There's also the notion of the outfield vista for fans. Pawtucket has nothing of a skyline but what there is, City hall and Tolman HS would be visible in the renderings. Flipping it would have us looking at USA cleaners and the Days Inn
Fenway is a darn quirky stadium from a playing field perspective. A replica build that give prospects a year (or three) head start on learning how to play in the Confines seems kind of savvy.I also hate hate hate the idea of replica Fenway. Real Fenway is 45 minutes away, this isn't Greenville. I mean, maybe kids would love it that way, I don't know. But it feels pretty gimmick-y.
Other than figuring out if otherwise incompetent left fielders can become competent playing in front of the wall, I'm not sure this is a benefit. Sure, it's in the top 5 reasons to do it, but since I can't even think of 5 reasons to do it, that's not saying much.Fenway is a darn quirky stadium from a playing field perspective. A replica build that give prospects a year (or three) head start on learning how to play in the Confines seems kind of savvy.
Could certainly soften the need for public financingPaul Salem, a titan of Wall Street and a senior managing director of the $50 billion Providence Equity Partners, is poised to join the ownership group of the Pawtucket Red Sox, GoLocal has learned. If Salem joins the ownership group the investment is personal and not an investment of Providence Equity, according to a spokesperson for Salem.
LinkWhen asked what was discussed at the meeting, Raimondo’s spokesman David Ortiz said, “The Governor thinks it would be nice to keep the PawSox in Pawtucket and applauds the city for taking the lead in that effort. She is committed to ensuring that any involvement of the state is a fair deal for Rhode Island's taxpayers.”
Brown football move there maybe?They say they'll have football there in the fall (HS?) hockey in the winter (HS? NCAA?) and concerts in the summer. If they can keep it busy (150 events/year) it might be an economic engine.
New McCoy is to sit 10,000. Brown Field seats 20,000. You could bring in bleachers, and I doubt Brown sells out, but not sure I see this as an improvement for them.Brown football move there maybe?
Or just 1 or 2 of the home games? (vs. Yale or Harvard or Bryant or URI perhaps)
I saw that in 2015 they averaged under 4900, so 10k should be ok. The school has a reputation of student apathy in athletics so maybe this would help with excitement. Assuming there are buses to bring them to Pawt of courseNew McCoy is to sit 10,000. Brown Field seats 20,000. You could bring in bleachers, and I doubt Brown sells out, but not sure I see this as an improvement for them.
They have opened Bold Point Park to some outdoor shows this year (Beach Boys, moe, etc) A small outdoor venue is needed in Greater Providence, I agreeI think there is good potential to bring in several summer concert events. The closest outdoor venue for tours that are too small for Xfinity is the Bank Boston Pavillion and after that generally Hampton Beach. They could bring in several events over the course of the summer and fall. I do think they should abandon the idea of a mini-Fenway. Trying to replicate the field just gets in the way of making it a more viable multi-purpose venue.
Bryant's 'stadium' only has permanent bleachers for 3,200. All of the football improvements came post Patriots. Bryant has the best potential to play there given their small stadium and aspirations of a higher profile. The problem is that they would be less of a draw than either URI or Brown. I can see the Dentist cooking up some type of Governor's Cup and having an annual URI / Brown (or Bryant) game. I don't see a great option as home field.I saw that in 2015 they averaged under 4900, so 10k should be ok. The school has a reputation of student apathy in athletics so maybe this would help with excitement. Assuming there are buses to bring them to Pawt of course
There's also the the possibility of a chicken and egg issue in that maybe Admin doesn't want football offcampus precisely partly because of the apathy, especially if you'd have to sell buildings and property that are being used.
I would also think Smithfield is a good facility if Pats had at one time camp there, so don't see Bryant as a possibility.
And Kingston is probably too far from Pawt for a home field for URI
I'm going to guess those mid-2000s "glory days" had to do with the a real push that minor league baseball in the region got as the Red Sox were consistent playoff contenders and had that first world title after 86 years thing happen, meaning interest was at a peak and Fenway was always sold out and/or suddenly more expensive than ever, especially for families. I want to say that Lowell experienced something similar (or had been riding a wave for years since the Spinners opened up play), but has also since tapered off.Part two, Larry and pals are aiming to return Paw Sox to glory days of mid-2000s. In 2005, average attendance was 9,561, last year only 6,076. Not much news, but shows decade long decline.
http://www.providencejournal.com/sports/20170409/pawsox-management-looking-for-return-to-glory-days
This is a somewhat sensational and misleading headline. The Speaker of the House disapproves of the bill that the Senate passed and, presumably, if they take up their own legislation, will try to get a better deal for the State. We'll see if he's just blowing smoke or playing power games with the Senate President (which he's been doing since June), but he was basically saying the Senate bill is DOA with his caucus in the House. The expectation is that the House will take up their own bill (and reportedly soon)."House speaker says PawSox stadium deal is ‘dead’ in RI"
http://www.telegram.com/news/20180122/house-speaker-says-pawsox-stadium-deal-is-dead-in-ri
Is Worcester really a possibility or just being teased?
Very scientific.But Mattiello said, as he has before, that many Rhode Islanders have conveyed opposition to their elected representatives of the inclusion of $45 million in public borrowing as part of the $83 million PawSox proposal.
If stronger support would change his view, Mattiello was asked, how would he get a sense of that support?
"I talk to my barber, which I’ve recently done," he told reporters. "Local diners .... [constituents] all stop us at supermarkets and local establishments. It’s pretty easy to get a sense of where people are."