Democrats, Labor Stack Hearing for PawSox Funding Scheme at RI State House

Friday, September 15, 2017

GoLocalWorcester News Team

Larry Lucchino (left) and Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien (right) plead their case on Thursday night.

Proponents of a new, taxpayer-supported ballpark for the Pawtucket Red Sox spoke for the first four hours of the first Rhode Island Senate hearing on Thursday night -- but opponents would not be deterred.

A plethora of Northern Rhode Island Democratic Mayors, union leaders, and Pawtucket business owners testified in support of the public financing scheme starting at 6 P.M, touting what they said would be a significant economic benefit to the region -- and state - until opponents started in at 10 p.m.

Slides: 7 Questions the PawSox Need to Answer at Hearings BELOW

"Someone asked me earlier how I prepared," said Pat Ford, Chair of the Libertarian Party of Rhode Island and critic of the PawSox ownership's attempts to secure public assistance. "I simply googled 'failed minor league baseball stadiums'."

The hearing Thursday marked the first of six public events in the several weeks for Rhode Islanders to weigh in on the legislative proposals for a new, $84 million ballpark on the location where the now defunct Apex Building currently stands.

Support, Dissent Aired

Elected officials and Paw Sox brass testified first, after both labor leaders and rank and file workers filled the State House rotunda and lined signs around the hearing room in support of the legislation - and the associated jobs that would come with approval.

"We welcome human and capital investments into our two communities. The impact will be immediate and reach deep into my city, which is just a short walk away," said Central Falls Mayor James Diossa. "The bottom line is that keeping the Paw Sox in Pawtucket, I believe it is a good deal for a Rhode Island. We shouldn't let the bitter aftertaste of past failures... limit our future."

Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien addressed concerns that the host city - which would backstop the bonds -- is not in a financial position to do so.

"Let me assure you there are no deficits, we've carried surpluses," Grebien told the committee. "This type of economic development will help us grow. The business community strongly supports this."

The Paw Sox were represented by Larry Lucchino, Dr. Charles Steinberg, and Mike Tamburro, among others -- including longtime Lucchino colleague and architect Janet Marie Smith.

"I'd be remiss without saying something, being in the shadow of Fenway Park," said Smith, of Pawtucket. "We want to make sure this side really, really counts. Our interest is sincere, studied, and achievable."

Opponents, however, questioned the deal's viability - and need for investment by Rhode Island taxpayers for a collective group of billionaire owners.

"Much is being made of the potential for ancillary development," said Ford. "Let me harken back to the Convention Center, which continues to hemorrhage millions, years later."

"Taxpayer subsidized facilities - the casino and McCoy Stadium or whatever its new name will be - will be a catalyst," said Ford. "For themselves."

Community activist Roland Gauvin raised questions about the deal.

"If the stadium is such a good investment, why do the millionaire and billionaire owners need our money?" quipped Gauvin. "Bob Kraft -- he was an entrepreneur he used his own money. That's the way stadiums should be built. If the owners don't have a stake, what prohibits them to pick up and leave any time they want?"

Related Slideshow: 10 Things That Need to Happen to Get PawSox to Worcester

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Arrange Meeting with PawSox Owners

City officials need to sit down with the new PawSox ownership group. CEO Michael Tamburro grew up in Worcester and is a graduate of North High.

The new ownership group is led by Boston Red Sox President Larry Lucchino, who will serve as Chairman, and James J. Skeffington, who will be President

"We are very excited about our purchase of the Pawtucket Red Sox and the opportunity to partner with the Boston Red Sox to provide first class baseball and family entertainment to our loyal fan base in New England," said Skeffington, who will oversee the operation on a daily basis.

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Providence Deal Needs to Fall Through

There's always the chance that Providence could balk at the amount of public funding that the new ownership group is looking for. Early indications show that the number could be upwards of $70 million.

"The doors are always open," said Tim Murray, President and CEO of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce. "If the deal were to fall apart, I think people here would be willing to listen, but everyone recognizes this requires signifcant municipal assistance. Massachusetts, traditionally, has been reluctant to use tax dollars to those kind of things, and I think in most cases, appropriately so."

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Sell Public on WHY It Will Work

With the loss of the AHL Worcester Sharks looming after this season, Worcester will be without a professional sports team. Worcester residents will look to its city officials to do something to get a pro team back to the city.

"As usual, the city leaders have done nothing to attract the PawSox. It's been known for several months that the PawSox were going to be sold. Much like with the Sharks, the city has been reactive instead of proactive. The city leaders - (i.e. government and businesses), and some state leaders as well - need to step it up. Unfortunately, they seem to think Spag's is still around and want something for nothing (or almost nothing). Looking for bargains where very little effort has to be put into it. The city manager, mayor, and city council have been virtually silent on the Sharks move, and probably weren't even aware about the PawSox until it was too late," said Rich Lubin, President of the Worcester Sharks Booster Club.

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Strengthen Public Support

Worcester is home to the Worcester Bravehearts, the defending Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL) Champions. After the fiasco that the Worcester Tornadoes turned out to be, residents of Worcester would be proud to see both the Bravehearts and the PawSox succeeding in the city.

“Worcester is a city that has always loved baseball. You can track the history all the way back to the early 1900’s when we had a team in the National League. With the (Boston) Red Sox so close, and all of these minor league teams, the city still took to the Worcester Bravehearts. We were tops in attendance and won the Championship game in front of more than 2,000 people. Baseball will certainly thrive in this city,” said Casey Cummins, Bravehearts pitching coach.

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Find Land in Worcester for Stadium

“The 'WorSox' could purchase, clean up and build a fine stadium on the spacious Wyman Gordon property near Kelly Square. That location also has excellent highway access. What a welcome neighbor the team would be to the up-and-coming Canal District. Worcester, New England's 2nd largest city, would be a much better home for the "WorSox." People from cities and towns throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and beyond would flock to our city on a frequent basis to see such high level and quality baseball," said City Councilor Gary Rosen.

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Utilize Central MA Connections in MA Gov

Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, of Shrewsbury, now holds the highest seat of anyone from Central Massachusetts in state government. Her position was formerly occupied by Tim Murray, now the President of Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Worcester could use this connection to help gain support from Governor Charlie Baker and may even be able to garner state funding to help lure the PawSox to the city.

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Find Local Business Partners

The cost of a new stadium could run the city and state upwards of $70 million.

Worcester will need to turn to local businesses to invest in the cleaning up of any area they decide to build a stadium and the actual construction of the stadium.

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Push Forward Canal District Plans

The Canal District is located on the "Green Island" area of Worcester that includes Water Street, Green Street, Millbury Street, and Kelley Square.

Over the past ten years, the city and the Canal District Business Association has put a lot of money into the area to revive it and bring business in.

A push to gain funding to continue to improve the Canal District could be a great sign to the PawSox owners that Worester means business.

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Pay to Clean Up Proposed Land

Tim Murray, President and CEO of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce said the city has looked previously at the Wyman Gordon site, discussed expanding the field at Lake Park, or partnering with one of the colleges or universities on a site to build a baseball stadium. Murray noted that things get tricky when you start looking at these sites when you begin dealing with property and land acquisition costs and clean-up costs.

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Keep the Bravehearts in the Discussion

The Worcester Bravehearts, the 2014 Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL) Champions in their inaugural season, will be entering their second season as the only local major sport team left in the city. Last season, they drew over 50,000 people to Fitton Field.

Murray said "We have a great product with the Bravehearts and they had a great inaugural season. The Bravehearts are locally owned and controlled, and they had a great product and strong attendance in their first year. It plays on one of the advantages that Worcester does have that a lot of places don't, is the amount of colleges and universities around and the large number of student atheletes we have here."