SPORTS

Topgolf swings into construction

By ANDREW HART
Posted 7/27/22

Phase one of site work construction for the new 68,000 square foot Topgolf facility at 100 Sockanosset Cross Road in Cranston began July 27 with a ceremonial groundbreaking.

Gov. Dan Mckee, Mayor …

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SPORTS

Topgolf swings into construction

Posted

Phase one of site work construction for the new 68,000 square foot Topgolf facility at 100 Sockanosset Cross Road in Cranston began July 27 with a ceremonial groundbreaking.

Gov. Dan Mckee, Mayor Ken Hopkins, former Mayor Allan Fung, Topgolf Director of Real Estate Matt Smith and President & CEO of Carpionato Group Kelly Coates were in attendance at the event. 

The project, which has been in development since 2019, is expected to be completed in 2023. Topgolf has invested $33 million into the site along with $100 million from the Carpionato Group. The property was originally acquired by the Carpionato Group in 1997.

Site development also calls for infrastructure improvements — including reconstruction of the eastern section of Route 37, and the addition of a frontage road from Route 37 at Pontiac Avenue.

The infrastructure improvements were made possible by $70 million secured by Senator Jack Reed through the U.S. Department of Transportation and TIGER grants. These improvements will seek to restructure traffic flow and relieve congestion coming off of Route 37 with new entry and exit ways.

The sports entertainment facility is expected to infuse the local economy with upwards of $250 million over the next 10 years and hundreds of thousands of dollars of taxes yearly for the city.

The new development is expected to provide hundreds of jobs for the area, with priority being placed on citizens of Cranston. Franklin Paulino, Cranston’s director of economic development, said the Department of Labor and Training and a Topgolf job fair could be used to facilitate hiring.

“The average salary for most of these new [Topgolf] jobs is $70,000 to start,” said Hopkins.

The development is one of many projects expected to be completed in the state within the next three to five years according to McKee, with hopes of turning the area into a destination spot for citizens and visitors of the ocean state.

Exploratory stages for hotels off Route 37 have also taken place according to Hopkins, who recently toured possible sites with President and CEO of Procaccianti Companies James Procaccianti. This stage of development is still in the very beginning of examination. 

“We want people to stay,” Hopkins said. “We want people to look at Garden City,” as officials look to capitalize on the shops at Garden City Center and the anticipated influx of people to the area.

“People are going to come here from New York, from Connecticut, just like they do to our beaches to see Topgolf,” Hopkins said. The Topgolf facility in Cranston will be the first in New England.

“This is not just for golfers. This is for the people who want to come together and socialize and enjoy the great state we live in and the beautiful community of Cranston,” said Mckee.

Topgolf is the franchise leader in sports entertainment. Founded in 2000, it operates over 75 locations worldwide.

WELCOME TOPGOLF: Phase one of site construction for Topgolf began July 27. (Warwick Beacon photo)

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