CommonWealth Magazine: "New study calls WooSox stadium a bad deal for Worcester"

"The WooSox may have hit a home run with huge attendance numbers at their new home in Worcester, but a study says the city has whiffed when it comes to shelling out public dollars to fund the team’s new stadium. 

The Red Sox Triple-A farm team moved from Pawtucket, Rhode Island, to Worcester in 2021, setting up shop in Polar Park, a new $160 million stadium owned and largely paid for by the city of Worcester. 

Last season, the team’s second year in Worcester, the Worcester Red Sox drew more than 500,000 fans, second among all 120 minor league teams in the country. And the WooSox arrival has unquestionably contributed to the upbeat buzz about the state’s second-largest city. 

But Robert Baumann, an economics professor at College of the Holy Cross, says the stadium still adds up to be a loser for the city’s finances. In a new paper, Baumann and co-author J.C. Bradbury, an economist at Kennesaw State University, conclude that Polar Park will cost the city $40 to $60 million over 30 years."

Continue reading the article at CommonWealth Magazine

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/the-download/new-study-calls-woosox-stadium-a-bad-deal-for-worcester-2/ 

Direct link to report ->  https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4443118

Open PDF in your browser window ->   https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/Delivery.cfm/SSRN_ID4443118_code1813071.pdf?abstractid=4443118&mirid=1&type=2

CommonWealth Magazine: "New study calls WooSox stadium a bad deal for Worcester"

Manufacturing Caucus Hosts 7th Annual Manufacturing Awards Ceremony at Polar Park

TE Connectivity of Medway, Massachusetts received the Manufacturer of the Year Award at the 7th Annual Manufacturing Awards Ceremony held in the DCU Club at Polar Park in Worcester. 

TE Connectivity was nominated by State Representative Jeffrey N. Roy (D-Franklin), House Chair of the Legislature’s Manufacturing Caucus.  “TE Connectivity was one of 55 manufacturers and honorees from across the state who are truly ‘making it’ in Massachusetts, exemplifying how government and industry can work together to have a meaningful impact on society,” said State Representative Jeffrey N. Roy (D-Franklin), who nominated TE Connectivity. “For more than 75 years, TE Connectivity has helped to solve tomorrow's toughest challenges with advanced connectivity and sensor solutions. Their solutions power electric vehicles, aircraft, digital factories, and smart homes as well as enabling life-saving medical care, sustainable communities, efficient utility networks, and the global communications infrastructure. These represent great contributions to the Massachusetts economy and ecosystem and I was delighted that we could honor TE Connectivity’s work.”

Left to Right  -    State Senator Eric P. Lesser (D-Longmeadow), Senate Chair of the Legislature’s Manufacturing Caucus, TE Quality Manager Sid Jayaraman and State Representative Jeffrey N. Roy (D-Franklin), House Chair of the Legislature’s Manufacturing Caucus

The Legislature, under the leadership of Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen E. Spilka, has spearheaded several major economic development packages which focus on improving the renaissance of manufacturing, with the goal of making Massachusetts the best place to build things. 

Rep. Roy noted during his opening remarks that Massachusetts is an ideal ecosystem for manufacturing. “Our world class universities, highly skilled workforce, availability of venture capital, and strong government support all come together to create a pro-business atmosphere that fosters a system that encourages manufacturing,” he said.

The event was the state’s 7th Annual Manufacturing Award Ceremony hosted by the Legislature’s Manufacturing Caucus.  Sponsored by MassMEP and MassTech Collaborative, this was the second time the event was held in the DCU Club at Polar Park. 

Group photo of the awardees and legislators at Polar Park, Worcester

Christine Nolan, Director for the Center of Advanced Manufacturing and Kathie Mahoney Killam, President and CEO of MassMEP offered remarks at the ceremony.  In addition, House Speaker Ronald Mariano and Senate President Karen E. Spilka and Secretary of Housing & Economic Development Michael Kennealy addressed the audience via pre-recorded video.  

After the successful event Rep. Roy added, “Manufacturing output here is at its highest level in history and accounts for about 11 percent of the state’s economy. It is the sixth largest employment sector here and $26 billion in manufactured goods are exported from the Commonwealth each year.  We celebrated some truly great companies who make our economy roar and contribute to those statistics. We offer heartfelt congratulations to all the outstanding Manufacturers who were honored for excellence.”

Formed in August 2014, the Manufacturing Caucus includes more than 60 legislators from around the Commonwealth. Lawmakers focus on training for manufacturing employees; encouraging innovation by helping start-ups access resources; and expanding apprenticeship opportunities in key manufacturing sectors.

Visit TE Connectivity online to find out more about what they do ->     https://www.te.com/usa-en/home.html

Polar Park will not be Fenway

"Before they built Polar Park, the Worcester Red Sox hosted 21 fan meetings and jotted down 877 ideas. One thing was crystal clear: Worcester didn’t want its new stadium to be Fenway Park.

“Worcester wanted something different. They didn’t want to be Fenway green,” says Dr. Charles Steinberg, Worcester Red Sox president. So most everything will be blue; from the understated industrial corrugated metal exterior to the blue seats and 22-foot blue Worcester Wall in right field with seats and a fan deck.

No Green Monster in left?

“There was a naturalness to the Green Monster that we didn’t want to force,” says chairman and principal owner Larry Lucchino. “And there was a hill in right field that we needed to build a wall in front of.”

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https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/03/22/sports/worcesters-new-stadium-polar-opposite-fenway-park/

There was still snow at Polar Park in early March as construction continued.Stan Grossfeld/Globe staff

In the News: Eversource plan unnecessary; Polar Park construction resumes

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"Citing a lack of evidence and need, an independent consultant hired by the Select Board has concluded that Eversource’s plan to replace a 3.7-mile natural gas line that runs through Hopkinton and Ashland is severely flawed.

Eversource is looking to decommission about 4 miles of underground piping that runs through Ashland and Hopkinton and place new 12-inch pipes alongside them.

In Ashland, the gas pipeline runs for 2.5 miles and intersects through more than 80 residential parcels, the Chestnut Tree Apartments and a number of environmentally sensitive areas, including portions of the wetlands and the conservation-restricted Great Bend Farm Trust. The company says the project is needed to address pressure drop problems and provide a more reliable and consistent flow of natural gas to customers in Greater Framingham.

In June 2018, Eversource filed an application with the state’s Energy Facility Siting Board, an agency that reviews large scale energy projects. In its application, the company also included preliminary information about an alternative under-street route should the Siting Board deny its request to place the new pipes on the existing easement."

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https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200511/ashland-consultant-says-eversource-pipeline-project-is-unnecessary

"City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. has given the OK for work to resume this week on some construction projects here, Polar Park being one of them. What happens next, what does the resumption of work mean for the immediate and longer range future?

That’s a different story.

In a prepared statement, Worcester Red Sox chairman Larry Lucchino said this:

“While we look forward to resuming the construction of Worcester’s new ballpark, we recognize that precautions, health, and safety remain paramount. We will support our local construction workers, and we will abide by the conditions set forth by our leaders to ensure an environment that complies with their public policy and expert medical recommendations."

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https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200511/polar-park-construction-set-to-resume-but-impact-of-six-week-delay-remains-uncertain