The bid by the private owners of the Triple-A Int'l League Pawtucket Red Sox for public subsidies to help build a new, $83M ballpark is about to get the "full attention of key Rhode Island lawmakers," according to Katherine Gregg of the PROVIDENCE JOURNAL. The Senate Finance Committee on Monday "announced a half-dozen public hearings on the PawSox' financing proposal," which will take place from Sept. 14 to Oct. 19. Soon after, House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello said that there would be a House Finance Committee hearing on the PawSox legislation, as well, at an "unspecified date 'in the near future.'" Gregg noted the first Senate hearing Sept. 14 will "center on an 'overview of the proposal' and public testimony." At later hearings, senators will "look at both the potential for 'ancillary development' around the new ballpark and the potential financial risks to the city and state." The Senate announced that it has also "established a website, www.PawSoxHearings.com, as a public repository." The PawSox and city of Pawtucket have "crafted a proposal for the team, the city and the state to share" the projected $83M cost to buy the Apex department store site in Pawtucket, or "take it under eminent domain, and build a new ballpark" (PROVIDENCE JOURNAL, 8/29). Rhode Island state Senate President Dominick Ruggerio said that he "hopes a proposal for a new ballpark for the Pawtucket Red Sox goes to the General Assembly for a vote in November." Ruggerio added that he "backs a November vote over waiting until January because it will help" the PawSox start work (BOSTON HERALD, 8/30).
FAN INPUT: Rhode Island Senator William Conley Jr. in a special to the PROVIDENCE JOURNAL writes under the header, "PawSox Hearings Give Citizens A Say." Conley: "We need to analyze all of the numbers fully and ensure that members of the public can make their voices heard. ... I am approaching the upcoming hearings not as a cheerleader for the proposal but as a steward of the taxpayers' dollars" (PROVIDENCE JOURNAL, 8/30). In Providence, Mark Patinkin addressing PawSox Chair Larry Lucchino writes, "It's not a great sign that the Senate felt compelled to go on the road with public hearings." The $83M ballpark proposal is a "hot potato" and the PawSox are committed to paying $45M of that, a "reportedly high ownership contribution." But only $12M has to be given "up front because the Pawtucket Redevelopment Agency is floating" $71M in bonds to come up with the rest of the cash. Taxpayers are staking the PawSox in a "big way and in their gut, they don't buy that every dime really will be paid back." Patinkin: "The PawSox ownership group would be wise to sweeten the deal" (PROVIDENCE JOURNAL, 8/30).
ANIMAL HOUSE: In Hartford, John Altavilla notes the Double-A Eastern League Hartford Yard Goats have been a "smashing success at the box office, far surpassing the expectations of ownership prior to the season." The team on Monday "welcomed its 18th straight sellout." It was the 38th time this season that the ballpark had been "sold out for a game." The Yard Goats have also "sold out 23 of their last 27 games over the summer." The team has "drawn 65,038 fans to the ballpark" just over the past three weekends. In their first 65 home dates, the Yard Goats "averaged 5,765 fans, third in the league" (HARTFORD COURANT, 8/30).
