PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Top Massachusetts officials have been meeting with Hasbro executives about potentially relocating their Pawtucket headquarters to Boston since at least April, according to newly released emails.

The emails -- first reported by the Boston Business Journal -- show Gov. Maura Healey's economic development team has been aggressively trying to convince Hasbro to make the move.

Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao met with Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks for dinner in early April. She provided his team with a list of incentive programs and even sent a photo of her team playing Scrabble, one of Hasbro's most iconic games.

"We would love to chat with you about your potential HQ move!" Hao wrote to Cocks in April. "Governor Healey is committed to making our state an awesome place for companies and talent." 

Cocks responded 23 minutes later, writing: "Hasbro's roots in Massachusetts are deep going back to the 1860s and Milton Bradley starting this eponymous board game company."

"It would be great to figure out a permanent home for us in Boston and to build a creative center for the toys and games industry in the city," he continued.

The early emails kicked off a discussion about what type of state and local incentive programs might be available to Hasbro if the company relocates. The programs included the state's Economic Development Incentive Program, local Municipal Tax Increment Financing and Single Sales Tax Treatment.

Hasbro met with state officials again in late July, according to the emails, and Hao noted her team would follow up with more information quickly because the Hasbro board was slated to meet the following week.

A summary of the incentive programs was sent to Hasbro, along with other information about the state's workforce, its success in professional sports and even physical space where the company could relocate. She also touted other big companies headquartered in the area, including Lego, Converse and New Balance.

"We love your company, and your history... and all the opportunities ahead in the future!" Hao wrote. "Hope that we get a chance to work together here!"

In the same email, Hao noted her team had been playing Boggle, another Hasbro game. "We're officially addicted," she wrote.

The emails shine a light on how serious Healey's team has been about getting Hasbro to relocate. They also show that these discussions have been going on for months without Rhode Island's local and state leaders having any insight into how seriously Hasbro has been exploring its options.

After the news first surfaced last month that Hasbro executives were touring real estate in the Boston area, Rhode Island leaders scrambled to try and connect with Hasbro leadership about staying put.

Gov. Dan McKee and House Speaker Joe Shekarchi met with Cocks last month, and Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien met with the CEO last week.

"They have major concerns about the lack of investment in that building over the years," Grebien said Friday on WPRI 12's Newsmakers about the company's current headquarters in Pawtucket.

"They have a whole different model than that building," he added. He committed to making their best pitch to keep the company in Pawtucket.

McKee has said his team is putting together their own pitch to keep the company from leaving the state altogether, and a spokesperson said his office had met with Hasbro officials as recently as last week. McKee was out of the state on vacation last week.

The newly released communications continued through August. Hao offered to make Healey available to meet with Cocks, and even offered at one point to "loop in" Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.

It wasn't clear in the emails what next steps were taken after a final batch of emails in mid-August. On Aug. 13, Hao wrote, "I know you had your board meeting a week or two ago, and hope it went well, and just let us know anything we can do on our side."

"Thanks again, very grateful for you all and this opportunity…and also for Scrabble! And Boggle and all the other awesome games too!" she added.