![]() If Worcester were to put up $15 million, that's a lot of zeros for half a year's worth of business. Number five: a baseball park has a roughly four-to-six-month window of activity. We wouldn't move to Worcester if you paid us – which you'll have to. ”Īs if said source would have said, “Oh, yeah, of course. Now, get this: the Telegram & Gazette reports, “a source within the PawSox adamantly denied to the T&G's Bill Ballou that the prospect of moving to Worcester would be used for leverage. Remember when he was oh so close to moving the Pats out of Massachusetts and into Connecticut when he couldn't get the deal he wanted from state officials here? Well, he didn't get the deal he wanted and guess what? He still stayed in the Bay State. Yes, that Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots. Whether it could handle the expected surge of traffic that would come with having the Baby Red Sox is an entirely different question. Locals have long since mastered the mind-rattling maneuvering associated with staying alive while navigating this intersection, which has several roadways off it, much like an octopus's tentacles. That area, however, is nestled within the city's Canal District, and the only way on and off Worcester's major highway, Interstate 290 – the city does not have a MassPike exit – is by way of Kelley Square. It is widely suggested that the Wyman-Gordon property on Madison Street would make the best and most logical place for a baseball stadium. Now, consider this: the lawmakers we voted into office don't even like the idea of a tax-free weekend because the state simply cannot (cough, cough) afford it, right? Those same lawmakers would have to turn around and dole out some $20 or so million for a ballpark. ![]() And that means the state would have to come up with some moola. That means, in all likelihood, so, too, would Worcester have to foot some of the bill. The state would have to pay $23 million, the city of Pawtucket about $15 million, according to reports. A new stadium in Pawtucket, where the current facility is deemed to have outlived its usefulness, is estimated at $83 million. Number two: there is little to zero chance Worcester and/or Massachusetts wouldn't be asked to pick up a large share of the tab. ![]() Number one, Rhode Island lawmakers, while adjourning their most recent legislative session without approving a bill to finance the ballpark, may very well do so in the fall. It all sounds rather enticing, except for several nagging little details. ![]() Now, according to reports, the PawSox are willing to talk in more than just whispers, should other cities or towns come calling. That's because the team had committed to negotiating with no other cities – until this week. The problem is, of course, much of that confidence is based on backdoor discussions that have never been made public. Indeed, some think Worcester has more than a passing chance at prying the PawSox from Rhode Island and bringing them to New England's second largest city. That is where the team is contracted to play through at least 2020. But with the team now ready to consider offers from other cities and towns, some see Worcester as more than just the pawn in a game to convince Pawtucket and Rhode Island to ante up the big bucks and keep the PawSox right where they are at McCoy Stadium. There have been no real substantive discussions – at least that we know of publicly – between PawSox ownership and city officials here. The mere mention of a possible team nickname – can you say WooSox? - is enough to make some absolutely giddy. Perhaps with visions of catching the likes of Chris Sale or Mookie Betts on a rehab assignment, the general reaction among many to the mere possibility of Worcester landing the Boston Red Sox' Triple-A affiliate Pawtucket Red Sox has been, predictably, overwhelmingly positive.Įven city officials regarded as fierce watchdogs of taxpayer dollars appear to have been hit by Cupid's arrow when it comes to the idea of bringing minor league baseball to Worcester.
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