Will Worcester Look Bad if New Bedford Ends Up with PawSox?

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Patrick Sargent, GoLocal Worcester Contributor

The city of New Bedford is waiting in the wings to see how the Pawtucket Red Sox move to Providence plays out. According to numerous reports, New Bedford City Councilors plan to make an aggressive bid for the PawSox if a deal falls through with Providence.

“New Bedford has an exceptional and professional team that stands ready to meet with the PawSox leadership team on this exciting economic development opportunity. When given the opportunity, we look forward to having a productive discussion on bringing the PawSox to the South Coast, while building a strong relationship with the residents of Rhode Island. It can be done and New Bedford is well positioned to do just that,” New Bedford Councilor Steve Martins told GoLocalWorcester.

Councilor Martins has filed a motion for the council to discuss bringing the PawSox to New Bedford. Martins and fellow councilor Kerry Winterson have even gone so far as to line up two potential sites to build a new stadium - one being near the waterfront just like a proposed site in Providence.

Worcester Should Have Same Interest as New Bedford

In early March, GoLocalWorcester reported that Worcester City Councilors Gary Rosen and Phil Palmieri made a similar pitch to their own City Council.

However, since then, the Council has been relatively quiet in its pursuit. So how will Worcester look if they lose out to New Bedford?

According to Councilor Rosen, “Months ago the new owners of the PawSox were made well aware by our elected and appointed officials and the Chamber of Commerce that Worcester, the second largest city in New England (slightly ahead of Providence and far ahead of New Bedford) is ready, willing and able to vie with any city for this fine team.”

New Bedford has a few things in its favor, most of which deal with location. The city is closer to Pawtucket, Providence, Fall River and Cape Cod than Worcester is. It’s relatively the same amount of travel time from New Bedford to Boston as it is from Worcester to Boston.

Proposed Providence Stadium

“I can understand why New Bedford would have interest. That would be a huge step for them, in a similar situation as Worcester, to revitalize the city. It would be a huge loss for Worcester, being the second largest city in New England,” said Andrew O’Connor, a NESN “Next Producer” contestant. O’Connor is a Worcester State University graduate and recently made a short film on baseball in Worcester.

“Worcester has a better geographical location with a perfect ballpark area located right off of 290 near lots of bars and restaurants including Water street and Green street.” O’Connor adds. “The city of Worcester and its residents need to gather and put forth effort to pull the team in. This is Worcester's last real great opportunity to revitalize itself, especially with the recent loss of the Worcester Sharks.”

PawSox Could Go to Highest Bidder

GoLocal reported last week that the new PawSox ownership is seeking $120 million in public funding to move the stadium to Providence.

In a released statement, Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo said, “I would love it if the PawSox stayed in Rhode Island, and the idea of a multi-use stadium in downtown Providence is exciting. But it's my job to look out for Rhode Island taxpayers, and I take that job very seriously. From what I understand of the owners' initial proposal, it appears that Rhode Island taxpayers would pay most, if not all of the cost of building the new stadium, yet the owners would stand to receive all of the profits. That isn't fair for Rhode Islanders."

Not only does the new ownership want $4 million a year from the city of Providence over 30 years, but they also don’t want to pay taxes over that time either.

According to a GoLocal report, billions of dollars have been spent over the past twenty years to improve minor league stadiums throughout the country. However, attendance has only grown 4.5%, noting that there has been no correlation between upgrades and new stadiums and increased attendance.

Earlier this month, Holy Cross professor Victor Matheson raised serious questions about the demands of these minor league teams asking for government investment. “Given the landscape, how can new owners justify asking for public dollars to support a minor league stadium?”

“They can't,” Matheson told GoLocalWorcester. “Or maybe, they can ask all they want, but government officials looking to make the wisest use of taxpayer dollars should resist the call.”

“Worcester and perhaps no other city can afford what the new owners are looking for.Worcester should do just like some New Bedford City Councilors are proposing that city do,” said local Worcester community leader Gary Vecchio. “We should let the new owners know that Worcester would love to be the new home of the Red Sox AAA Team. We should let them know why Worcester would be the best location for them to move to. However, Worcester can not and should not even contemplate a $120 million bond or a 30 year tax free deal. I doubt any other city will either.”

“Negotiations continue between the PawSox and their city of choice, Providence. But, because some of the team's demands have raised eyebrows, the possibility does exist that a deal satisfactory to the team, the city and its taxpayers might not be consummated,” said Rosen. “I do hope that we closely watch the negotiations between the PawSox and Providence. Should those talks collapse, Worcester should be ready to make another pitch for this storied AAA franchise.”

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

Prev Next

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.

Prev Next

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."

Prev Next

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.

Prev Next

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.

Prev Next

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.

Prev Next

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.

Prev Next

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.

Prev Next

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.

Prev Next

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.

Prev Next

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."