Local officials, fans react to ‘devastating’ news
PAWTUCKET – There is no joy in Pawtucket, the PawSox are moving out.
That appeared to be the sentiment from officials across Pawtucket and northern Rhode Island, as the Pawtucket Red Sox – the franchise that has called the venerable McCoy Stadium its home for decades – announced on Friday that a letter of intent had been signed to build a ballpark in Worcester, which would open in 2021.
Robert Billington, the president and chief executive officer of the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, said losing the PawSox was “ab- solutely devastating for many, many reasons.”
“Anywhere but Pawtucket would be bad for the city and now we realize they’re going up to Worcester. Great for them, horrible for us,” he said. “It continues to erode the economic plan.”
“Things haven’t been coming together for Pawtucket but this would have been a crowning achievement,” he said. “There would have been a riverfront stadium, the river has been trying to realize proper recreational development and use. It’s been slow, there’s been some progress, but this would have really kicked it into high gear.”
As the head of the valley’s tourism council, Billington said he understands what will be lost when the PawSox depart – a few million dollars a year in state revenue, 500,000 fans a year traveling into the city, and now an empty stadium.
“Any travel from outside the city creates an economic ecosystem that has always been important to the city. I couldn’t be more disappointed. We’ve tried to do everything in our power…” he said. “We’ve spent 40 years trying to retrieve a downtown, this could have been that, what everyone looks for … It was Pawtucket’s chance.”
Billington also said that in the immediate aftermath of Friday’s announcement, the council has no backup plan for how to capture the lost tourism after the PawSox depart.
“Our plan A was to get behind this effort, get the stadium built right next to Slater Mill, what a winning combination it could have been,” he said. “We don’t have a good plan B … Opportunities like this do not come along in everyone’s lifetime, it just does not happen. This was a good one and I don’t know of a plan B right now. But we are resilient.”
The PawSox will continue to play at McCoy Stadium for the 2019 and 2020 seasons, as the Worcester ballpark is being built, team officials said.
John Gregory, the chief executive officer of the Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce, said he was “very, very disappointed” by Friday’s news and losing out on the potential of what could have been with a new downtown Pawtucket ballpark.
“A lot of us put in a lot of time to see if we could assure we could get a new ballpark in downtown Pawtucket,” Gregory said. “It was one of the biggest economic development projects in the northern Rhode Island area. It didn’t happen and so now it’s like, what’s next? What are we going to do to help revitalize downtown Pawtucket?”
Answering that question, Gregory said: “It’ll be interesting to see, once the dust settles we might have a better indication.”
“I think that people do realize the revitalization of downtown has to happen around the Apex site. I’m not sure exactly what the mayor’s plans are. I don’t know, maybe it becomes a corporate headquarters for somebody,” he said. “That’s not to diminish the disappointment in losing an iconic business. Like many other people, four generations of Gregory’s have gone to PawSox games.”
The emotional toll of losing the PawSox to Massachusetts could hurt Rhode Islanders just as much as the financial side, Gregory said.
“Obviously, there’s an initial impact, we’re all emotional. There’s been a lot of pride that we had a professional team here. That’s been one of the souls of Pawtucket. So what’s next? I think that’s what we’ll have to figure out. At this point it is what it is and one of my favorite quotes is ‘There’s a reason that the windshield is bigger than the rearview.’’
Gregory also said that he anticipates there will be little to no difference in how the PawSox and Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce have interacted, even as the franchise announced their departure from Rhode Island.
“Our relationship is the same as any member, we’re there to help improve the business climate, there to promote business,” he said. “I’ve had no indication our relationship will be severed because they’re making the move. As CEO, I’ve had a 26-year relationship with the PawSox, at this point I don’t see anything changing.”
Grebien: City will move forward
In a statement issued Friday evening, Pawtucket Mayor Donald R. Grebien said “The PawSox do not make Pawtucket. Pawtucket made the PawSox.”
“The city I am proud and honored to represent is made great by our resilient community and, no matter what challenge we face, Pawtucket will continue to move forward toward an even brighter future,” Grebien said. “I know many of my neighbors in Pawtucket and throughout Rhode Island are struggling today with the sudden news of this treasured piece of the fabric of our community being ripped out of its rightful home.”
“While unclear if the Massachusetts subsidies are truly a done deal, no matter what Pawtucket will pursue other innovative ways to invest in our quality of life, as a community and with our fellow Rhode Islanders,” the mayor continued. “Our community has a strong history of persevering. And, together, we will forge ahead to a brighter tomorrow.”
“Up until Thursday night, and for the last three years, the City of Pawtucket and the State of Rhode Island had been working with the PawSox to keep this treasured institution, and the jobs associated with it, here in Pawtucket where they belong,” the mayor said. “Sadly, we had to learn through media reports, like everyone else, that the ownership group had decided to take our team and move it to Worcester in light of substantial subsidies provided by Worcester and the State of Massachusetts.”
Unlike in Pawtucket, where the ballpark financing had to be vetted by the House and State Senate, the stadium project in Worcester is subject to the approval of Worcester’s City Council, as well as the International League and Minor League Baseball.
The stunning news left area residents in varying stages of emotions – from shock to frustration.
Wendy Jencks of Cumberland, said the PawSox have been “a big attraction for the city of Pawtucket and the state of Rhode Island. And it’s not going to be readily replaceable.”
Bernadette Vaughan, an East Providence resident, said “we’re seriously bummed.”
“I take my son several times a season, it’s good for him to see major league players rehabbing, otherwise he would not see them play because it’s rare that we go to Fenway (Park),” she said. “It’s too bad, especially for Pawtucket residents.”