Triple-A Int'l League Pawtucket Red Sox Chair Larry Lucchino on Monday said that negotiations between the team, city and state leaders now "center on building a 'publicly owned'" ballpark on one of two Pawtucket locations, according to Kate Bramson of the PROVIDENCE JOURNAL. Lucchino "declined to say" which location he prefers or how much taxpayer money "would be needed to replace the city-owned McCoy Stadium." Lucchino said the concept of a publicly owned ballpark is a "complete reversal" from the PawSox' failed '15 efforts to win public support for a privately owned ballpark. Bramson noted Monday was the "first time this year" Lucchino has spoken publicly about the ballpark. Lucchino said, "Our very strong preference is to stay home: The PawSox belong in Pawtucket, and that's where we want to be." However, he "didn't say when the team may take action." Lucchino: "There will be public participation, public debate" (PROVIDENCE JOURNAL, 4/4). In Providence, Bill Ballou notes the PawSox "could know by as early as this summer if the city and state are willing to fund a new ballpark, and there are reasonable doubts about that happening." If not, the team can "say it gave Rhode Island every chance but is left with no alternative than to look elsewhere." Ballou: "That elsewhere should start in Worcester" (PROVIDENCE JOURNAL, 4/5). Bramson in a front-page piece notes the team's efforts to replace the city-owned McCoy Stadium "already have sharply divided Rhode Islanders" (PROVIDENCE JOURNAL, 4/5).
