990WBOB
  • WBOB Radio
  • Crush Cancer
  • Past Casts
  • Weather
  • Contact
  • About
    • WBOB Press Releases
    • Join Our Team!
    • CHARITY GALA

We Lost the Ballgame

8/24/2018

Comments

 
Picture
Bob Giusti

Okay, a disclaimer here. I’m not the most intense baseball fan in New England. Don’t get me wrong, I adore the game and it’s rich history in my life, but I can’t name you stats and I forget players I should remember in a haze of years of disappointment and then elation.


My relationship with the Pawtucket Red Sox had deteriorated in the past two years, mostly over the threats they were making regarding leaving the state after 47 years, but in my youth and well into my adult years, I was fortunate enough to see some amazing baseball at McCoy Stadium. From the young startups that would become legends, to the major players sent down for rehab that you’d get to really see up close, and who could forget the longest recorded baseball game (June 23, 1981…33 innings…Sox beat Rochester Red Wings 3-2) right in Pawtucket. The Bucket. Poor Pawtucket. Never got the respect location wise. And McCoy could be a desolate destination. The surrounding area of ballpark was kind of bleak and underdeveloped.


According to the organization’s owner leadership (Lucky Larry Lucchino and Mike Tamburro) the attendance was declining at the facility and either major rehaul of the existing park or relocation to either another part of Pawtucket (the Apex area?) or Providence was needed.

But they couldn’t afford it without major state funding? Rhode Islanders were a bit incredulous of that proposal. Weren’t these guys loaded? In fact, in documents filed with the state back in 2016, the Pawsox listed their total assets at just $18,187,658. Total liabilities, $7,020,632; Members’ equity: $11,167,026 leaving a net equity of 11.2 million. Not really enough money to finance a professional sports facility let alone sustain dips in revenue.

The critics shouted, “Corporate welfare!!”. They were still bitter about Curt Schilling’s failed $75 million dollar 38 Studio’s venture and despite the fact that it was like comparing apples to oranges, the fact that Schilling was a baseball player seemed to somehow seem relevant. The detractors also enjoyed pointing out that municipal backed sports facility deals NEVER brought anywhere near the promised revenues, across the nation.

But what about the intangibles? Is it really all about profits derived at the facility itself? How much does our state capitol building (one of the most beautiful examples in the country) cost to maintain? We fund it without question because it is a symbol of Rhode Island pride and identity. What about the construction jobs that would have been generated? If the facility was built and located correctly, think of the ancillary tourist dollars it would have generated for hotels, restaurants and other supporting businesses. And how many AAA baseball teams are there? We will never see another team opportunity like this without spending even bigger dollars to lure them.

So that’s it. We got nothing. Pawtucket is going to have a big deteriorating hole left behind. Providence will continue to give tax subsidies to build more college and university facilities and building overpriced housing projects to attract and gentrify the city. Ever been to New Haven? It's got no city vibe at all.

Someone said that the Pawsox were like a beautiful, desirable woman waiting for a ring and one day just decided to move on to find someone that could provide a commitment. We really lost the ballgame on this one.

Read More 990WBOB

  • Celebrating David Clyde
  • Is Rhody Ready to Start a Ruckus on the Gridiron?
  • Feroce and Dickinson on Raimondo and Fung Avoiding Primary Gubernatorial Debates​
  • Patricia Morgan to 990WOB: "Allan Fung has Created this Myth Around his Leadership
Comments

    WBOB
    Original
    ​Reads

    Picture

    Unbiased, Unfiltered. WBOB's Original Reads feature our brightest and boldest personalities, offering their two-cents on the goings on of news, sports, politics, entertainment, and business. -- Are our opinions always PC? Nope. Are they always perfect? Nah. But, are they always 100% authentic? Absolutely!


    LISTEN
    ​TO WBOB ORIGINAL PODCASTS

    Picture
    Listen to
    ​Past BOBCasts

    WBOB 
    Best Reads
    Brought To You By
    TripAdvisor.com

    Picture

    Celebrating David Clyde: A Wild Passionate Friend To All


    Picture

    Search 
    The Archives


    Reads From Our Friends

    Picture

    The Best Game Development Tools: How to Make Your Own Game


    Contact Us
    [email protected]


    Archives

    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012

Search For Your Favorite WBOB Author,
​or BobCast

990WBOB 
An Independent Media Outlet.

The views opinions and thoughts expressed do not  reflect those of 990WBOB, its management or its staff. All Rights Reserved 990WBOB.com 2007-2020
​
Contact WBOB HERE
Photo from nzhamstar
  • WBOB Radio
  • Crush Cancer
  • Past Casts
  • Weather
  • Contact
  • About
    • WBOB Press Releases
    • Join Our Team!
    • CHARITY GALA