Good luck to the taxpayers of Worcester who most certainly will be on the hook for the construction of a new stadium for Larry Lucchino et al. The city fathers capitulated to the real deal sought by the owners all along which would exonerate them from paying any of their personal funds after an initial investment since their share would be limited to whatever revenue is generated from the operation of the stadium and attendant projects around the stadium to pay for any bond.

While some folks in Rhode Island are weeping and gnashing their teeth over the Pawsox departure, the reality is that the taxpayers have dodged a big bullet. Rather than castigating House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello, Rhode Islanders should hail him for his refusal to put the taxpayers in the line of fire. Without the owners giving any personal guarantees, at least for their alleged portion of the payment of a bond, a future financial catastrophe for the state and Pawtucket citizens has been averted. Some folks around here never picked up on the fact that if the project was such a financial home run then the owners wouldn’t have had any worries about guaranteeing their portion. Yet, they did not.

You don’t have to take my word for it that a future financial fiasco has been averted. Studies have documented that after a honeymoon period of 2-3 years, the “newness” of a Triple A stadium wears off and attendance dips. Game attendance at International League games this year is currently at 4.9 percent lower compared to last year and 7.9 percent lower than 10 years ago. The Paw Sox average attendance has dipped 40 percent over 30 years. What would have been the attendance 30 years from now? Even major league baseball has had attendance drop in recent years unless the team was a strong pennant contender.

As has been pointed out endlessly by numerous analysts, entertainment dollars spent in one location cannibalize existing venues. Having dinner near a stadium means that a repast in Smithfield is passed over. Job creation is generally conflated. The Paw Sox had 20 full time employees. Yet, in Worcester the “talking points” call for 500 full time jobs in the stadium and attendant area of retail and hotels.

As noted by a former Worcester Sun reporter the document outlining the deal in Worcester doesn’t commit the owners to having a Triple A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Months ago, this column raised the concern that the so-called Rhode island "deal" didn’t have language to prevent the owners from flipping the franchise without the city/state approval.

Nostalgia is important as are fine memories of family trips. Sentiment, however, doesn’t translate into success. Otherwise, attendance wouldn’t have dropped off in Pawtucket and Benny’s would still be open.

Speaker Mattiello took a long hard look at the PawSox proposal sent over from the Senate. Fortunately for Rhode Island, his unjaundiced analysis at least put a backstop to the project. As also previously noted in a past column, Rhode Island could still have been on the hook, particularly with an incomplete stadium or the attendant failure of development if the project stalled.

Worcester seems poised to push the project thanks to an unwarranted euphoria. Better them than us.

Arlene Violet is an attorney and former Rhode Island Attorney General.