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Pawsox Sold, Moving to Worcester

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 8:46 am
by RF1
    The new ownership group of the Pawtucket Red Sox have apparently made it known they have no intention of staying at the team's longtime home, McCoy Stadium. They hope to move the franchise to new stadium on the former Route 195 land in downtown Providence. McCoy, which was renovated in 1999 with 12 million dollars from the state (via bonds approved by the GA) will soon go vacant. Given baseball's geographic exclusivity rules, it makes it near impossible that Pawtucket could ever get another baseball tenant.

    How do people feel about the state basically investing 12 million in a facility (McCoy in 1999) for a private concern only to see it have a life less than 20 years? Did taxpayers get the shaft?

    What should the state do to help with a possible move? Should it contribute to the stadium or add infrastructure around it?

    If the state helps facilitate the move, what will it then do to help Pawtucket which will then be saddled with a 10,000 seat unused baseball stadium?

    How do people feel about siting a stadium on the Route 195 land? Wasn't this land supposed to be for a knowledge district creating high paying new jobs? There would be no new jobs for RI as they would just relocate 5 miles. Most of these jobs are not high paying and are seasonal. Is it the best use for this land to build a stadium used just five months a year? Would it not be better to have full time year round high paying R&D jobs located on this land?

    What does this mean for the PawSox experience? It has always been no frills low cost family fun. If the new owners just shelled out 20m to buy the team and plan to spend multiples of that for a new stadium (estimated at 40-60m), how could they continue to keep prices down? How will longtime fans react to paying for parking and fighting traffic near rush hour to go to games downtown? Has the PawSox experience that we all have known now dead?

    PAWSOX SOLD

    Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 8:56 am
    by rodfromcranston
    The franchise that was so well run by Ben Mondor and company
    has been sold for 20 million dollars.
    I can't really blame Mondor's widow for selling, at that amount.
    The problem is, the new ownership wants to abandon venerable McCoy
    Stadium, and move to a yet to be built ballyard in Providence.
    Here's where it starts to smell fishy.
    The new owners want State of RI to help bankroll this, and donate state
    land near the old electric plant by the Providence River.
    Events at The Dunk are a nightmare with traffic and parking.
    Imagine this stadium, wedged into that part of town, as proposed.
    No more free parking, either.
    They talk about the restaurants benefiting. Do they think the baseball
    crowd is like PPAC's? Doubt that this is the case.
    Part of the fun of a baseball game is eating stadium fare.
    We hear the Speaker of the House, who is from Cranston, talking about
    how this is great for Providence.
    One of the new purchasers is a Democrat lawyer.
    Back room deal hatching? Don't bet against it.
    Also, if the State doesn't come across with the funds, it gives
    the new owners an chance to use that as leverage and move the team
    out of Rhode Island.
    It's amazing, how McCoy Stadium, which served the franchise very well, and
    was renovated a couple of times, is suddenly "inadequate" and "too old".
    So is Fenway Park.
    It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

    Re: PAWSOX SOLD

    Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 9:00 am
    by TruePoint
    Merged RF1's and Rod's threads on this that were posted at about the same time.

    Re: PAWSOX SOLD

    Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 9:04 am
    by TruePoint
    Pretty sad day for tradition. Larry Lucchino is a part of the new ownership group of the Pawsox, and I could not trust a person less or have less confidence in a person than I do with Larry. So that doesn't bode well, I'm afraid.

    Re: PAWSOX SOLD

    Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 9:09 am
    by Taylor Swift
    Smells like a fish because it is a fish. I am so tired of these people making these boneheaded moves that do nothing to benefit the state's economy and its taxpayers.

    If I could make decisions for this state, I'd develop the land like the Baltimore waterfront. Add in some tech companies, restaurants, and retail space.

    Why does Providence need a ball park that's used half a year? All that will happen is the low paying seasonal jobs will be moved 10 minutes down the road.

    How about they keep McCoy where it is. Ticket sales for Paw Sox games have been down. The area around the park is run down. Invest into having family friendly restaurants and activities in the area for before and after the game.

    Lastly, "Rhode Island Red Sox" just sounds ridiculous. Change the name of the team.

    Re: PAWSOX SOLD

    Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 9:11 am
    by STC
    Pawtucket is a dump, I'm glad to see the team moving to Providence.

    I think that land by the Providence River from where 195 used to run would be perfect for a ballpark. The big problem is where is the money coming from for this?

    Traffic is always a mess getting to/from venues and this will be no exception.

    As for the name, I don't like Rhode Island Red Sox, how about just Providence Red Sox?

    Re: PAWSOX SOLD

    Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 9:27 am
    by RF1
    STC wrote:Pawtucket is a dump, I'm glad to see the team moving to Providence.

    I think that land by the Providence River from where 195 used to run would be perfect for a ballpark. The big problem is where is the money coming from for this?

    Traffic is always a mess getting to/from venues and this will be no exception.

    As for the name, I don't like Rhode Island Red Sox, how about just Providence Red Sox?
    And Pawtucket along with other cities and towns in RI (not named Providence) will forever be a dump if the state of RI only invests in one of its 39 cities/towns. It looks like RI politicians have been working behind the scenes and the City of Pawtucket is about to be royally screwed.

    Re: PAWSOX SOLD

    Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 9:30 am
    by STC
    RF1 wrote:
    STC wrote:Pawtucket is a dump, I'm glad to see the team moving to Providence.

    I think that land by the Providence River from where 195 used to run would be perfect for a ballpark. The big problem is where is the money coming from for this?

    Traffic is always a mess getting to/from venues and this will be no exception.

    As for the name, I don't like Rhode Island Red Sox, how about just Providence Red Sox?
    And Pawtucket along with other cities and towns in RI (not named Providence) will forever be a dump if the state of RI only invests in one of its 39 cities/towns. It looks like RI politicians have been working behind the scenes and the City of Pawtucket is about to be royally screwed.
    Pawtucket is and will continue to be a dump with or without the Pawsox.

    Re: PAWSOX SOLD

    Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 9:35 am
    by TruePoint
    Right, but if you care about people and communities you have to try to save them from being a dump, not pack up all the stuff and leave the people to fend for themselves. Struggling communities need investment not abandonment.

    Re: PAWSOX SOLD

    Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 9:36 am
    by rodfromcranston
    This state is broke. I think we have better things to invest in
    than Larry Lucchino's bunch, with their hands out.
    Here come the sweetheart deals.
    As for Pawtucket, the area around Fenway used to be a shithole.
    Put some redevelopment money where it's needed, not only
    in Providence.
    That the new ownership never even tried to work with Pawtucket, stinks.
    Ben Mondor must be rolling in his grave.
    He created one of the best run minor league franchises.
    Now it's in the hands of people who care little for his legacy,
    and are looking for a score, from taxpayers.

    Re: PAWSOX SOLD

    Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 9:54 am
    by RF1
    STC wrote:
    RF1 wrote:
    STC wrote:Pawtucket is a dump, I'm glad to see the team moving to Providence.

    I think that land by the Providence River from where 195 used to run would be perfect for a ballpark. The big problem is where is the money coming from for this?

    Traffic is always a mess getting to/from venues and this will be no exception.

    As for the name, I don't like Rhode Island Red Sox, how about just Providence Red Sox?
    And Pawtucket along with other cities and towns in RI (not named Providence) will forever be a dump if the state of RI only invests in one of its 39 cities/towns. It looks like RI politicians have been working behind the scenes and the City of Pawtucket is about to be royally screwed.
    Pawtucket is and will continue to be a dump with or without the Pawsox.
    And having an empty 10,000 seat stadium with no tenant will help keep it that way.

    I guess all the taxpayers in the other 38 cities and towns in RI should just make their payments directly to the City of Providence rather than the state. It seems no other communities matter.

    Re: PAWSOX SOLD

    Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 9:58 am
    by gorhody89
    RI needs to spend more time worrying about attracting businesses to the state rather than investing in minor league baseball...all we really have is CVS, Hasbro, Gtech, Amgen, and a couple others....recent grads have nowhere to go except out of the state....RI should be very attractive for businesses, located in between Boston and New York and the best coastline in New England...instead our wonderful statehouse full of PC grads with zero business experience continue to give businesses plenty of reasons not to set up shop in Rhody by taxing the shit out of them.

    Re: PAWSOX SOLD

    Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 9:58 am
    by RF1
    I wonder if the state will put the question on the ballot if it wants to contribute to a new stadium. They did so for improvements to Meade Stadium. It didn't matter that URI was a state institution and would never leave.

    Curt Schilling must be laughing his ass off with this news.

    I guess RI politicians don't really care about good paying full time jobs. Their mission seems to be to make RI the entertainment state based on their spending:

    Dunkin Donuts Center
    RI Convention Center
    Veterans Memorial Auditorium
    New PawSox stadium

    Re: PAWSOX SOLD

    Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 10:01 am
    by RF1
    gorhody89 wrote:RI needs to spend more time worrying about attracting businesses to the state rather than investing in minor league baseball...all we really have is CVS, Hasbro, Gtech, Amgen, and a couple others....recent grads have nowhere to go except out of the state....RI should be very attractive for businesses, located in between Boston and New York and the best coastline in New England...instead our wonderful statehouse full of PC grads with zero business experience continue to give businesses plenty of reasons not to set up shop in Rhody by taxing the shit out of them.

    The PawSox wouldn't even be a new business or really add more jobs to the state's economy. It would just merely move the jobs 5 miles south to another part of RI.

    Besides most all these jobs are menial low wage seasonal positions. Most of the staff at McCoy were local high school kids.

    Re: PAWSOX SOLD

    Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 10:09 am
    by Taylor Swift
    gorhody89 wrote:RI needs to spend more time worrying about attracting businesses to the state rather than investing in minor league baseball...all we really have is CVS, Hasbro, Gtech, Amgen, and a couple others....recent grads have nowhere to go except out of the state....RI should be very attractive for businesses, located in between Boston and New York and the best coastline in New England...instead our wonderful statehouse full of PC grads with zero business experience continue to give businesses plenty of reasons not to set up shop in Rhody by taxing the shit out of them.
    I couldn't have said it better myself. It's such a joke. You would think more businesses would WANT to come here due to the proximity to NY and Boston. Quick Amtrak ride to both. Quonset is another component of RI that could be SOOOOOO much more than it is.

    Re: PAWSOX SOLD

    Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 10:11 am
    by Seawrightspostgame
    I hope it does get to a vote and is turned down.

    McCoy still feels new to me. I have been to the Durham Bull's park and it is really a great place, but I think Duke plays there and they hold the ACC tournament there.

    If they can get a contract with say the A10 to hold the tournament there I would be much more open to it. I believe PC no longer plays baseball(which their baseball playing alumni hate).

    Moving the Pawsox seems to be something that people shouldn't even take serious, but here it is. Personally an MLS stadium in that space would be much more exciting. Kraft wont allow anything to be in RI though.

    Re: PAWSOX SOLD

    Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 10:23 am
    by Rhody74
    The new owners have said McCoy is no longer an option. If the state and city don't help with the Providence site, it wouldn't surprise me to see the PawSox move to Foxboro as an additional attraction for Patriot Place.

    Re: PAWSOX SOLD

    Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 10:33 am
    by gorhody89
    Taylor Swift wrote:
    I couldn't have said it better myself. It's such a joke. You would think more businesses would WANT to come here due to the proximity to NY and Boston. Quick Amtrak ride to both. Quonset is another component of RI that could be SOOOOOO much more than it is.
    Thank you for bringing up Quonset....absolute joke that the state hasn't invested a ton of money there and make it into a huge seaport for businesses....absolute wasted opportunity, instead our brilliant statehouse wanted to build a casino there....they are so so clueless with their heads so far up each others asses it's pathetic

    Re: PAWSOX SOLD

    Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 10:34 am
    by rodfromcranston
    Nice. Economic blackmail.
    Larry Lucchino's style.

    Re: PAWSOX SOLD

    Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 10:42 am
    by RF1
    And for those that think Providence restaurants will see a significant increase in business, think again. A large percentage of the current customers for PawSox games are families and retirees. They are not the type that will go out for dinner at nearby Cappricios or Hemenways and stop somewhere for drinks after the game. Most of these pepole just want a cheap hot dog at the ballpark.

    Re: PAWSOX SOLD

    Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 10:46 am
    by SGreenwell
    Taylor Swift wrote:
    gorhody89 wrote:RI needs to spend more time worrying about attracting businesses to the state rather than investing in minor league baseball...all we really have is CVS, Hasbro, Gtech, Amgen, and a couple others....recent grads have nowhere to go except out of the state....RI should be very attractive for businesses, located in between Boston and New York and the best coastline in New England...instead our wonderful statehouse full of PC grads with zero business experience continue to give businesses plenty of reasons not to set up shop in Rhody by taxing the shit out of them.
    I couldn't have said it better myself. It's such a joke. You would think more businesses would WANT to come here due to the proximity to NY and Boston. Quick Amtrak ride to both. Quonset is another component of RI that could be SOOOOOO much more than it is.
    Quonset is at least on the upswing. They have a development corporation / board that has done some good work at marketing itself and drawing in tenants. But I think it's done that in spite of the state government the past few years, not because of it.

    Re: PAWSOX SOLD

    Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 10:48 am
    by gorhody89
    yes SG but the wheels should have started turning 30 years ago

    Re: PAWSOX SOLD

    Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 10:50 am
    by Taylor Swift
    RF1 wrote:And for those that think Providence restaurants will see a significant increase in business, think again. A large percentage of the current customers for PawSox games are families and retirees. They are not the type that will go out for dinner at nearby Cappricios or Hemenways and stop somewhere for drinks after the game. Most of these pepole just want a cheap hot dog at the ballpark.
    In this case "if you build it, they will come" does not work.

    Re: PAWSOX SOLD

    Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 10:52 am
    by rodfromcranston
    As I said in my initial post, baseball fans aren't the PPAC crowd.
    Part of the fun of going to a baseball game is eating the
    stadium food.
    Pawsox was always a family friendly event. Free parking, cheap, but decent
    food.
    As for falling attendance, the past couple of seasons, the parent club took
    many the interesting players, up to the big club, leaving a less than
    desirable product on the field.
    It's like the new owners and their political lackeys are throwing stuff at
    the wall that makes no sense.

    Re: Pawsox Sold, Potentially Moving

    Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 11:11 am
    by SGreenwell
    Section 105 made another topic with a poll, and in the interest of keeping this discussion to one thread, I tacked it on (with a few extra options) here.

    Re: Pawsox Sold, Potentially Moving

    Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 11:14 am
    by section(105)
    Thx SG, always leave this type of thing to the pros!!

    Re: Pawsox Sold, Potentially Moving

    Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 11:23 am
    by gorhody89
    I voted move to Mass, not because I want them to leave but because it would be unwise for the state to give money and or land away for a minor league team...we have limited resources and need to use them wisely which will have a much greater impact on our states economy...

    Re: PAWSOX SOLD

    Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 11:51 am
    by TruePoint
    rodfromcranston wrote:As I said in my initial post, baseball fans aren't the PPAC crowd.
    Part of the fun of going to a baseball game is eating the
    stadium food.
    Pawsox was always a family friendly event. Free parking, cheap, but decent
    food.
    As for falling attendance, the past couple of seasons, the parent club took
    many the interesting players, up to the big club, leaving a less than
    desirable product on the field.
    It's like the new owners and their political lackeys are throwing stuff at
    the wall that makes no sense.
    I agree with a lot of what you've said here, but you can't really fault the major league club for bringing players up from the AAA team or trading them away. That is the whole point of having a AAA team. If the players weren't going to potentially play in the big leagues some day, then the interest wouldn't be there at all. At the end of the day, the quality of the product on the field is always going to be determined by the best interests of the major league team and not the business of the AAA team.

    Re: Pawsox Sold, Potentially Moving

    Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 12:30 pm
    by ramfan85
    How can anyone question the ethics of RI politicians? Look at how much better our schools have gotten, how much better our highways have gotten and, how much all of our taxes have come down since adding the casinos and lottery tickets.

    Re: PAWSOX SOLD

    Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 12:33 pm
    by ATPTourFan
    rodfromcranston wrote:As for falling attendance, the past couple of seasons, the parent club took
    many the interesting players, up to the big club, leaving a less than
    desirable product on the field.
    Maybe I'm missing this point, Rod, but Pawtucket has won the league two of the last three seasons. The year between the championships they were runner-up.

    4 years ago they were a playoff team that didn't get to the championship series.

    Not sure how much more desirable the AAA product can be.

    Re: Pawsox Sold, Potentially Moving

    Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 12:42 pm
    by RhowdyRam02
    I think this move is terrible. It cracks me up that the people responsible for keeping Fenway Park open when it might provide the worst fan comfort and amenities in baseball believe that McCoy needs to be replaced for the same reasons. That we're going to give these rich people incentives we can't afford to provide is tragic. But hey, at least they're putting the ballpark in the worst spot in the state for getting into the ballpark. I tend to go to 4-5 games a year at McCoy, I doubt I'll go even once every couple years in this new park.

    Re: Pawsox Sold, Potentially Moving

    Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 12:48 pm
    by URI96
    There is more to lose here than some low paying jobs. There will be lost revenues for the local hotels etc if the team leaves RI. Also even if the majority of fans don't pre and/or post game at local bars and restaurants some certainly will. As it stands now there is nowhere in Pawtucket for fans to do this.

    Re: Pawsox Sold, Potentially Moving

    Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 2:02 pm
    by ATPTourFan

    Re: Pawsox Sold, Potentially Moving

    Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 2:03 pm
    by rodfromcranston
    They may have won, but the best players were called up to Boston.
    So, they won with what was left, but the players people
    would go out of their way to see got called up, or were
    yo yo-ing back and forth.
    Mookie Betts, case in point.
    The Boston team had close to a record number of personnel transactions
    in the past few years.

    Re: Pawsox Sold, Potentially Moving

    Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 3:01 pm
    by rambone 78
    Great location. Next to the river, power plant, and manufacturing parking lots.

    Not exactly the Boston skyline, is it?

    Pawtucket is a dump? Most of Providence is too.

    The city that time forgot.

    Re: Pawsox Sold, Potentially Moving

    Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 4:19 pm
    by Andrew
    Maybe it's because I live there, but Providence isn't close to a dump.

    Re: Pawsox Sold, Potentially Moving

    Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 4:23 pm
    by Seawrightspostgame
    Providence a dump!? ouchhh.

    Re: Pawsox Sold, Potentially Moving

    Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 4:42 pm
    by Ramulous
    I am opposed to giving Multi-millionaire and billionaire owners one penny of taxpayer dollars to fund their sports venues....or to enhance their infrastructure......let the free market dictate what they do.....pay for everything yourselves if it such a good business proposition.....

    I am also opposed to the way the I-195 land has been handled...the projects to date create no jobs but for temporary construction work....where is the incubation of industry, technology and jobs we were promised....

    Re: Pawsox Sold, Potentially Moving

    Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 5:00 pm
    by SGreenwell
    Ramulous wrote:I am opposed to giving Multi-millionaire and billionaire owners one penny of taxpayer dollars to fund their sports venues....or to enhance their infrastructure......let the free market dictate what they do.....pay for everything yourselves if it such a good business proposition.....
    They kind of are letting the "market" determine their decisions though. Municipalities are tripping over themselves to give teams money, whether it's Washington to lure the Nationals from Montreal, or Seattle and Oklahoma City.

    Re: Pawsox Sold, Potentially Moving

    Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 6:58 pm
    by ramfan85
    Hope the hurricane barriers work.
    At least the former Governor isn't in office to cream over pro athletes and give them anything they want.

    Re: Pawsox Sold, Potentially Moving

    Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 9:54 pm
    by woodennickel1
    This is a damm shame, what used to be one of the few venues that was affordable for a low to middle income family is going to be taken away. Mattiello thinks it is wonderful what a pos. Why don't you think of the many struggling family's that will no longer be able to afford this because you know these clowns like Lucchino are only in it it to line their pockets. Of course Mattiello will never have to worry about buying a ticket.

    I can understand Mrs Mondor selling but I am really surprised she did not stipulate the new owners were to stay in McCoy.

    Re: Pawsox Sold, Potentially Moving

    Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 10:02 pm
    by woodennickel1
    ramfan85 wrote:Hope the hurricane barriers work.
    At least the former Governor isn't in office to cream over pro athletes and give them anything they want.
    Good point let's see what Raimondo does about this. What scares me is I know Raimondo is backed by some big wigs on wall street and you know where their interests will be. Corporate America is killing this country.

    Re: Pawsox Sold, Potentially Moving

    Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 12:05 am
    by rodfromcranston
    Mattiello already took a shot at her, today.
    I never worry about the Governor in this state.
    I worry about the General Assembly,and the Speaker of the House,
    in particular, which is where the real power lies.
    It's also where all the dirty deals are made.
    Big government is killing this country and small business owners.

    Re: Pawsox Sold, Potentially Moving

    Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 8:44 am
    by section(105)
    Give the land to them, yes. No state funding, let the big boys built it.... Watch your wallet....somehow the state political hacks will screw this up, even with no funding....that's how we roll around here...I am in favor of the move, but not helping to fund the building....

    Re: Pawsox Sold, Potentially Moving

    Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 9:50 am
    by RF1
    section(105) wrote:Give the land to them, yes. No state funding, let the big boys built it.... Watch your wallet....somehow the state political hacks will screw this up, even with no funding....that's how we roll around here...I am in favor of the move, but not helping to fund the building....

    So you are fine giving away land so that it may never be used to create high paying full time jobs? That basically is what you would be doing as that was the intended target for Route 195 land.

    Re: Pawsox Sold, Potentially Moving

    Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 10:12 am
    by RF1
    http://www.boston.com/sports/columnists ... s#comments



    Read the comments below the article. Most are against this potential move. Given the majority of Boston.com readers live within Route 128, they are likely not from biased Pawtucket residents or even Rhode Islanders.

    Re: Pawsox Sold, Potentially Moving

    Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 10:13 am
    by RF1
    A City Braces for Its Ballpark to Go the Way of Its Mills
    Through Years of Change, Pawtucket, R.I., Always Had McCoy Stadium

    By DAN BARRY FEB. 24, 2015
    The NY Times


    http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/25/sport ... .html?_r=0

    Re: Pawsox Sold, Potentially Moving

    Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 10:15 am
    by STC

    Re: Pawsox Sold, Potentially Moving

    Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 11:47 am
    by section(105)
    RF1, yes. At this point , are there any near shovel ready projects in the pipeline for those types of jobs?

    Re: Pawsox Sold, Potentially Moving

    Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 11:57 am
    by STC
    section(105) wrote:RF1, yes. At this point , are there any near shovel ready projects in the pipeline for those types of jobs?
    When considering locations for a stadium in Providence, strictly looking at locations in Providence now, leaving all the funding and whatever other nonsense bill of goods RI residents were sold with this 195 land off to the side. This is actually a great location for a stadium.

    Easy on/off from 195, bunch of bars/restaurants not too far. Lots of potential for the surrounding area as well.

    Pawtucket had there chance for 40 years and never was able to capitalize on having the Pawsox, spare me all the woe is me crap.