The new president of the Pawtucket Red Sox, James Skeffington. Photo by Steve Klamkin, WPRO News.
By Sam Wroblewski, 630wpro.com
New Pawtucket Red Sox President James Skeffington says he and the new owners are committed to keeping the team in Rhode Island and want to make a modern ballpark for the Ocean State.
The 10-owner group led by Skeffington and Red Sox President Larry Lucchino plan to construct a new park along the Providence riverfront on a section of the former I-195 land, according to Skeffington. The land in question is owned by both Brown University and the state.
Skeffington said the motivation behind moving the Triple A team is twofold: to give the team a new modern facility to practice and play in, and to make baseball games more accessible to Rhode Islanders via public transit.
“We’re going to make every effort to make sure this ballpark is something all Rhode Islanders can be proud of,” said Skeffignton.
The new ballpark is intended to be a multi-use facility that will house concerts, festivals and collegiate sports in addition to the Sox. Skeffington said they he and others have not had a chance to examine the plot of land, and still need to do their due diligence to see if it soil can support a ballpark.
“It’s a very tight, narrow site,” said Skeffington, “Picture a ballpark right down there and the right field wall is on the river bed, so any home runs go in the Providence river.”
Skeffington said he and the other owners have considered renovating McCoy stadium in Pawtucket to meet the needs of the players and modern Triple A baseball, but that it was costly.
The new stadium would be designed and constructed largely out of private funds, but the group hopes to have a similar leasing agreement to that of McCoy stadium.
“We would envision the same type of lease format that will provide some state and local support,” he said.
Moving the team out of Pawtucket would also mean a new name, said Skeffington, who proposed “Rhode Island Red Sox.” But, he said he doesn’t want to change the successful formula longtime PawSox owner Ben Mondor used to make the team a staple in Rhode Island.
“We want to make this affordable, convenient, [and] friendly,” said Skeffington.
Skeffington said if the plan is successful, a new stadium will be open for April of 2017 at the earliest.
