League officials testify on ballpark plan
KINGSTON – Inside Swan Hall on the URI campus, officials from the International League and Minor League Baseball spoke to the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday night about what would happen if a problem arose with the bonds issued to build a new PawSox ballpark in downtown Pawtucket.
“The International League has an obligation to field 14 teams. If there is a default scenario and the membership is revoked, the league pursues a subsequent member that steps in and assumes those obligations,” said International League President Randy Mobley.
Based on the written testimony that was submitted by Mobley, Chairman William Conley Jr. said it’s “extremely rare” that the league has had to rescue a team. The International League is 134 years old and currently comprises 14 teams.
Mobley sat a table that also included Mike Tamburro, PawSox vice chairman, and Scott Poley, Senior Vice President, Legal Affairs & General Counsel. Tamburro gave the introductions before handing it off to the two minor-league baseball officials.
When asked by the committee if the league’s membership has taken a hard look at the terms for a proposed $83 million ballpark, Mobley said, “Specific terms, no. General terms, yes. Folks are aware of the facts as we sit here today.”
Mobley said that one International League city is now playing Triple-A ballgames in its third ballpark while the PawSox continue to play at 75-year-old McCoy Stadium. If the team keeps up the maintenance responsibilities, Mobley said it’s conceivable that a minor-league stadium that’s well maintained has a 30-year shelf life.
“From a league perspective, McCoy Stadium’s problem isn’t that a roof wasn’t repaired or that a shower doesn’t work. The ballpark has used out its useful life,” Mobley said.
“I love McCoy as much as the next person, but her time has come.”
Two representatives from Brailsford & Dunlavey, Inc. opened Tuesday’s hearing by making a presentation that addressed the 10-year declining attendance trend at McCoy Stadium, going from an average of 9,000 fans per game at its peak down to 6,000 in recent seasons. Brailsford & Dunlavey was contracted by the City of the Pawtucket and the PawSox.
Senator James A. Seveney asked the Brailsford & Dunlavey representatives to pinpoint reasons behind the downward attendance trend at McCoy and whether a new ballpark could reverse it. Bryan Slater, a senior project manager Brailsford & Dunlavey, cited McCoy’s current location and the 75-year-old facility showing its age more and more with each passing year.
Attendance projections in a new Pawtucket ballpark (8,100 over 68 openings, a total that accounts for possible rainouts) would represent a 35 percent increase over current attendance levels and is consistent with International League leaders Lehigh Valley, Columbus, Indianapolis, and Louisville.
“Each market has its own nuances, but we thought they were all valid comparisons,” Slater told the committee.
Based on its projections, Brailsford & Dunlavey believes the PawSox ballpark on the proposed Apex department store site would generate approximately $36.5 million to Pawtucket and $93.3 million to the state over a 30-year period. The figures do not include ticket sales and in-stadium spending (concessions, merchandise). Brailsford & Dunlavey did note that attendance projections in a new stadium are hard to predict after its first 10 years of usage.
With 40 people signed up, and a hard deadline to leave the Swan Hall auditorium by 10 p.m., Conley limited speakers to three minutes during the public testimony portion of the hearing. The last speaker addressed the committee shortly before 9:30.
Supporters included URI women’s basketball head coach Daynia La-Force, South Kingstown athletic director Terry Lynch, Dave’s Marketplace Director of Store Development Bob Fabiano, and 2017 North Smithfield High graduate Olivia Stone, who interned with the PawSox this past season.
In attendance at URI on Tuesday night were PawSox chairman Larry Lucchino, team president Dr. Charles Steinberg, team general manager Dan Rea, and Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien.
The next hearing is Oct. 11 at the New England Institute of Technology, East Greenwich campus. Prior to the start of Tuesday’s meeting, Conley announced that a Senate Finance Committee meeting that will wrap up the entire hearing process is scheduled for Oct. 24 at the Statehouse.