Sen. Sheehan Says Providence Ballpark Offers Glitz, not Jobs

Rhode Island State Sen. James C. Sheehan, like most Rhode Islanders, doesn’t want to see the Pawtucket Red Sox leave the Ocean State.

But a proposal from the new ownership group to move the team to open 195 land in Providence at the site of a planned public park offers glitz, but not much in the way of high-paying jobs.

“At the risk of offending sports fans, I would rather see a four-story building filled with hundreds of good jobs that pay well and support families than a ballpark that is going to be unused for more than half the year,” he said. “Yes, building a stadium will create many temporary construction jobs. Yes, having baseball in Providence will bring fans into the city, where they will also spend their money on area restaurants and stores.”

But, Sheehan said, “I do not believe that, when the I-195 land became available, the goal of developers was creating jobs for hotdog vendors and ticket takers for a few months of the year.”

Other legislators have offered support for the project, including Speaker of the House Nicholas Mattiello, who said that he will work ”collaboratively with the new owners of the team to help build an economic engine for our state and the capital city. ”

“It is disappointing they will be leaving Pawtucket, which has served as a great host city for decades, but I am mindful that the stadium is antiquated and that the new owners were seeking a destination venue that was not possible to build in the McCoy Stadium area,” Mattiello said.

Majority Leader Domenick Ruggierio said that he believes the location of a ballpark on the I-195 land “ould complement existing development efforts being made to benefit Providence and the state.”

“Throughout our work to provide for the redevelopment of the land, I have thought that a mixture of uses would make for the most vibrant district,” Ruggerio said. “This potential project could be a real economic boon for the area. I applaud the new owners’ efforts to keep the team in Rhode Island ensuring generations to come will continue to enjoy profession baseball in our state.”

What do you think about the plan?