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Post by soxfanatic on Feb 23, 2015 6:48:59 GMT -5
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Post by philsbosoxfan on Feb 23, 2015 7:31:41 GMT -5
Surprising to some extent. Also makes you wonder what Hartford Conn. is building a new stadium to do.
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Post by taftreign on Feb 23, 2015 8:14:24 GMT -5
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Post by The Town Sports Cards on Feb 23, 2015 8:47:08 GMT -5
Article says the team was bought by "Luchhino and R.I. based owners", so it's likely not leaving the state, probably want to move to Providence as part of a bigger tourist attraction. I remember a quote that they wanted to make a part of Providence like a mini Patriot Place, just built around a baseball stadium instead of Gillete.
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Post by moonstone2 on Feb 23, 2015 10:28:23 GMT -5
Article says the team was bought by "Luchhino and R.I. based owners", so it's likely not leaving the state, probably want to move to Providence as part of a bigger tourist attraction. I remember a quote that they wanted to make a part of Providence like a mini Patriot Place, just built around a baseball stadium instead of Gillete. I think that would be great. Providence already has the Waterfire which is a great summer event. Adding baseball to that would only make it better.
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wcp3
Veteran
Posts: 3,824
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Post by wcp3 on Feb 23, 2015 10:56:05 GMT -5
I'd feel bad for the Pawtuckets residents who have really embraced the PawSox over the years, but relocating the team to Providence makes a whole lot of business sense.
A team in Hartford would be cool, too.
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Post by philsbosoxfan on Feb 23, 2015 11:07:29 GMT -5
By John Tomase Say goodbye to baseball in Pawtucket.
According to the Providence Journal, the new owners of the Red Sox‘ Triple A affiliate plan to relocate to Providence. The mayor of Pawtucket said he’s devastated.
“I can’??t tell you half of what they said, because when they said, ‘It’??s not going to be Pawtucket,’ that just took the air out of the room,” Mayor Donald Grebien said.
The new owners of the team haven’t been identified. fullcount.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/2015/02/23/report-pawtucket-red-sox-moving-to-providence/
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Post by jimed14 on Feb 23, 2015 11:10:24 GMT -5
Wow, I knew they've been in Pawtucket a long time, but didn't realize it has been since 1972.
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Post by theolearyfactor on Feb 23, 2015 11:11:33 GMT -5
Out with the PawSox, in with the... ProSox?
I grew up going to games in Pawtucket so the nostalgia factor makes this hurt but there is nothing else to do in that city so it makes sense. McCoy is surrounded by gravel parking lots and little else, so there is no reason to stop at places before/after games. A Providence move is interesting, but I'm weary about how it will affect traffic.
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Post by futurefenwaystars on Feb 23, 2015 11:20:17 GMT -5
I'm still skeptical that this is going to happen. Where in Providence is there sufficient space to build a ballpark, parking lots, and other destination attractions? And what money is going to be used to build the stadium? After Studio 38, I think that the Rhode Island taxpayers might be quite cynical about getting into financial bed with Red Sox royalty.
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Post by philsbosoxfan on Feb 23, 2015 11:39:04 GMT -5
Ted Nesi ?@tednesi 1h1 hour ago Spoke to a source w/ direct knowledge of deal. It's Murray + Ryan + Skeffington + Lucchino + Fenway + more? And Pawtucket has no shot.
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Post by futurefenwaystars on Feb 23, 2015 11:52:37 GMT -5
My other question: who moves into McCoy? Any chance they can steal an Eastern League or NYPL team?
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Post by ancientsoxfogey on Feb 23, 2015 12:27:37 GMT -5
My other question: who moves into McCoy? Any chance they can steal an Eastern League or NYPL team? Two thoughts: (1) Would the Sox move Salem or Greenville to Pawtucket in the future? (2) The Yankees move their AAA club to Pawtucket. Wouldn't that be a AAA rivalry now??!!
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Post by mredsox89 on Feb 23, 2015 12:32:18 GMT -5
Unless I'm mistaken, the Sox/AAA Sox would have to grant permission to any other team to move into Pawtucket since they'll own the regional rights. And I have a hard time believing they'll grant those rights if the other ballpark is a 10 minute drive away
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Post by marrcus on Feb 23, 2015 13:26:33 GMT -5
Surprised this has been kept so quiet. I would imagine it would either go to area where the Projo production facility is located or the Gano St area near the water but it's going to involve a lot of $$$ for a AAA team)?
The McCoy improvements weren't that old? And it's 12 min's away from Prov. Interesting to hear the logic for this new plan?
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Post by JackieWilsonsaid on Feb 23, 2015 14:10:03 GMT -5
There are a couple of major parcels created by the movement of 95 directly downtown on the river.
It will be interesting to see how creative they get with the actual stadium but with the timetable Devers fdingers into the water in2017 might be a possibility.
Obviously they lined up very deep pockets so the investment around the stadium from Wickenden at n to south main when across to the actual stadium location has tons of walking distance possiblities'
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Post by jchang on Feb 23, 2015 14:17:28 GMT -5
Greenville and Salem both have great stadiums. As much as Portland is a great city, the stadium is not up to par with A/A+. I have not been to McCoy, but if its better than Portland, that would be the more practical move.
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Post by marrcus on Feb 23, 2015 14:25:29 GMT -5
"Skeffington and Boston Red Sox president Larry Lucchino headline a group of investors already six weeks and $200,000 into studies that will determine the feasibility of the I-195 land for a 10,000-seat stadium (Washington Bridge and the vacant I-195 land alongside the Providence River).
He described a ballpark situated in such a way that the Providence skyline would be visible over the left-field wall and that home runs over the right-field wall would land in the Providence River." Projo
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Post by nhdave on Feb 23, 2015 14:33:20 GMT -5
Unless I'm mistaken, the Sox/AAA Sox would have to grant permission to any other team to move into Pawtucket since they'll own the regional rights. And I have a hard time believing they'll grant those rights if the other ballpark is a 10 minute drive away agreed, Territorial rights are strong, that NH pays a large fee to the sox every year to be within the territory. It would be a loser for a future owner to pay both a rights fee, and also market against a nearby sox affiliated team. would LOVE a new stadium in Providence... one of the coolest parts about minor league baseball is being close to the players and that tall wall doesn't help the fan experience at all. I think the sox know that as well. the Carolina and South Atlanta League would in no way allow the sox to move their affiliate to New England. You just can't move a team which causes a logistical hassle for every other team in the league... The Hartford location I believe is earmarked to host the New Britain Rock Cats.
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Post by JackieWilsonsaid on Feb 23, 2015 14:35:10 GMT -5
I can easily picture that and it would be great site lines!
Maybe this means travers or a great lefty bat at 6 this years.
That also would make the bulk of the stadium and support like vending and parking towards the old downtown area.
Follow the trail of land options in that direction and I'm assuming the partners already have developments lined up.
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Post by futurefenwaystars on Feb 23, 2015 15:13:57 GMT -5
We'll see how this all plays out. I'm just going to make an early prediction and guess that attendance and revenue will decline if the Paw Sox move to Providence.
I've been a partial season ticket holder for six years now. I grew-up in Attleboro and loved going to Paw Sox games as a kid. Talking to fans who go to McCoy, lots of them live in the Attleboro, North Attleboro, Mansfield, Foxboro, Rehobeth area and McCoy is a quick and easy ride south. Add in the horrible traffic on 95 once you hit Providence and I bet that lots of those Massachusetts fans go to fewer games each year, if at all.
Then there's the parking situation. Parking at McCoy is free. Does anybody think that parking at the new field in Providence will be free? I doubt it. The Providence-metro area is not wealthy, and a lot of the Paw Sox fan base is lower-middle to middle class. The extra few dollars for parking, extra few dollars for tickets, and extra few dollars for concessions will all add-up pretty quick.
I think that this whole move is going to end-up being bad for business, and bad for baseball in Rhode Island.
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Post by Chris Hatfield on Feb 23, 2015 15:21:05 GMT -5
McCoy is adequate as a park. It's not great. It's not bad.
Now, the surrounding area, on the other hand, is not great. Not crime-wise, but there's just nothing there. There is nothing nearby - a great little dive bar, but that's it. Parking is kind of a mess too. To give you an idea, my guess is that the stadium gets leveled and they replace it with a warehouse. It's that kind of area. For a family catching a game, you don't hang out in Pawtucket before or after. You just watch the game then leave.
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wcp3
Veteran
Posts: 3,824
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Post by wcp3 on Feb 23, 2015 21:10:04 GMT -5
Greenville and Salem both have great stadiums. As much as Portland is a great city, the stadium is not up to par with A/A+. I have not been to McCoy, but if its better than Portland, that would be the more practical move. Portland is a freakin' awesome city in the summer. Moving the Sea Dogs from there would be a mistake.
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Post by nhdave on Feb 23, 2015 21:20:22 GMT -5
Greenville and Salem both have great stadiums. As much as Portland is a great city, the stadium is not up to par with A/A+. I have not been to McCoy, but if its better than Portland, that would be the more practical move. Portland is a freakin' awesome city in the summer. Moving the Sea Dogs from there would be a mistake. hadlock is pretty good... but it's the organization, the fan base, kickass mascot, and the support of the community which makes it stand out..
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Post by philsbosoxfan on Feb 24, 2015 0:40:39 GMT -5
Per the Globe:
PawSox to remain in Pawtucket for at least two years The $20 million sale of the team to a group of investors led by Red Sox president Larry Lucchino has been completed.
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