McCoy Stadium: What's Next After The PawSox Leave?

PAWTUCKET, RI — With the Pawtucket Red Sox poised to leave Rhode Island for Worchester, Massachusetts, one looming question remains: what's next for McCoy stadium? On Friday, the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation released six proposals for the historic ball park, which has been a local landmark since its completion in 1942. The Commerce Corporation issued a call for proposals in early April.

"We are very pleased with the number and apparent quality of the proposals we’ve received,"
said Rhode Island Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor. "We look forward to working with Mayor
Grebien and his team to review these proposals, narrow them down, and pursue next steps."

Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien praised the proposals, saying they show a continued interest in investing in the city.

"The City appreciates the initiative and leadership role Commerce RI has taken with the request for proposal process," Grebien said. "The number of responses continue to show that Pawtucket is a desirable location for development and that there is a clear interest for investors to come to the city. We look forward to working with Commerce to review and evaluate the six proposals."

Here are the six proposals for the future of McCoy stadium.

1. AJAX Advisors, LLC is proposing to bring professional sports to Pawtucket with independent professional soccer in a new stadium in Downtown Pawtucket and the conversion of McCoy into a light industrial use.
2. Brett Johnson, Fortuitous Partners is proposing to bring a professional sports team – United Soccer League franchise – to downtown Pawtucket and envisions construction of a multi-sport stadium and ancillary and sport related development. The proposal includes a renewed use for the existing McCoy baseball stadium site. A new recreational park is proposed with six new multipurpose fields that can be used for soccer, lacrosse, or football.
3. Frank Boulton is proposing to bring Atlantic League professional baseball to McCoy Stadium.
4. Level Exchange is proposing the creation of a hub centered around the music industry in Pawtucket, seeing this as an opportunity to foster the growth of the multifaceted creative community. In addition to infrastructure to support the entertainment industry, this approach would include all other aspects needed to sustain such a live-work-play area.
5. Minor League Baseball for Pawtucket: Minor League Baseball for Pawtucket, a group of local Rhode Island business leaders and community members, want to explore with the City of Pawtucket and the State of Rhode Island the possibility of continuing the rich tradition of affiliated, Minor League Baseball in Pawtucket. Preserving community involvement and providing, affordable, family entertainment in the State of Rhode Island are the groups’ priorities.
6. Native Waters Investment, LLC: is proposing to construct a Family Entertainment Center and Riverfront Park in Pawtucket. The Family Entertainment Center and Riverfront Park will be located on approximately twenty-five acres of land in the I-95 corridor. Some features of the Entertainment Center could include an indoor mega coaster, children’s play park, rock climbing wall, overhead zip-line course, bowling alleys, a 7D theater, a variety of restaurants and retail outlets and a riverboat hotel.