My condolences to Rhode Island residents who are sad about losing the Pawtucket Red Sox. As someone who grew up in Worcester I am no stranger to the feeling of losing a team you care about. Worcester has lost a few AHL franchises, the Ice Cats and the Sharks, but neither team had the tenure and the history that the Paw Sox have had being in Pawtucket since 1973. While it is a major loss for the state of RI, it’s a major gain for central Massachusetts who emphatically deserves a team of this caliber.
To understand why the Paw Sox are leaving RI you need to look at a few things: aging facilities, declining attendance, and a unique opportunity in Worcester.