EDITORIAL: A Stadium Proposal That Could Actually Work

After nearly a decade of hucksters with proposals trying to squeeze Rhode Island taxpayers for tens of millions of dollars for stadium schemes that are dripping with self-profiting and with minimum benefits to the community, someone is finally offering a sports stadium concept with minimal financial risk for the public and plenty of upside.

This proposal brings minor league baseball back to Rhode Island.

On Sunday, GoLocal first reported that Art Solomon, a wildly successful local businessman with a track record of community philanthropy and success in owning minor league baseball, has an idea.

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The concept is to expand the Rhode Island College baseball facility from a few hundred to 3,500 seats. The state funds that expansion via a bond issue — and Solomon buys the team, pays the players, and handles the promotions.

The team would play in Major League Baseball’s “Draft League.” 

The season in that league runs from June through August and is a great feeder to the higher minors and majors. No cold April and May nights with a nearly empty stadium.

The upside is Rhode Island gets a minor league baseball team with a proven owner — he owns a team in New Hampshire (AA), he owned a team in Kentucky (A), and his children own the Hartford Yard Goats (AA) — maybe one of the all-time greatest names in sports.

The downside is Rhode Island pays for a really nice 9but not a really expensive stadium) for the RIC baseball team, and the high school state championships have a tremendous place to play. 

This is a proposal worth a hard look. Unlike other stadium concepts, this one appears to be void of hucksters and self-dealing.

Let the discussion begin.

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openresty