Renderings for a new Providence ballpark to house the relocating Pawtucket Red Sox (Class AAA; International League) were released today, showing how the downtown waterfront could be transformed both physically and economically.
The proposed ballpark, featuring a new pedestrian bridge over the Providence River, would feature a signature ballpark item in the form of a center-field lighthouse and feature a retro look with brick exterior walls, exposed structural steel, and high arched openings. It would also feature the modern amenities fans expect in a ballpark these days: wraparound concourse, covered seating, picnic and barbeque areas, whiffle ball fields, and a grassy berm.
The 10,000-capacity ballpark would sit at the southwest corner of the site with home plate placed at the Dyer/Eddy/Ship Street intersection. The three-story structure, approximately 50 feet high, would open towards the northeast with left-field views of downtown Providence and right-field views of the Providence River and the historic East Side/Fox Point neighborhoods. The diamond would feature asymmetric dimensions, an intimate setting, with seats down low and close the field.
“We’ve worked diligently these past few months to first ensure the land we selected is appropriate for a ballpark,” said Pawtucket Red Sox President James Skeffington. “Once we learned that the site was an ideal location, we then turned our focus to designing and estimating the cost to build a state-of-the-art, community ballpark, and better understand the level of benefits it would reap for the state and city of Providence.
“The information we now have convinces us that our enthusiasm for this project and location is well-founded, and we believe this urban ballpark will be catalytic to further development within our capital city.”
“We have the opportunity to convert a unique parcel of urban land into a vibrant gathering place for people of all backgrounds,” said Pawtucket Red Sox Chairman Larry Lucchino. “We are experienced in the transformative powers that a well-placed ballpark can have; we believe we can make this happen here.”
Interestingly, the ballpark could also be used for other sports: full NCAA playing fields for football, soccer, and lacrosse.
The initial conceptual ballpark designs were created by DAIQ of Boston, Mass., which has served as the architect for Fenway Park’s improvements, and by Populous, of Kansas City, Mo., one of the nation’s leaders in ballpark development.
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