Ahead of their upcoming move to the city, Pawtucket Red Sox (Class AAA; International League) officials are pitching other businesses on the merits of Worcester, MA.
Worcester officials and the PawSox continue planning for Polar Park, a new ballpark slated to open in 2021. While providing the franchise with a modern home, the ballpark is also being positioned as a potential economic catalyst for Worcester, as it is the anchor of a planned $240 million redevelopment initiative in the city’s Kelley Square/Canal District area.
As the ballpark project takes shape, PawSox executive vice president Dan Rea III and other team officials are taking an active role in touting Worcester to businesses, including those in the Greater Boston area. Among the selling points Rea has noted for Worcester are the number of college students who could remain in the area after graduating, and how the ballpark project will help in furthering the city’s live, work, play balance. More from MassLive:
“I think Worcester is still something of a secret in Greater Boston and the Greater Boston business community,” said Rea, who was recently appointed to the Economic Development Planning Council, a group co-chaired by Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Mike Kennealy and tasked with providing input on and oversight of an economic development plan that will be presented to the governor by the end of the year.
In his role on the council and as general manager of Worcester’s incoming Triple-A team, Rea has been pitching Worcester to businesses from Metro West to Boston’s Seaport.
“If you’re looking for a good place that can be both a recruitment mechanism and a retainment mechanism, Worcester fits,” said Rea, noting that Worcester’s college students are more likely to stay in the community because of the city’s dining scene and entertainment venues like the Hanover Theatre and Palladium.
“I think our presence helps with that live, work, play balance,” Rea added.
Polar Park is expected to break ground next month, with the facility scheduled to be completed in time for the 2021 season. In the interim, the PawSox will continue to play at Pawtucket’s McCoy Stadium.
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