|
|
Post by hchoops on Jul 3, 2020 12:17:19 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by alum on Jul 3, 2020 12:29:33 GMT -5
This is a great story, hoops. I am glad you noticed it and brought it to our attention. Look who the writer is--Gary Santinello '79, son of huge HC supporter, Conn. Supreme Court Justice, Angelo Santinello.
|
|
|
|
Post by CHC8485 on Jul 3, 2020 13:26:02 GMT -5
 Hmmm. Picnics in the outfield. I think I know where they got that idea! |
|
|
|
Post by lou on Jul 3, 2020 13:56:32 GMT -5
The main reason I get a football season ticket is to be able to walk on Fitton Field again
|
|
|
|
Post by rf1 on Jul 3, 2020 15:29:24 GMT -5
The old Pawsox ownership very much had a history of catering to families. Families with children were allowed on the field after every Sunday game to run the bases. There were many workshops for kids with the players. The boy scouts had overnights where they watched a film on the big screen and slept in their tents set up in the outfield. My public high school played nearly half its home baseball games on the McCoy field. My nephew got to pitch from the same mound that Clemens, Hurst, and Lester pitched from. Ticket prices were always low and most parking was free in nearby lots and along the streets. Kids lowered containers with string attached that had paper and pens for players to sign autographs in the dugout below the grandstand. Many games had sponsored promotions whereby fans got free gifts. Fireworks followed many weekend games throughout the summer. The long time owner Ben Mondor owned and ran the team for the love of baseball. He was not all about the money. He would actually often roam the stands and sit with ordinary folks and ask them about their experience making certain they were enjoying themselves. It was pure small town Americana.
The move out of McCoy (wherever it was to be) will likely kill much of this. New ballparks and ownership groups are now geared toward the corporate crowd to maximize revenues. It will never be the same in Worcester and would not have been the same if they had moved to a new RI stadium. Larry Lucchino and this ownership group has already showed that the almighty dollar is the top priority.
|
|
|
|
Post by KY Crusader 75 on Jul 3, 2020 17:41:50 GMT -5
Brilliant recap-
|
|
|
|
Post by timholycross on Jul 3, 2020 18:48:28 GMT -5
Not that I have any business interest in the team, but it's my fear their business model's going to have a tough time when they start playing again. The prices are unquestionably going to be higher but the anticipated economy might not support that.
|
|
|
|
Post by longsuffering on Jul 3, 2020 22:10:46 GMT -5
The PawSox have a good sized staff. They may be paying them with pre-payments of corporate sponsorships from Worcester area businesses which were selling like hot cakes before the pandemic. I attended a game at McCoy a few years ago. Chris Colabello from Milford and Assumption was playing for the opposing team and the people around us were from Shrewsbury and Worcester. It was cool to see the kids lowering items from the elevated stands for the players to autograph. It was a nice evening and this should be a fun summer for the fans to go out to the ballpark.
|
|
|
|
Post by A Clock Tower Purple on Jul 3, 2020 23:54:11 GMT -5
While agreements of standard sports sponsorships are sometimes signed well in advance, it's extremely rare for any $ to exchange hands a year plus before the product hits the field given sponsors aren't getting any value or game day exposure, so there's not a ton in the way of "prepayments" in Lucchino's pocket.
|
|
|
|
Post by longsuffering on Jul 4, 2020 8:24:18 GMT -5
While agreements of standard sports sponsorships are sometimes signed well in advance, it's extremely rare for any $ to exchange hands a year plus before the product hits the field given sponsors aren't getting any value or game day exposure, so there's not a ton in the way of "prepayments" in Lucchino's pocket. I believe The Paw/Woo Sox have also taken on Central Mass limited partners such as Polar Beverages. Money must change hands when ownership interest is purchased. I don't know if the sales are from RI based limited partners selling to MA partners, but this isn't Lucchino and Steinberg's first rodeo so I am sure they have monetized the burst of enthusiasm in the Central Mass business community somehow. |
|
