By Sam Wroblewski 630wpro.com
Following the death of Pawtucket Red Sox President Jim Skeffington, the question on the mind of many is what will become of the PawSox stadium negotiations with the state now that the face of the proposal is gone? University of Rhode Island Professor Ed Mazze says with all the invested interest in the project, the show will going on.
“I would suspect there is going to be a quiet period, and then after the quiet period we’re going to see some other proposals,” said Mazze.
“These other proposals are going to have to be looked at in the same way they would’ve been looked at whether Mr. Skeffington was here or not.”
Skeffington and fellow owners of the PawSox had been in negotiations with the state after lawmakers panned their original proposal for taxpayers to contribute $4 million a year for 30 years to pay for a new stadium on the Providence River.
Skeffington’s energy and passion for the PawSox relocation had publically been the driving force behind the deal. With him gone, Mazze says another member of the team needs to take the mantle.
“Somebody is going to have to step forward if this project is going to continue; and I assume it is going to continue,” Mazze said.
In a statement, House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello expressed grief over the loss of Skeffington, but also seemed to hint the Providence attorney’s dream of the Rhode Island Red Sox was closer to reality.
“It is tragic that he did not live long enough to see his vision for the Pawtucket Red Sox come to fruition, but he left a legacy that will live on for generations to come,” said Mattiello.
The Associated Press reported on May 6 that the PawSox owners were already looking at different ways to structure the public-private partnership with the state to build and lease the stadium.
