In Providence, Kate Bramson noted Rhode Island, Pawtucket and Triple-A Int'l League Pawtucket Red Sox negotiators "will not say how much each might commit" to building a new downtown ballpark. However, Gov. Gina Raimondo "has a ceiling" on the state’s contribution: $35M. This is the first time Raimondo has "publicly stated any dollar amount under consideration." Consultants have estimated it would take $35.6M to "cure structural deficiencies" at the 75-year-old McCoy Stadium -- or $68M to "fully renovate the ballpark to the level of other Triple-A stadiums around the country" (PROVIDENCE JOURNAL, 5/13).
CROSSTOWN TRAFFIC: In Atlanta, Dan Klepal reported Cobb County taxpayers are "paying county police officers overtime to direct traffic outside of the SunTrust Park development during games and special events, at an estimated cost of $900,000 per year." Traffic control is an "expense the Braves paid during their last eight seasons at Turner Field, and one the Falcons will pay when Mercedes-Benz Stadium opens this fall." Traffic management at Mercedes-Benz Stadium is estimated to cost $2.5M a year for "football games, soccer matches and special events" (AJC.com, 5/12).
ON KNIGHT WATCH: In Las Vegas, Steve Carp noted workers at T-Moble Arena are "still building" the Golden Knights' locker room, press box and team store. Golden Knights VP/Communications & Content Eric Tosi estimated that all of the projects are about 65% complete and that "everything will be finished on time." The team is "keeping the look" of the locker room a secret. Golden Knights Senior VP Murray Craven said, "It's not gigantic, but it checks all the boxes" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 5/14).
