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Pawtucket City Council to Consider PawSox Ballpark Plan

Pawsox Ballpark at Slater Mill rendering

On Tuesday, the Pawtucket City Council is expected to consider a resolution relating to a proposal for a new Pawtucket Red Sox (Class AAA; International League) ballpark. 

With the PawSox looking for a new home, local and state officials have been debating a proposal that calls for the team to move into a ballpark that would be constructed at the site of an Apex department store. The proposed funding model accounts for an $83-million project, with the PawSox contributing $45 million ($12 million upfront, the rest paybacks on money borrowed by the Pawtucket Redevelopment Agency), Rhode Island paying $23 million (with Pawtucket committed to paying the money back), and the city allocating $15 million.

State officials must continue to discuss the plan, but the Pawtucket City Council will consider a resolution over whether it supports Rhode Island approving the pending legislation for the ballpark. The vote is set to take place on Tuesday evening, and it remains to be seen whether or not the resolution will pass. More from The Providence Journal:

The council expects to vote on a proposed city resolution urging the General Assembly to authorize Pawtucket to bond up to $15 million for its portion of the stadium’s costs.

Council President David P. Moran, who called the meeting, said Monday that he’s “leaning in favor of supporting it.” He’d like the PawSox to stay in Pawtucket and he believes the council wants that, also. But “as far as how everyone is going to vote tomorrow night, I don’t have a crystal ball on that,” he said.

Councilman Timothy P. Rudd Jr. said he definitely wants to keep the PawSox in Pawtucket. But the way the resolution is written, he said, “I’m going to be voting no.”

Rudd said he knows one council member cannot make the meeting, “a couple are on the fence still, and there’s a couple, as I know, ‘no’ votes. … So if the council members that are on the fence go no, it could end up going 4-4.”

The vote will take place at a meeting that is scheduled to begin at 5:45 eastern time. Discussion over the PawSox’s future in Pawtucket continues as the team seeks a replacement for McCoy Stadium, where its lease will expire after the 2020 season.

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