Work Halts On Tidewater Landing Stadium Project
Work Halts On Tidewater Landing Stadium Project
Work at Rhode Island FC’s Tidewater Landing stadium has stopped after the announcement that the team will play its inaugural season at Beirne Stadium of Bryant University in 2024.
Work at Rhode Island FC’s Tidewater Landing stadium has stopped after the announcement that the team will play its inaugural season at Beirne Stadium of Bryant University in 2024. The stoppage comes after Pawtucket withheld $27 million in promised public funding due to “uncertain financial conditions” in February.
The team projects that the stadium will finish construction in time for the 2025 season. Still, the news will worry supporters who expected to be watching soccer in the first purpose-built soccer-specific stadium in New England come next March.
WPRI 12 reported the stoppage on June 21st and quoted union leader Michael Sabitoni as saying “We knew this potentially would happen. That’s just how things roll.”
He added that he and the rest of the crew remained optimistic work would eventually resume, though at the moment they are switching their focus to other projects.
Mike Raia, Rhode Island FC’s spokesperson, was quoted by GoLocalProv as saying “In analyzing the work completed at the site to this stage and the amount of private funding already allocated to construction, this is an appropriate time to demobilize certain components of the construction while others continue.”
The stoppage comes as team owner Brett Johnson’s Fortuitous Partners has invested over $30 million in private investments into the project. The Boston Globe reported that they are seeking another $10 million in investment at this time.
Sabitoni praised that private investment, and encouraged the city to uphold its financial promises. “That’s why the city and state have to kick in at some point and make good on their obligations. Time is money. The longer you wait, things go up — the costs always go up in construction. Always.”
The team, the union, the city, and the state all maintain the work will resume shortly, and that they remain committed to seeing the project through. In the meantime, fans of Rhode Island FC excited to see professional soccer come to the Ocean State will certainly be waiting with bated breath.