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Post by Wormtown Railers Fan on Aug 17, 2018 14:12:47 GMT -5
New stadium will be called Polar Park, after Polar Beverages. Good way to keep the current mascot. Lucchino said in he press conference the team wanted to go where they are wanted. What a great day for Worcester, this will be a tremendous success. Now, I’m going to re-read all the posts from people who insisted this would never happen.
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Post by bringbackcaro on Aug 17, 2018 14:14:30 GMT -5
I guess congratulations are in order to Worcester. The city offered a deal that was too good to pass up for ownership as most all onus is on the public. It will improve the Kelly Square area but I am skeptical that this project will pay for itself given the total public investment as the politicians are touting. It is now up to Worcester and the surrounding area to build a new fan base and adequately support the team year after year. Do not expect fans from the RI area to follow the team. Their support for the franchise ended today. You are completely ignoring the fact that the Worcester area is filled with people who are already fans of the team's parent club. This is not the Seattle Mariner Single-A team moving to Worcester. This is a team that Worcester baseball fans are already very familiar with. Are Rhode Islanders now not going to be Red Sox fans? If not, and as you claim, they will not follow the Sox AAA team, their only option to watch that franchise play will be to go to Boston and pay much steeper prices than what they were used to for the PawSox. The two young kids from a family of 4 from Providence who want to go to a Red Sox game, so their parents' two options are: 1) Drive 60 minutes+ to Boston, deal with traffic and parking, pay a minimum of ~$300-400 for bad seats + all the extras 2) Drive 45-50 minutes to Worcester, get good seats, and pay half the price (or less) Are all of the parents in the Providence area really going to choose option 1 simply because the PawSox left Pawtucket? That's silly.
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Post by Tom on Aug 17, 2018 14:30:31 GMT -5
. I do think it is lousy that we might lose rental income at Fitton if the Bravehearts fold from their college league. One of the assets of the bankrupt Tornadoes was 20 years of rent free use of the the field - basically a consideration for the upgrade to the stadium. I assumed that Mr Creedon and the Bravehearts purchased that asset for short money and were paying nothing. If not, I might contact the bankruptcy court and see if I can get that lease for short money for night games of pick-up
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Post by rf1 on Aug 17, 2018 14:31:42 GMT -5
I guess congratulations are in order to Worcester. The city offered a deal that was too good to pass up for ownership as most all onus is on the public. It will improve the Kelly Square area but I am skeptical that this project will pay for itself given the total public investment as the politicians are touting. It is now up to Worcester and the surrounding area to build a new fan base and adequately support the team year after year. Do not expect fans from the RI area to follow the team. Their support for the franchise ended today. You are completely ignoring the fact that the Worcester area is filled with people who are already fans of the team's parent club. This is not the Seattle Mariner Single-A team moving to Worcester. This is a team that Worcester baseball fans are already very familiar with. Are Rhode Islanders now not going to be Red Sox fans? If not, and as you claim, they will not follow the Sox AAA team, their only option to watch that franchise play will be to go to Boston and pay much steeper prices than what they were used to for the PawSox. The two young kids from a family of 4 from Providence who want to go to a Red Sox game, so their parents' two options are: 1) Drive 60 minutes+ to Boston, deal with traffic and parking, pay a minimum of ~$300-400 for bad seats + all the extras 2) Drive 45-50 minutes to Worcester, get good seats, and pay half the price (or less) Are all of the parents in the Providence area really going to choose option 1 simply because the PawSox left Pawtucket? That's silly.
Rhode Islanders will still be BOSTON Red Sox fans. They however will have no attachment to any of its minor league teams, be it Lowell, Portland, or Worcester. The people in RI will not forgive ownership and bad feelings will last a long time. Most people that attend Triple AAA games come from within 25 or so miles and all Rhode Islanders are outside that range and as a group are probably even less inclined than those in other areas to travel far. People in RI have little connection to and experience with Worcester. It might as well be Portland, ME for most.
I know Worcester having either gone to school, lived, or worked in Worcester County for some ten years of my life. If someone like me with all my connections to the city will NEVER attend a game, you can bet the same for many others from RI.
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Post by bringbackcaro on Aug 17, 2018 14:38:38 GMT -5
You are completely ignoring the fact that the Worcester area is filled with people who are already fans of the team's parent club. This is not the Seattle Mariner Single-A team moving to Worcester. This is a team that Worcester baseball fans are already very familiar with. Are Rhode Islanders now not going to be Red Sox fans? If not, and as you claim, they will not follow the Sox AAA team, their only option to watch that franchise play will be to go to Boston and pay much steeper prices than what they were used to for the PawSox. The two young kids from a family of 4 from Providence who want to go to a Red Sox game, so their parents' two options are: 1) Drive 60 minutes+ to Boston, deal with traffic and parking, pay a minimum of ~$300-400 for bad seats + all the extras 2) Drive 45-50 minutes to Worcester, get good seats, and pay half the price (or less) Are all of the parents in the Providence area really going to choose option 1 simply because the PawSox left Pawtucket? That's silly.
Rhode Islanders will still be BOSTON Red Sox fans. They however will have no attachment to any of its minor league teams, be it Lowell, Portland, or Worcester. The people in RI will not forgive ownership and bad feelings will last a long time. Most people that attend Triple AAA games come from within 25 or so miles and all Rhode Islanders are outside that range and as a group are probably even less inclined than those in other areas to travel far. People in RI have little connection to and experience with Worcester. It might as well be Portland, ME for most.
I know Worcester having either gone to school, lived, or worked in Worcester County for some ten years of my life. If someone like me with all my connections to the city will NEVER attend a game, you can bet the same for many others from RI.
So you are comfortable speaking for all Rhode Islanders in saying that all families would rather pay 2x+ to take their kids to Fenway (when they likely won’t even remember the game) than a relaxing night in Worcester? (Of course RI people will still go to Fenway and families will still want to take their kids to Fenway, but the idea that they won’t also take advantage of a great deal in Worcester is just silly.)
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Post by HC92 on Aug 17, 2018 14:45:37 GMT -5
Rf1 having a tough time swallowing all of those sour grapes. Attendance for the team will be just fine without him and anyone else who chooses to take a stand that no one will notice. Good for Worcester.
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Post by rf1 on Aug 17, 2018 15:02:23 GMT -5
Rhode Islanders will still be BOSTON Red Sox fans. They however will have no attachment to any of its minor league teams, be it Lowell, Portland, or Worcester. The people in RI will not forgive ownership and bad feelings will last a long time. Most people that attend Triple AAA games come from within 25 or so miles and all Rhode Islanders are outside that range and as a group are probably even less inclined than those in other areas to travel far. People in RI have little connection to and experience with Worcester. It might as well be Portland, ME for most.
I know Worcester having either gone to school, lived, or worked in Worcester County for some ten years of my life. If someone like me with all my connections to the city will NEVER attend a game, you can bet the same for many others from RI.
So you are comfortable speaking for all Rhode Islanders in saying that all families would rather pay 2x+ to take their kids to Fenway (when they likely won’t even remember the game) than a relaxing night in Worcester? (Of course RI people will still go to Fenway and families will still want to take their kids to Fenway, but the idea that they won’t also take advantage of a great deal in Worcester is just silly.)
Deal with reality - Rhode Islanders are not coming to Worcester to see the Woosox.
RI families will find other ways to entertain their kids with a relatively cheap night out. There are even rumors that Woosox management may drop the distance exclusion and allow a team to replace it at McCoy as minor league baseball supposedly wants this. The short season Single A team in Btavaia-NY was taken over by the New York-Penn League due to financial issues. The league is looking for a buyer. What better place than in the 39th largest metro area in the nation which also happens to have an existing large Triple AAA ballpark available. If that comes to fruition, Rhode Island families would not have to travel far and could continue to go to a familiar place for games. While the short season schedule is only 38 games, it works well for families as it is the warm weather months of June through August when school is out.
While I feel I know how Rhode Islanders will react, I am less confident about those in the Worcester area. I have strong doubts that the smaller metro area can adequately support the team to the degree it once had in Pawtucket. It will be interesting to see how many come out for 70 games each year, especially on those cold April school nights in Worcester once the novelty has worn off. It will also be very interesting to watch how the repayment of the bonds goes as it is tied to new development in an around the stadium. Even though Pawtucket and RI were to invest far less than Worcester, it was always a concern that new revenues would be enough to pay off bonds associated with the public contribution of 38M. The Worcester stadium looks like it will be multiples of that. Holy Cross Economics Professor Victor Matheson has repeatedly gone on record stating that for the most part “stadiums are not major drivers of economic activity.”
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Post by breezy on Aug 17, 2018 15:09:15 GMT -5
With all of this investment in the city and interest in bringing sports franchises in, this should really make you think about how badly HC botched the Hockey East situation. Stay tuned.....
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Post by rf1 on Aug 17, 2018 15:09:53 GMT -5
Rf1 having a tough time swallowing all of those sour grapes. Attendance for the team will be just fine without him and anyone else who chooses to take a stand that no one will notice. Good for Worcester.
Yes. Having grown up in Pawtucket not far from the stadium, it is personal for me. I went to games from an early age (was there for the end of the longest game in 1981) and had many friends that worked at McCoy. The tradition and family atmosphere that Ben Mondor took years to build unfortunately died with him. This new ownership was intent on milking the public for as much of its money as possible. Lucchino is especially a snake. Will not be sorry to see him gone. Worcester may celebrate stealing a beloved team from another regional city but the feelings are far different there.
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Post by WorcesterGray on Aug 17, 2018 15:11:10 GMT -5
There are even rumors that Woosox management may drop the distance exclusion and allow a team to replace it at McCoy. What a concept. I wonder if the PawSox ever, in the last half century, considered doing that to allow a minor league team to come to Worcester. And if not - why not?
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Post by hc6774 on Aug 17, 2018 15:12:23 GMT -5
Watching the press conference now. Sounds like the Red Sox will be helping pay for the project. I wonder why they wouldn't invest in the RI area. I wouldn't be surprised if the city of Pawtucket ttied to file some sort of lawsuit against the Boston Red Sox that will probably be dismissed. Interesting in that the plans show no outfield stands. Reminds me of fitton just with more infield grandstand seats.
I dont think a team that plays April to the beginning of September will take away from Holy Cross games. I do think it is lousy that we might lose rental income at Fitton if the Bravehearts fold from their college league. I think the field has been in solid shape in the late Spring and summer. Last years PL Championship series was great. Cant imagine our state throwing that much money, 35 million in there Looks like an attempt at a replica of Fenway Park
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on Aug 17, 2018 15:13:43 GMT -5
New stadium will be called Polar Park, after Polar Beverages. Good way to keep the current mascot. Lucchino said in he press conference the team wanted to go where they are wanted. What a great day for Worcester, this will be a tremendous success. Now, I’m going to re-read all the posts from people who insisted this would never happen. Okay--I'll admit that I believed/stated that the team would end up back in Pawtucket
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Post by HC92 on Aug 17, 2018 15:13:52 GMT -5
Is it possible that rf1 is none other than Arthur Fonzarelli?
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Post by timholycross on Aug 17, 2018 15:19:23 GMT -5
What is/was the rule? And, does it involve any level or just AAA-to-AAA; AA-to-AA, etc.? Norwich is 53 miles from Providence and there was a team there for a long time. Yankee team as a matter of fact. Now it's a Detroit Tiger team in the NYPenn League same as Lowell. By the way, their stadium is all of 23 years old. Not like the Yanks moved from there because it's a dump.
Question: Do people in places like Woonsocket area have any connection to Mass? The answer to that might tell you the likelihood of sports fans heading north to Worcester; those are the closest RI cities.
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Post by rf1 on Aug 17, 2018 15:21:27 GMT -5
There are even rumors that Woosox management may drop the distance exclusion and allow a team to replace it at McCoy. What a concept. I wonder if the PawSox ever, in the last half century, considered doing that to allow a minor league team to come to Worcester. And if not - why not?
Don't look at me. I felt that if the Pawsox stayed where they belonged, Worcester should have been allowed to get a team. I don't think people from the Worcester metro ever made up much of the Pawsox total attendance. It will be interesting to see how Worcester does with so many other baseball teams within about an hour proximity. Pawtucket for the most part just had the Bosox. Worcester will have the Bosox, Lowell Spinners, and Hartford Yard Goats along with a possible Single A Pawtucket team. Given that most have admitted the Woosox will be more reliant on fans from outside 25 miles (due to the smaller Worcester metro population) than Pawtucket was, it will be interesting to see the effect of these other baseball options.
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Post by deep Purple on Aug 17, 2018 15:36:15 GMT -5
So you are comfortable speaking for all Rhode Islanders in saying that all families would rather pay 2x+ to take their kids to Fenway (when they likely won’t even remember the game) than a relaxing night in Worcester? (Of course RI people will still go to Fenway and families will still want to take their kids to Fenway, but the idea that they won’t also take advantage of a great deal in Worcester is just silly.)
Deal with reality - Rhode Islanders are not coming to Worcester to see the Woosox.”
They didn't go to Pawtucket either.
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Post by WorcesterGray on Aug 17, 2018 15:46:06 GMT -5
I don't think people from the Worcester metro ever made up much of the Pawsox total attendance. It will be interesting to see how Worcester does with so many other baseball teams within about an hour proximity . . . [such as] a possible Single A Pawtucket team.
People from Worcester didn't go to Pawtucket to see a AAA team, but a hypothetical Single A team in Pawtucket (made possible, in your mind, by the unreasonable largesse of the hated WooSox) will draw people from Worcester. Got it.
Don't know who has suggested the Worcester Red Sox will depend on people traveling over 25 miles. Framingham (72,000), Marlboro (40,000), Leominster (41,000), Fitchburg (40,000) are some of the major cities and towns which are within 25 miles of Worcester, and much closer to the latter than any of the other venues you mention. I'm confident folks will come.
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Post by HC92 on Aug 17, 2018 15:57:42 GMT -5
I wonder if he Yard Goats will see an impact. I could see plenty of folks east of the CT River going to Worcester to see the Sawx AAA team rather than going to Hartford to see the Rockies AA team.
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Post by Wormtown Railers Fan on Aug 17, 2018 15:58:15 GMT -5
There are even rumors that Woosox management may drop the distance exclusion and allow a team to replace it at McCoy. What a concept. I wonder if the PawSox ever, in the last half century, considered doing that to allow a minor league team to come to Worcester. And if not - why not? I hope Worcester does everything in its power to prevent Rhode Island from getting an affiliated franchise after shutting Worcester out for 45 years.
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Post by bringbackcaro on Aug 17, 2018 16:17:45 GMT -5
I wonder if he Yard Goats will see an impact. I could see plenty of folks east of the CT River going to Worcester to see the Sawx AAA team rather than going to Hartford to see the Rockies AA team. According to rf1's logic, those fiercely loyal Yard Goat fans would rather light themselves on fire than go watch a different minor league baseball team in another state.
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Post by WorcesterGray on Aug 17, 2018 16:28:00 GMT -5
What is/was the rule? And, does it involve any level or just AAA-to-AAA; AA-to-AA, etc.? Norwich is 53 miles from Providence and there was a team there for a long time. Yankee team as a matter of fact. Now it's a Detroit Tiger team in the NYPenn League same as Lowell. By the way, their stadium is all of 23 years old. Not like the Yanks moved from there because it's a dump. Question: Do people in places like Woonsocket area have any connection to Mass? The answer to that might tell you the likelihood of sports fans heading north to Worcester; those are the closest RI cities. I went to Norwich when it was a AA Giants affiliate (2007?) to watch Clay Buchholz pitch for the Sea Dogs. Very nice venue, but peculiar location, at the far end of a massive office park.
Don't know what the territorial rules are or whether individual minor league franchises have much to say about them, one way or the other, There used to be a protected 35-mile radius, then believe it was extended at some point to 40 miles. Don't believe level made any difference. Also have read that there couldn't be competing franchises in contiguous counties, which would be an explanation for why Worcester has been "shut out" for so long.
Buchholz, btw, seems to be pitching pretty well in his limited stints with the Diamondbacks this year.
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Aug 17, 2018 17:08:19 GMT -5
There will be a 350-500 space parking garage. Where will others attending the game park?
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Post by Wormtown Railers Fan on Aug 17, 2018 18:11:27 GMT -5
There will be a 350-500 space parking garage. Where will others attending the game park? There is a large parking lot at the public library. I’m sure the huge vacant lot across the street will be used for parking. There is a huge parking garage at Union Station. There is public transit at Union Station. People will have no problem parking.
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Post by bfoley82 on Aug 17, 2018 18:18:10 GMT -5
The Yard Goats are drawing 5500 now in their GORGEOUS new park and recommend people to check it out. If the Worcester ownership group does the stadium correctly, they would look to the Hartford builders for ideas.
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Post by bfoley82 on Aug 17, 2018 18:18:39 GMT -5
BTW, I don't believe this gets done in Worcester until I see a shovel in the ground to start building.
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