Rhode Island
Pawtucket's “Most Expensive” Soccer Stadium Nears Completion
Pawtucket, Rhode Island’s Tidewater Landing soccer stadium is expected to be ready in time for the 2025 season, but not without a heaping helping of controversy.
Plans for the 10,500-seat stadium, home to the minor league soccer team Rhode Island FC, were announced in 2019. However, WPRI reports the project’s price tag “has climbed so much in the years since that it’s now poised to be the most expensive minor league soccer stadium in the country.”
The station reports, “The revelation that taxpayers will pay $132 million over 30 years in order to fund $27 million of construction costs for the Pawtucket soccer stadium is causing sticker shock all over Rhode Island.”
The Rhode Island Current says developers blame inflation, “supply chain slowdowns, and rising interest rates” for the project’s rising costs.
Retail and office space, 500 housing units, parking, and infrastructure improvements were a part of the original design plan.
Rhode Island FC, part of the United Soccer League, is playing its first season at Beirne Stadium at Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island. The team’s permanent home, Tidewater Landing, is located along the banks of the Pawtucket River.
WPRI says the stadium project funding arrangement has drawn sharp criticism from national media sources such as Bloomberg which referred to the cost of the bonds as “eye-popping,” and The Wall Street Journal, which called the stadium project “dubious.”
State officials have defended the project as an investment in the future.
The current season opened at home on March 16, 2024, against New Mexico and concludes at home on October 26, 2024 against Miami.
Here’s Your Chance to Own the Bank: Historic Building in Pawtucket on the Market for $749K
Originally built in 1901 for Providence County Savings Bank, the historic building in Pawtucket has some serious curb appeal on Main Street. Let’s take a look inside.
Gallery Credit: Maddie Levine
First Look: Maven’s Delicatessen to Bring Authentic Jewish Cuisine to Pawtucket
After months of preparation, Maven’s Delicatessen is just about ready to open its doors and offer homemade, authentic Jewish food, right from the owner Jason Sugarman’s recipe book. Maddie got a first look at the new spot in Pawtucket, and it promises a cozy environment with delicious menu items.
Gallery Credit: Maddie Levine
Rhode Island
Dr. Seuss Drew Ads for Rhode Island's Narragansett Beer
In the 1970s, you could walk into any bar or tavern in Massachusetts and Rhode Island and order a “Narry” or a “Gansett,” and before long, you’d be wiping away a foam-head mustache while guzzling your Narragansett beer.
Narragansett was once the No. 1-selling beer in New England. Big changes in the beer brewing industry and changes within the Narragansett Brewing Company have resulted in the brew occupying a much smaller segment of the beer-brewing market.
Narragansett Beer was originally brewed in a brick brewhouse in Cranston, Rhode Island.
The Narragansett Brewing Company website says, “In 1890, six German immigrants came together with $150,000 to construct this building and start Narragansett Beer. Less than a decade later, Narragansett Beer was the largest-selling beer in New England.”
Ownership changes, court battles and company relocations negatively impacted the Narragansett product name. In 2005, a group of Rhode Island businessmen attempted to reinvigorate the Narragansett name.
In 2016, it was announced that Narragansett was returning to Rhode Island. A new generation of Narragansett Beer was brewed in Pawtucket the following year. The Narragansett Brewing Company is now located in Providence.
In the first half of the last century, Narragansett Beer was a primary sponsor of Boston Red Sox baseball broadcasts during which announcer Curt Gowdy coined the slogan, “Hi neighbor, have a ‘Gansett.”
Narragansett Beer was featured in several films, including Jaws, parts of which were filmed in Massachusetts.
During World War II, Springfield, Massachusetts native Theodor Seuss Geisel, later known as Dr. Seuss, created advertising lithographs with a character named “Chief Gansett,” to promote Narragansett Beer.
The lithographs appeared on posters, trays and other promotional products.
Geisel’s father and grandfather operated a brewery in Springfield until it was forced to close under prohibition.
Dr. Suess And His Unorthodox Taxidermy
Dr. Suess and His Unorthodox Taxidermy
Gallery Credit: Bejay Lindseth
Pictures of Dr. Suess Park in Texas
This is a must visit park for all Dr. Suess fans.
Gallery Credit: Billy Jenkins
Rhode Island
Hasbro could move headquarters to Boston from Rhode Island, report says
BOSTON – Toy and game maker Hasbro is looking at moving its headquarters from Rhode Island to downtown Boston, according to a new report.
The Boston Business Journal cited “several real estate sources” in reporting that Hasbro, which is currently based in Pawtucket, recently toured multiple Boston office buildings. The sources also said Hasbro could relocate to the suburbs of Boston.
The company that makes Monopoly, Dungeons & Dragons and Play-Doh is said to be looking for a large block of office space between 200,000 and 250,000 square feet.
Hasbro comments on reports of potential move to Boston
In a statement to WBZ-TV, Hasbro did not confirm or deny that it is weighing a move to Boston.
“As Hasbro continues to evolve, we’re exploring options for our global headquarters to make sure it is a space that can best serve our employees, partners, and business needs for years to come,” chief communications officer Bertie Thomson said. “We’re taking our time, evaluating all options that can best support our team’s creativity and innovation, and will share updates on our progress. Regardless of the outcome and location, we remain committed to our history – not leaving it behind, but building on it.”
Hasbro moving out of Providence office
Hasbro said last December it was laying off about 20% of its workforce, or 1,100 employees amid toy sales that were softer than anticipated during 2023.
The company also said at the time it would not renew its lease on its office in Providence and workers would be moved to the headquarters in Pawtucket.
Hasbro was founded in Providence more than 100 years ago.
Another major toymaker, Lego, is moving its headquarters from Connecticut to Boston’s Boylston Street in 2025.
Rhode Island
Person killed near Dupont Circle, police look for trio in white vehicle
A person is dead after a shooting early Monday in Washington, D.C.’s Dupont Circle neighborhood, and officers are looking for three potential suspects, police said.
Officers responded to reports of a shooting in the 1700 block of Rhode Island Ave. NW about 4:35 a.m.
Officers found a male victim with a gunshot wound, police said. He was unconscious and was not breathing, police said.
Homicide investigators were called to the scene. News4 is working to learn more about the victim.
Police said they were looking for three people who drove off in a white vehicle while wearing black clothing and ski masks.
There could be impacts to traffic while police investigate.
Stay with News4 for more on this developing story.
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