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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on May 17, 2021 13:33:07 GMT -5
With respect to COVID, Massachusetts is ending most COVID restrictions on May 29, and the state of emergency is also ending.
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on May 17, 2021 13:41:49 GMT -5
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Post by Tom on May 17, 2021 13:48:29 GMT -5
I have a question......In 2021, why is playing a football game in a baseball stadium, such as Fenway, Polar Park or Yankee Stadium, seen as an attractive option? Novelty ------------------------------ I am not sure if parents' weekend is a good choice. The school likes to have programming for the families. I don't know if it's better to have a game in the afternoon with mommy and daddy taking junior out to eat in the evening or let them go to the game at night and come up with other stuff for the afternoon. --------------------- The press release was either written early or someone is being pessimistic about relapses. Per Gov Baker, all capacity restrictions for all industries will be lifted on May 29
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Post by crusader12 on May 17, 2021 13:49:01 GMT -5
So not to piss on this parade but I would much rather have the game at Fitton than Polar park. First, it will be limited capacity with the fixed seating and sightlines not all that great. 2nd, there is no where to tailgate or park. I have spoken with several patrons of WooSox games and they are parking over near St. John's on Temple Street. 2nd, we all want to be back on campus after the year we have had and with only 4 home games now that leaves us only three chances. THANK GOD we didn't do this game against Harvard. I do look forward to going out to eat pre-game around the stadium as some new restaurants are going up.
As a side note, Polar Park is one of the ugliest new pieces of sports infrastructure I have ever seen. No brick, siding looks like the roofs in 3rd world countries. However, it is a close 2nd to Dr. Charles Steinberg's red boots in that photo, what the heck is up with that guy?
As much as I complain, I will still be there...let's just always book the lowest turnout game next time like GTown.
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Post by purplehaze on May 17, 2021 13:55:46 GMT -5
with this announcement, we can now await the full schedule release - we have 10 games at this moment (as far as we know) and only 3 are at Fitton Field - anyone hearing rumors about the 11th opponent ?
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Post by bfoley82 on May 17, 2021 14:05:57 GMT -5
So not to piss on this parade but I would much rather have the game at Fitton than Polar park. First, it will be limited capacity with the fixed seating and sightlines not all that great. 2nd, there is no where to tailgate or park. I have spoken with several patrons of WooSox games and they are parking over near St. John's on Temple Street. 2nd, we all want to be back on campus after the year we have had and with only 4 home games now that leaves us only three chances. THANK GOD we didn't do this game against Harvard. I do look forward to going out to eat pre-game around the stadium as some new restaurants are going up. As a side note, Polar Park is one of the ugliest new pieces of sports infrastructure I have ever seen. No brick, siding looks like the roofs in 3rd world countries. However, it is a close 2nd to Dr. Charles Steinberg's red boots in that photo, what the heck is up with that guy? As much as I complain, I will still be there...let's just always book the lowest turnout game next time like GTown. I was down near there the last week and they were selling parking underneath 290 and at the new hockey rink. That is a pretty decent walk in late October at 10pm at night.
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on May 17, 2021 14:38:15 GMT -5
There is a 350 space parking garage under construction, and expected to open by September 2021. (Info current as of May 3rd, source Spectrum News).
This was supposed to be a 500 space garage.
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Post by Non Alum Dave on May 17, 2021 14:53:14 GMT -5
Do those boxes behind the Colgate bench represent temporary seating?
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Post by Tom on May 17, 2021 15:07:15 GMT -5
So not to piss on this parade but I would much rather have the game at Fitton than Polar park. First, it will be limited capacity with the fixed seating and sightlines not all that great. 2nd, there is no where to tailgate or park. I have spoken with several patrons of WooSox games and they are parking over near St. John's on Temple Street. I was down near there the last week and they were selling parking underneath 290 and at the new hockey rink. That is a pretty decent walk in late October at 10pm at night. The parking lot for the new hockey rink is the St John's Temple St spot mentioned above. Not sure if you're saying a decent walk is a good thing or a bad thing. I don't think it's that bad. I know I walk longer than that to go to Fenway or the Garden. It's not like I'm going to run back to my car at halftime like I do at Fitton
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Post by newfieguy74 on May 17, 2021 15:24:09 GMT -5
I love this image of the HC logo on the PP scoreboard, and I love the idea of bringing HC football closer into the heart of Worcester. What better location than Kelley Square? It's probably true as some have noted that Worcester residents are less invested in HC sports, but this brings HC to them instead of having them come to HC. I remember a Worcester resident once referring to HC as "the snobs on the Hill." I don't think everyone in Worcester feels this way, but I applaud this venture. It strikes me as a chance to engage more directly with the city.
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Post by gks on May 17, 2021 15:39:44 GMT -5
I love this image of the HC logo on the PP scoreboard, and I love the idea of bringing HC football closer into the heart of Worcester. What better location than Kelley Square? It's probably true as some have noted that Worcester residents are less invested in HC sports, but this brings HC to them instead of having them come to HC. I remember a Worcester resident once referring to HC as "the snobs on the Hill." I don't think everyone in Worcester feels this way, but I applaud this venture. It strikes me as a chance to engage more directly with the city. Agreed! Can you imagine complaining about this?
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Post by gerry on May 17, 2021 16:38:13 GMT -5
With the NEC down to eight teams with the departure of Robert Morris, the 11th opponent would almost certainly come from there. It looks like Sacred Heart needs to add two OOC opponents, and September 11 is open for them which would be the week that Holy Cross would be looking to fill. That would seem to make a lot of sense for both schools. Merrimack is also open on 9/11 and needs to add a game, but they are already playing two road games OOC and has only a home game with Division 2 St. Anselm, so I'd guess they would prefer a home game which would make a HC matchup less likely. with this announcement, we can now await the full schedule release - we have 10 games at this moment (as far as we know) and only 3 are at Fitton Field - anyone hearing rumors about the 11th opponent ?
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Post by longsuffering on May 17, 2021 16:42:00 GMT -5
I love this image of the HC logo on the PP scoreboard, and I love the idea of bringing HC football closer into the heart of Worcester. What better location than Kelley Square? It's probably true as some have noted that Worcester residents are less invested in HC sports, but this brings HC to them instead of having them come to HC. I remember a Worcester resident once referring to HC as "the snobs on the Hill." I don't think everyone in Worcester feels this way, but I applaud this venture. It strikes me as a chance to engage more directly with the city. With it's blue collar blocking and tackling, football is the anti-snob sport so it's a good one to bring downtown. Renting municipal facilities for college events is also a good way to keep the P.I.L.O.T. (Payment in lieu of taxes) zealots at bay.
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Post by thecrossisback on May 17, 2021 17:58:32 GMT -5
Touchdowns on the diamond: Holy Cross to play Colgate in football at Polar Park Holy Cross director of athletics Marcus Blossom speaks during a press conference Monday to announce that Holy Cross will host Colgate on Oct. 23 in the first football game to be played at Polar Park. WORCESTER — Since the inception of plans for Polar Park almost three years ago, it was the intent for the home of the Worcester Red Sox to be, in WooSox chairman and principal owner Larry Lucchino’s words, “more than a ballpark.”
A community park that, in addition to hosting the WooSox’ 70 or so home games a year, would welcome concert and festival goers, high school graduates and fans of other sports, was the vision.
Nine Worcester high school graduations will be held at Polar Park this spring, and this fall, the park’s versatility will again be in view when the Holy Cross football team plays Patriot League rival Colgate on Oct. 23. Kickoff is at 6 p.m.
“This game represents the hope, the philosophy and the expectation this would be more than a ballpark,” Lucchino said during a press conference Monday afternoon at Polar Park.
A rendering depicts the football configuration of Polar Park, where Holy Cross will host Colgate on Oct. 23. The team’s partnership with Holy Cross is special to Lucchino. His mentor was legendary lawyer Edward Bennett Williams, an illustrious Holy Cross graduate who remained closely connected to his alma mater as a benefactor, supporter and trustee.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Lucchino would accompany Williams to Holy Cross football games at Fitton Field.
“The idea of bringing it all together with the Holy Cross game here at Polar Park was just too poetic and touching for me to turn down,” Lucchino said. “We are very happy to be able to work as a team with Holy Cross and the city to bring this game here and make it a roaring success.”
Lucchino said he would like to name the game in Williams’ memory, perhaps the EBW Bowl.
City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. speaks during a press conference Monday to announce that Holy Cross will host Colgate on Oct. 23 in the first football game to be played at Polar Park. Worcester City Manager Edward M. Augustus, Jr., city councilors Candy Mero-Carlson and Matt Wally, Holy Cross president Rev. Philip Boroughs, and Holy Cross director of athletics Marcus Blossom joined Lucchino and WooSox president Dr. Charles Steinberg to make the announcement.
“It’s really a marriage of two institutions,” Augustus said, “one being the newest in the city of Worcester and one of our oldest and most distinguished in the city, the College of the Holy Cross. I think it’s perfect synergy.”
Ticket information will be announced in the coming weeks, with presale availability for Holy Cross football and WooSox season-ticket holders beginning June 14. The on-sale date for the general public will be announced soon after.
Just the 2021 Holy Cross football game is scheduled for now, but Steinberg said he hopes it is the first of many.
Worcester Red Sox principal owner Larry Lucchino speaks during a press conference to announce that Holy Cross football will host Colgate on Oct. 23 at Polar Park. “We’ll start with one as the pilot,” Steinberg said, “be we have a long-term vision, and wouldn’t it be wonderful?”
Blossom said the initial discussions about the game began in February 2020. The game will be part of HC’s Family Weekend activities.
“We’re excited about the game, not just because it’s a beautiful ballpark and a unique experience,” Blossom said, “but because we have a good football team.”
The Crusaders will face Colgate for the 83rd time in their history, which will tie Boston College as HC’s most-played opponent.
“This is indeed a rivalry game we are excited to participate in,” Blossom said. “Our No. 1 objective (for playing this game) is to increase our presence and engagement in the city of Worcester. We believe a vibrant and thriving Worcester can contribute to a vibrant and thriving Holy Cross, and vice versa.”
Polar Park was designed with other events in mind, including football, WooSox general manager and executive vice president/business and real estate Dan Rea said. The rendering of the football field shows one end zone in the deep left-field corner and the other down the first-base line, near the home dugout.
“We think it lends itself really well to a football layout,” Rea said, “and offers us a number of very cool vantage points.”
Work on the football field will begin shortly after the WooSox’ season ends in mid-September, Rea said.
Having a gridiron in place could lend itself to other football games being played at Polar Park as well.
“Don’t be surprised if there is a high school game or games played here in the fall,” Lucchino said.
Also on Family Weekend, new Holy Cross president Vincent Rougeau will be inaugurated. Boroughs announced last September he was stepping down as Holy Cross president, a position he held for 10 years, at this end of this academic year.
“Pre-pandemic, when I used to travel a great deal for the college,” Boroughs said, “after a long road trip, I always knew I was home when I could see the Polar (Beverages) inflatable just before Exit 11 (off Interstate 290). That was always comforting to me. Today, I feel at home in this dramatic new Polar Park, a place where all of Worcester will gather to celebrate the WooSox, but also, because of our city’s creative vision, a wide variety of other athletic opportunities.”
Bob Chesney, who has guided the Crusaders to two Patriot League championships in his three years at Holy Cross, previously had a successful five-year run at Assumption and is a Worcester resident, is greatly anticipating the Oct. 23 game.
“I think about the energy around this ballpark,” Chesney said. “I got a chance to walk around the area the last couple days and the energy is palpable. This is the people of Worcester’s ballpark. We want to get back to being the people of Worcester’s football team. This is a great opportunity to be able to partner with the WooSox and get people more and more excited about the product we’re putting on the football field.”
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Post by HC92 on May 17, 2021 19:23:01 GMT -5
If parking is that limited near PP, I suspect HC will offer parking on campus and buses back and forth for those wishing to take advantage of that option.
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Post by longsuffering on May 17, 2021 19:46:02 GMT -5
If parking is that limited near PP, I suspect HC will offer parking on campus and buses back and forth for those wishing to take advantage of that option. Will the bus stop at the Miss Woo diner on the way back?
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Post by Crucis#1 on May 17, 2021 20:03:21 GMT -5
After the Canal District, hope there are plans to revitalize Southbridge Street from downtown to College Hill.It would help tremendously improve a well travel artery in the city.
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Post by newfieguy74 on May 17, 2021 20:35:40 GMT -5
If parking is that limited near PP, I suspect HC will offer parking on campus and buses back and forth for those wishing to take advantage of that option. Will the bus stop at the Miss Woo diner on the way back? No, but it will stop at Leitrim's Pub for shots and beers.
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Post by thecrossisback on May 17, 2021 20:45:18 GMT -5
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Post by Wormtown Railers Fan on May 17, 2021 21:08:13 GMT -5
Is this the first time Holy Cross has played off campus in Worcester?
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Post by thecrossisback on May 17, 2021 21:13:30 GMT -5
I think they didn’t play on campus before the Fitton baseball field was built in 1903.
They played at the Worcester Agricultural Fairgrounds.
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Post by football44 on May 18, 2021 4:55:51 GMT -5
I love this image of the HC logo on the PP scoreboard, and I love the idea of bringing HC football closer into the heart of Worcester. What better location than Kelley Square? It's probably true as some have noted that Worcester residents are less invested in HC sports, but this brings HC to them instead of having them come to HC. I remember a Worcester resident once referring to HC as "the snobs on the Hill." I don't think everyone in Worcester feels this way, but I applaud this venture. It strikes me as a chance to engage more directly with the city. Spot on newfieguy74. You are absolutely right. Holy Cross has been in the wilderness for many years due to the opinion of many around the Worcester area. The school in MANY ways has taken a very high brow attitude towards the everyday folks in Worcester. I commend both Marcus Blossom and Coach Chesney for teaming up with the Red Sox in this great marketing event. Bringing Holy Cross football downtown to the people of Worcester is a smart move and should have happened years ago. The other thing is that going to a game on campus has been difficult for lots of people including folks from Worcester. Try to get on the baseball field or the freshman . Not easy with HC security. I believe a new day is upon us. Time to sell our great football coach and team.
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Post by nycrusader2010 on May 18, 2021 6:34:31 GMT -5
So not to piss on this parade but I would much rather have the game at Fitton than Polar park. First, it will be limited capacity with the fixed seating and sightlines not all that great. 2nd, there is no where to tailgate or park. I have spoken with several patrons of WooSox games and they are parking over near St. John's on Temple Street. 2nd, we all want to be back on campus after the year we have had and with only 4 home games now that leaves us only three chances. THANK GOD we didn't do this game against Harvard. I do look forward to going out to eat pre-game around the stadium as some new restaurants are going up. As a side note, Polar Park is one of the ugliest new pieces of sports infrastructure I have ever seen. No brick, siding looks like the roofs in 3rd world countries. However, it is a close 2nd to Dr. Charles Steinberg's red boots in that photo, what the heck is up with that guy? As much as I complain, I will still be there...let's just always book the lowest turnout game next time like GTown. I had the same sort of view on this as you when the idea of a football game here was first discussed. Polar Park isn't Fenway or Yankee Stadium. Limited capacity. But the idea of playing one game here has grown on me a little bit. I would not have wanted to "waste" this neutral site event on a game where we might've drawn 10K anyway (Harvard). I do think that while many of us would always prefer going to a game at home sweet home Fitton over a minor league baseball park, this game does have the opportunity to bring an incremental crowd to a football game, namely younger alumni, especially since its a night game. Pre-game bar crawl in downtown will be cool change of pace from getting herded off Freshman Field by law enforcement. And I think that students might get excited about it and attend in numbers as well. By no means would I want HC to move one home game here every year. Once every 3-4 years would be fine. Colgate is the perfect opponent for this venue. Sort of a middle-of-the-road PL opponent at the moment -- giving up a couple points worth of home-field advantage shouldn't tip the scales here. And they have a strong alumni presence in Metro Boston so I expect a decent road turnout. I probably won't attend this game unless I bring my wife and daughter (who will be turning 2 the following weekend) and get a hotel in Worcester after the game. My dad probably wouldn't have any interest in a night game -- but he'll always be down for a 1pm KO at Fitton.
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Post by hc6774 on May 18, 2021 6:44:41 GMT -5
After the Canal District, hope there are plans to revitalize Southbridge Street from downtown to College Hill.It would help tremendously in improve a well travel artery in the city. maybe a game day intermodal railroad shuttle could transport to/from Polar/Fitton
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Post by timholycross on May 18, 2021 7:26:21 GMT -5
What's on Southbridge Street between HC and downtown at this point? Is it mostly abandoned lots or viable businesses (attractive or, more likely, unattractive) that have every right to be there?
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