Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo has thrown a little chin music at the new owners of the Pawtucket Red Sox, who hope to build a new ballpark in downtown Providence and relocate the minor league baseball franchise.
The owners, who include Providence attorney James Skeffington and Boston Red Sox president Larry Lucchino, called for $4 million a year in taxpayer money for 30 years.
"I would love it if the PawSox stayed in Rhode Island, and the idea of a multi-use stadium in downtown Providence is exciting. But it's my job to look out for Rhode Island taxpayers, and I take that job very seriously," Raimondo said in a statement April 27.
"From what I understand of the owners' initial proposal, it appears that Rhode Island taxpayers would pay most, if not all of the cost of building the new stadium, yet the owners would stand to receive all of the profits," she said. "That isn't fair for Rhode Islanders."
Raimondo said she, Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza and Senate President M. Teresa Paiva-Weed, D-Newport, would continue to discuss the proposal with team owners.
The ballclub is looking to use land south of downtown on land vacated by the relocation of Interstate 195.
