Red Sox President & CEO Larry Lucchino and Pawtucket Red Sox President James Skeffington said that negotiations "have just begun over the proposed public subsidies and tax breaks" to relocate the Triple-A Int’l League team to Providence, according to Kate Bramson of the PROVIDENCE JOURNAL. The PawSox owners “want about 9 1/2 acres" in Providence, and "offered to consider buying the land they want from the state" in a letter delivered to Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo last weekend. Lucchino said any other potential changes to the team's request "remain to be seen." Lucchino: "I don't think this is the proper forum for us to engage in negotiations." He declined to "provide financial details about the team, how much owners are willing to pay to build the stadium or how much equity they've invested.” The PawSox are seeking $5M a year in state payments over 30 years “for a lease-sublease arrangement.” They have said that they will “pay the state back” $1M each year. They also estimate that the state payments of $4M a year “would be reduced by an estimated” $2.4M in taxes “generated by visitors to the ballpark.” Skeffington said that they “didn't study how much taxes are now generated by McCoy Stadium activities.” But Lucchino said that they “will determine that figure” (PROVIDENCE JOURNAL, 4/28). Lucchino told the members of the I-195 Redevelopment District Committee, “I can promise you this will be a gem of a ballpark.” Lucchino and Skeffington said that the ballpark “would generate” $12.3M annually for the city and state. But the AP reported some commissioners “were skeptical.” Rhode Island Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor said that the commission "would need to further review the proposal to make sure it’s 'fair for Rhode Islanders'" (AP, 4/27).
