The new PawSox leadership group is no longer ruling out McCoy Stadium as the permanent home of the triple-a baseball team. However, the group offered scant details on any new stadium deal during a media introduction to their new leaders in the club house at McCoy Stadium Monday.
PawSox chairman Larry Lucchino declined to discuss plans to either keep the team in Pawtucket or move to a new city. He focused instead on introductions for new PawSox President, Dr. Charles Steinberg. He steps in following the unexpected death of former President Jim Skeffington.
Steinberg says the team plans to stay at McCoy Stadium through at least the 2016 season.
“I think that we know that we are here now,” said Steinberg. “And you know, we have baseballs, I don’t have a crystal ball, but it’s a wonderful game and it’s a wonderful opportunity for affordable family entertainment.”
Steinberg comes from the Boston Red Sox, where he’s coordinated events and developed outreach. That’s something the group plans to do in Rhode Island to grow crowds, which have declined in recent years at McCoy. Something the group readily acknowledged during the meeting.
Chairman Larry Lucchino said the group continues to review proposals for a possible move out of Pawtucket.
“Ideas as crazy as, ‘why don’t you put it in my backyard,’ to other, more established groups and entities and municipalities, but we’re not going to talk about that, other than to say we’re doing our due diligence,” said Lucchino.
The group embarked on an ill-fated attempt to secure a waterfront parcel of land for a 10,000 seat stadium in downtown Providence earlier this year. The proposal died, with lukewarm support from state lawmakers, and vocal opposition from residents. Other cities floated as possible host have included Worcester and Springfield Massachusetts.
Perhaps in a sign of mending fences, Pawtucket Mayor DonGrebienalso attended the announcement, though he did not speak. He has opposed efforts to move the team out of his city.
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