Pawtucket's latest effort to open a new pro sports stadium is moving forward.
Governor Dan McKee cast a tie-breaking vote on Monday night to have the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation approve a revised public financing deal for the stadium for which ground has been broken on the Seekonk River near I-95.
The deal allows the Tidewater Landing project to redirect taxpayer money which was previously earmarked for adjacent housing and commercial buildings.
Developer Fortuitous Partners and the mayor of Pawtucket appealed for more help paying for the stadium earlier this summer, claiming that costs had ballooned due to inflation and supply chain issues.
The latest cost estimates are in excess of an additional 40 million dollars.
Governor McKee told reporters after the meeting that he would not turn away from Pawtucket like others have.
That is a subtle jab at the Worcester Red Sox which were once of course the Pawtucket Red Sox.
No date for ground breaking have been announced.
(Photo provided by Fortuitous Partners)
Photo: Lauren Greene