Work has officially commenced on a new United Soccer League stadium in the city of Pawtucket.
The $124m (£102m/€122m) stadium project was approved by the Rhode Island State Commerce board last month, with state Governor Dan McKee casting the deciding vote.
The project, which is being led by Fortuitous Partners, officially broke ground on Friday. Fortuitous Partners reached an agreement on a public-private partnership with the state and the City of Pawtucket, with more private dollars to be committed to the stadium than any other such project in the USL.
Pawtucket does not currently have a USL team but plans are in the works to create a name, logo and branding soon. It is hoped the stadium will be finished by 2024.
The multi-use stadium will serve as the anchor of a wide-ranging development that will also include housing, restaurants, retail and recreational services. It is hoped the project will support thousands of jobs and generate millions of dollars in tax revenue.
McKee has said that the project will require a 30-year commitment to field a USL Championship Division team. The stadium will be built near the Seekonk River on the site of a former coal gasification plant.
Following the groundbreaking, Brett Johnson, founder of Fortuitous Partners, said: “Today, we take a giant step forward in building an iconic sports and entertainment venue, and building a soccer club for Rhode Island.”
Image: USL
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