State, Pawtucket and PawSox officials seeking McCoy Stadium study

A REQUEST for proposals is being sought for a study of McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket and the surrounding area by the Pawtucket Red Sox and city and state officials. / COURTESY PAWTUCKET RED SOX
A REQUEST for proposals is being sought for a study of McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket and the surrounding area by the Pawtucket Red Sox and city and state officials. / COURTESY PAWTUCKET RED SOX

(Updated 2:12 p.m.)
PAWTUCKET – A request for proposals is being sought for a study of McCoy Stadium and the surrounding area by the Pawtucket Red Sox and city and state officials.
The 74-year-old home of the PawSox is expected to be studied for several months to determine the cost and improvements needed to bring the stadium in line with state-of-the-art AAA ballparks.
Interested firms are encouraged to view the RFP, which will be issued by the R.I. Department of Administration, on the Division of Purchases website at www.purchasing.ri.gov. It is expected to be posted sometime this week, according to information from the PawSox.
McCoy Stadium is owned by the city of Pawtucket, and leased to the state. PawSox spokesman Bill Wanless said the PawSox lease at McCoy Stadium runs through the 2020 season.
The firm selected to conduct the study will review conditions at McCoy Stadium and the surrounding area, survey trends in professional ballparks, create a list of repairs and improvements needed at the stadium, and detail a final report featuring the cost and preferred design of an improved ballpark. The selected firm will work closely with representatives of the state, city and the PawSox throughout the process.
PawSox Vice Chairman Mike Tamburro said the study is a continuation of an initiative that began two years ago when the PawSox extended its lease of McCoy Stadium.
“As part of that lease extension, the state, the city and the PawSox agreed to commission and fund jointly a study of McCoy Stadium. And while those plans were put on hold following the sale of the team and the tragic passing of Jim Skeffington last year, I’m very pleased to see them coming to fruition now,” he said.
Mayor Donald R. Grebien said the study will help determine the “full potential” of McCoy going forward.

“I am excited about the renewed commitment and growing partnership we continue to build. This study provides a road map to ensure that the family-friendly, affordable brand of PawSox baseball can be enjoyed by the people of Pawtucket and Rhode Island for generations to come,” Grebien said.
In February 2015, the PawSox’s new ownership group, which includes Chairman Larry Lucchino, took over the franchise from the Mondor family, which had owned it for approximately 40 years. Soon after, the new owners announced a controversial proposal to build a new stadium in Providence. The proposal, which asked for state and city subsidies, was scrapped after public opposition.

Lucchino told attendees at the Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce annual dinner earlier this year that the team was re-committing itself to minor league baseball in Pawtucket.

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2 COMMENTS

  1. The PawSox owners should pay to make improvements in McCoy Stadium and make it look more like Fenway Park. If McCoy Stadium was made a part of the new Blackstone River Valley National Park federal National Park funds would become available to make improvements in the stadium. The state of Rhode Island and the city of Pawtucket should work with the federal government to improve the roads near McCoy Stadium, to improve the P&W right of way that passes by McCoy Stadium to provide a dedicated shuttle trains service from Worcester to downtown Providence via the East Side Railroad Tunnel and to improve the infrastructure that will serve the new Blackstone River Valley National Park. The state of Rhode Island and the city of Providence should work with the federal government and the new National Park to restore the Blackstone Canal over the four mile distance from Union Station to the Peter Pan Bus terminal. Working with the federal government will reduce the amount of local and state funds needed. Thousands of tourists would come to Rhode Island to visit the new National Park, to ride a canal boat replica that transported the goods produced during the Industrial Revolution in the early 19th century and to attend an International League baseball game at McCoy Stadium.

  2. Proposals from private firms are not a good idea. The new owners of the PawSox should seek input for the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council and the Pawtucket Foundation. In addition the PawSox should seek input from the PawSox fans. A private firm will be trying to please the local politicians and the PawSox owners. Proposals from the Tourism Council, the Foundation and the fans will make this effort a community affair and produce ideas that will please the people attending the PawSox games.