucchino from Augustus urging the team to relocate to the city.
“The state of our city is strong; we enjoy a local economy that is thriving and continuing to grow, a rapidly developing downtown, a white-hot restaurant scene, and a burgeoning reputation as a hub for the arts,” Augustus wrote in the letter.
The team was seeking an $83-million stadium in Pawtucket and was asking for $38-million in public money in Rhode Island from both the city and state to supplement the $45 million from the team to replace the aging McCoy Stadium.
The vacant Wyman Gordon property near Kelley Square has been eyed as a possible site for a ballpark, and Lucchino and other team officials toured the area, but say it’s too early in the process.
“We’re a long way from the finish line but it’s important that we demonstrate that Worcester is a city that embraces bold ideas,” Mayor Joseph Petty said.
