LETTERS

Who’s really paying?

Posted 5/19/15

To the Editor:

Much has been written in the paper of the Providence Journal and this newspaper recently regarding an abstract proposal promoted by the owners of the Pawtucket Red Sox to relocate …

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LETTERS

Who’s really paying?

Posted

To the Editor:

Much has been written in the paper of the Providence Journal and this newspaper recently regarding an abstract proposal promoted by the owners of the Pawtucket Red Sox to relocate the team to Providence in a to-be-built stadium. Disagreement amongst the readers abounds. First, should the state reclassify a parcel of land considered and dedicated by the I-195 Commission for use to promote a fertile area for biotech startups, R.I. Hospital and academia economic development? Second, should the state get involved in subsidizing a ball team/ball park? Third, what is the benefit that the state will more likely than not realize from this investment of public funds?

Let us not lose sight of one fundamental fact upon which we can all agree. The state’s money isn’t really at stake here. Any dollars the state passes on to the new PawSox owners are taken from the pockets of those R.I. residents fortunate enough to have a job and pay taxes in this most difficult economy.

Fred E. Joslyn

Cranston

Comments

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  • Ken B

    The new owners of the PawSox are shortsighted. They should stay in Pawtucket. With the coming of the new Blackstone River Valley National Park, a lot of federal funding will be coming to the Blackstone Valley area. McCoy Stadium could become part of the new National Park. Pageants, band concerts and historical dramas could be perfomed there. Visitors to the new National Park would love to go to McCoy Stadium to see future major league baseball players in action. A lot of federal matching funds would become available to make massive improvements in McCoy Stadium. For every million dollar invested by the owners, there would be 10 million dollars available in federal matching funds. A lot of federal matching funds would also be available to improve the infrastructure around McCoy Stadium. There is a future in Pawtucket. The state of Rhode Island would save money and the new owners of the PawSox would save money. There is no guarantee that the new stadium in Providence will be successful. If the hurricane barrier fails, the new stadium could be severely damaged. International League records show that in the last ten years, during a recession, the PawSox averaged over 8,400 fans per game. With an influx of tourist, the PawSox could easily average 10,000 fans per game. I don't understand why the new owners of the PawSox don't see the future potential in Pawtucket.« less

    Wednesday, May 20, 2015 Report this

  • Justanidiot

    The PawSox died with Ben Mondor. Now it is just an investment. Stay in Pawtucket or get out of the State.

    Part of the new owner's reasoning is that McCoy is the oldest AAA ballpark. Ok, by that logic, they should beg the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for some prime real estate on the water front to get a state of the art park and get rid of that old eyesore, Fenway.

    Wednesday, May 20, 2015 Report this