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Post by thecrossisback on May 14, 2021 17:15:58 GMT -5
Larry Lucchino article in the Telegram from a couple weeks ago. Some parts of the article and the link below www.google.com/amp/s/amp.telegram.com/amp/4449766001His mentor was Edward Bennett Williams, the legendary lawyer — arguably the greatest of his era. Williams went to Holy Cross and remained closely connected to the school as benefactor, supporter and trustee throughout his life. Williams would take Lucchino up to Worcester with him to watch Gordie Lockbaum play football. Lucchino was a schoolboy when he first met Cousy at the latter’s Camp Graylag in Pittsfield, New Hampshire. Lucchino still refers to Cousy as “the GOAT point guard” and holds fond and vivid memories of attending the basketball camp. “I was a camper, a counselor and an instructor,” Lucchino said. “He was the coach of the All-Camp team and I played point guard, so he was a lifetime hero of mine. I treasure the picture I have of us together at his camp when I was 13, maybe 14.” Maybe if the Worcester team in the Polar Park negotiations had known about the Cousy connection early on, the whole thing might have gotten done in no time at all. “Larry loves Bob Cousy,” City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. said. “When he speaks about him, it’s like in hushed tones.” Yes, Larry Lucchino was a Graylagger,” Cousy said, “but I didn’t really remember that until about 10 years ago. I’m a supporter of Dana-Farber so I get invited to their annual dinner, and Larry was the honoree one night. I knew of his association with the Red Sox and later that night, he came over and introduced himself and said he had been a Graylagger for three years, and did I remember him? “I was embarrassed that I didn’t, but we ran a bunch of kids through it over the years. I am pleased to say that I’m reminded of it now on almost a monthly basis.” Lucchino did not consult with Cousy ahead of time on the PawSox move but checked in with him after the deal was done. “He told me something I’ve never forgotten,” Lucchino said, “that he had lived in Worcester for 70 years and nothing has been more exciting than the issue of Triple-A baseball moving here and building a ballpark.” With his high school and Camp Graylag experience behind him, Lucchino headed for Princeton, where he was an off-the-bench point guard for three seasons. Lucchino was a sophomore in 1964-65 when the Tigers, coached by Butch van Breda Kolff and captained by future U.S. Sen. Bradley, beat Penn State, North Carolina State and Providence College to advance to the NCAA Final Four where they were eliminated by Michigan in the semifinals. Next was Yale Law School and studying with future Secretary of State Clinton, among others. From there, Lucchino applied for work with Williams’ law firm in Washington, D.C. Williams was, at the time, running the Washington Redskins but that’s not why Lucchino was looking to work for him. Pro sports was not on the to-do list. “The move into sports was completely unintended,” Lucchino said. “I wanted to go to that firm because it was a great firm, and it was an honor to get an offer to go there. It was a litigating practice and I was very interested in that. Edward Bennett Williams was a mythical figure, but I certainly didn’t think it would lead to a career in professional sports. He first approached me about a Redskins piece of litigation and told me, ‘You played sports in college. You can figure these guys out.' ” Williams bought the Orioles in August 1979 and assigned Lucchino to help run the franchise, all the while keeping him on the Redskins job. Steinberg preceded Lucchino in Baltimore, having begun as an intern keeping statistics for manager Earl Weaver. |
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Post by timholycross on May 14, 2021 21:10:52 GMT -5
Never realized Lucchino actually was a contributor to the Princeton program; all I knew about him was his stat line in what turns out to have been his sophomore year; when he hardly played at all. Figured he was someone who was a good enough basketball player to get a varsity uniform, but no more than that.
They only lost 3 games his senior year, losing in OT in the Round of 16 to UNC; a team they beat earlier in the season. He was 8th or 9th man it would appear.
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Post by trimster on May 17, 2021 11:17:52 GMT -5
Hope the inside (from what I've seen it does) beats the exterior, at least from that photo. I was excited that the team moved, for the record. Plus, the project as a whole is not near completion, so the jury's still out on the totality of the esthetics. The exterior leaves a lot to be desired to say the least. When you factor in the cost, the look is really underwhelming. Original renderings showed plenty of brickwork on the outside and I believe inside as well. I have driven by the park multiple times and watched today's festivities and I don't think there is a brick to be found in the place. Plenty of blue, corrugated sheet metal or steel. All in all, I find the outside of the park very unappealing and the CSX rail line just beyond the outfield wall further detracts from the ambience. The grass does look nice. I really hope the rest of the development surrounding the ballpark looks better than the park itself. In the spirit of fairness, I must say I was impressed with the ballpark when I went to one of the Syracuse games. Maybe not the exterior but the interior was very impressive. I look forward to going back. Oh I am leaning towards retracting my comment about the CSX lines. I am sure the kids love it. |
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Post by trimster on May 17, 2021 11:21:22 GMT -5
I think one of the keys to minor league ballpark success is having reasonable prices for beer, soft drinks, and food-the prices charged at MLB parks are ludicrous. If a did can take a couple of kids to the game and get soft drinks and a hot dog for them and a brat and a couple of beers for himself without taking out a home equity loan he'll likely return Coney Island dogs are 4.00, Polar Soda 5.00, beer in the the 10.00 neighborhood and BT Smokehouse sandwich 12.00. Didn't notice how much a Wonder Bar Pizza was or a WooSox shirt. |
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on May 17, 2021 11:58:31 GMT -5
I think one of the keys to minor league ballpark success is having reasonable prices for beer, soft drinks, and food-the prices charged at MLB parks are ludicrous. If a did can take a couple of kids to the game and get soft drinks and a hot dog for them and a brat and a couple of beers for himself without taking out a home equity loan he'll likely return Coney Island dogs are 4.00, Polar Soda 5.00, beer in the the 10.00 neighborhood and BT Smokehouse sandwich 12.00. Didn't notice how much a Wonder Bar Pizza was or a WooSox shirt. Those prices are too high in my opinion. Here's a chance for Polar Soda to generate paid sampling of potential retail consumers for their products and they gouge them mercilessly. The cup, ice. soft drink, and CO2 can't cost $0.50 total--make the drinks $2.00 and you'll still have a 75% margin and sell a lot more and not alienate so many people. Beer for $10.00 is ludicrous-maybe they are just trying to suppress consumption as it could take a Benjamin to get drunk |
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Post by thecrossisback on May 17, 2021 12:07:36 GMT -5
Yeah but this is MA and the prices are outrageous at any sporing event you go to. Look at the Boston Garden's prices.
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Post by trimster on May 17, 2021 12:31:04 GMT -5
Coney Island dogs are 4.00, Polar Soda 5.00, beer in the the 10.00 neighborhood and BT Smokehouse sandwich 12.00. Didn't notice how much a Wonder Bar Pizza was or a WooSox shirt. Those prices are too high in my opinion. Here's a chance for Polar Soda to generate paid sampling of potential retail consumers for their products and they gouge them mercilessly. The cup, ice. soft drink, and CO2 can't cost $0.50 total--make the drinks $2.00 and you'll still have a 75% margin and sell a lot more and not alienate so many people. Beer for $10.00 is ludicrous-maybe they are just trying to suppress consumption as it could take a Benjamin to get drunk The WooSox promote the fact you can go to the game for 8-10 bucks but that only applies to standing room or maybe sitting on a stool in the concourse. Individual ticket prices for seats range from 20.00 in the right field wall area to 21.00 along the dugout areas to 27.00 behind home plate. I think there are some 18.00 seats along the third baseline extended area. All in all, going to a WooSox game ain't cheap unless you want to stand and not eat or drink. As far as parking goes, it was 8.00 for a surface lot ten minutes from the park. The parking garage across the street from PP is to be built. |
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Post by Tom on May 17, 2021 13:51:33 GMT -5
I think one of the keys to minor league ballpark success is having reasonable prices for beer, soft drinks, and food-the prices charged at MLB parks are ludicrous. If a did can take a couple of kids to the game and get soft drinks and a hot dog for them and a brat and a couple of beers for himself without taking out a home equity loan he'll likely return Polar Soda 5.00, beer in the the 10.00 neighborhood That's pretty close to Fenway prices |
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Post by Crucis#1 on May 17, 2021 14:15:09 GMT -5
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Post by bfoley82 on May 17, 2021 14:28:04 GMT -5
I can tell you the parking is much better in Hartford also. |
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The Woosox
May 17, 2021 14:30:04 GMT -5
via mobile
gks likes this
Post by thecrossisback on May 17, 2021 14:30:04 GMT -5
They have thousands of spots. So what you have to walk a little bit.
HC Fitton concessions are in no position to say anything about anyone else’s. .
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on May 17, 2021 14:49:30 GMT -5
Louisville Slugger Field--right behind the visitors dugout: $14.00 per ticket
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Post by Crucis#1 on May 17, 2021 14:55:39 GMT -5
They have thousands of spots. So what you have to walk a little bit. HC Fitton concessions are in no position to say anything about anyone else’s. . Have to agree about Fitton concession. I was going to buy a soft pretzel....then they said it would be $5:00. I turned and walked back to my seat. I believe the same day, I was at the Hart for a hockey game that evening and the cost for a soft pretzel was $3:00. Also, very few concessions are for people on a low sodium diet. |
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Post by Tom on May 17, 2021 15:10:29 GMT -5
They just don't make healthy junk food anymore |
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The Woosox
May 17, 2021 16:54:42 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by A Clock Tower Purple on May 17, 2021 16:54:42 GMT -5
Look forward to the feedback from families for who what's supposed to be an affordable afternoon of entertainment ends up costing well north of 200 bucks.
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Post by longsuffering on May 17, 2021 17:32:40 GMT -5
They have thousands of spots. So what you have to walk a little bit. HC Fitton concessions are in no position to say anything about anyone else’s. . Have to agree about Fitton concession. I was going to buy a soft pretzel....then they said it would be $5:00. I turned and walked back to my seat. I believe the same day, I was at the Hart for a hockey game that evening and the cost for a soft pretzel was $3:00. Also, very few concessions are for people on a low sodium diet. Stood in line at Fitton to buy a hot coffee only to find out they didn't have any that game. The arrival of Championship football in the Chesney Era is a good opportunity for one of the suits in Athletic Administration to take Fitton Field Concessions and run with it. MB's team did a good job with the Men's hockey coach search and they can give us top quality concessions at all sporting venues. After all HC owns it's own food service dept. and doesn't contract it out like at many colleges. |
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Post by thecrossisback on May 17, 2021 18:12:19 GMT -5
Look forward to the feedback from families for who what's supposed to be an affordable afternoon of entertainment ends up costing well north of 200 bucks. They can afford to send their kids to Holy Cross but they can't afford to go to a college football game. This is laughable. How do you get north of 200 bucks for a family of 4? I am bad at math but that doesn’t even make sense. |
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Post by Crucis#1 on May 17, 2021 18:22:39 GMT -5
I believe ACTP comments were not in regard to HC families, but all families in Worcester County and throughout New England, who want to see the WooSox.
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Post by Crucis#1 on May 17, 2021 19:54:25 GMT -5
Have to agree about Fitton concession. I was going to buy a soft pretzel....then they said it would be $5:00. I turned and walked back to my seat. I believe the same day, I was at the Hart for a hockey game that evening and the cost for a soft pretzel was $3:00. Also, very few concessions are for people on a low sodium diet. Stood in line at Fitton to buy a hot coffee only to find out they didn't have any that game. The arrival of Championship football in the Chesney Era is a good opportunity for one of the suits in Athletic Administration to take Fitton Field Concessions and run with it. MB's team did a good job with the Men's hockey coach search and they can give us top quality concessions at all sporting venues. After all HC owns it's own food service dept. and doesn't contract it out like at many colleges. On page 22 of the Strategic Plan, there is a bullet item regarding .....Develop Concession Infrastructure that maximizes fan convenience and service efficiency. Hopefully this his will include a better and healthier selection of sandwiches and refreshments. |
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Post by newfieguy74 on May 17, 2021 20:38:00 GMT -5
HC definitely needs to upgrade its concessions game across the board.
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Post by Non Alum Dave on May 18, 2021 7:23:23 GMT -5
Loved seeing the park on TV over the weekend; really beautiful inside. But hearing about the price points for concessions/tickets is really disappointing. Affordability is supposed to be the big draw, a place where regular Joes and their families might be able to go several times a year, rather than treating it like a vacation. Might as well spend a few more bucks and see a major league game. Might work while it's new, but they may have to re-think the pricing policies at some point.
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Post by rgs318 on May 18, 2021 7:33:05 GMT -5
In the NY tristate metro area, minor league baseball is a good draw. The tipping point is that it is affordable - and fan friendly. Having the Mets, Yankees and Phillies so close, if prices get too high, the MLB option may win out.
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Post by thecrossisback on May 18, 2021 7:41:06 GMT -5
If Fenway was outside of the city maybe. At Fenway you have to park far away and walk. Not to mention the traffic all around Boston. The stadium is a hundred years old with no modern amenities. For the prices at Polar Park, they seem reasonable to me. It's professional baseball. Everything can't be cheap. This is MA which is #2 Median household income: $85,843 www.usnews.com/news/best-states/slideshows/10-wealthiest-states-in-america?slide=10Of course I would like lower prices but I don't see it as unreasonable. Especially what these pro teams have done over the years making it unaffordable to go to playoff games. Why is home field advantage no longer a thing at basketball and hockey. Because the die hard fan can't get tickets or they are pushed up to the top. New York Giants did this with PSL's. |
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on May 18, 2021 8:03:40 GMT -5
Let's look at two rudimentary pricing schemes
#1 is the Gouge The Fans model
$25 ticket @100% margin= $25 profit
$15 of food & bev @ 90% margin= $13.50 profit
$38.50 per fan total gross margin
#2 is the Reasonable Price to Attract (& Keep) Fans model
$17 ticket at 100% margin= $17 profit
$30 of food & bev @ 50% margin= $15.00 profit
$32.00 per fan total gross margin
Would the Reasonable Price model generate 20% more fan visits to break even? Perhaps the Price Gouge model outperforms in Year 1 when the park is new and you get a lot of consumer trial. Does is work as well in year 2, Year 4, or Year 8? Of course, mine is a simplistic analysis , but I think it does capture the essence of the competing business models.
EDIT: I was not yet here in Louisville, but I believe A. Ray Smith used Model #2 with the Louisville Redbirds when they drew 1,000,000 + fans a year (outdrawing some MLB teams) in the early 1980's.
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Post by thecrossisback on May 18, 2021 8:39:03 GMT -5
Thats interesting KY,
I would like to compare Polar Park to Fenway.
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