WORCESTER, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — The long-awaited day has come in Worcester's Canal District. The home field of the Worcester Red Sox (nicknamed the "WooSox") will hold its first baseball game today. The WooSox started their season last Tuesday in Trenton, New Jersey, when they played a series against the Buffalo Bison. The Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox is now 2-4 going into its home opener.
After some cost overruns, the ballpark is now the most expensive minor league baseball stadium ever built, coming in at $159.5 million according to the Worcester Business Journal.
Bill Wanless, the WooSox's Vice President of Communications, said the team will host around 2,400 fans today.
The ballpark has been in the works since 2018, when the then-Pawtucket Red Sox were enticed to move to Worcester for the new stadium. The team had played in Pawtucket as the "PawSox" for decades before the move.
Polar Park will be able to open at 25% capacity, as the state moved into Phase 4, Step 2 of its reopening plan on Monday. The team will play the Syracuse Mets, who are 1-5 on the season. The teams take the field at 3:05 today.
Gov. Charlie Baker, City Manager Edward Augustus Jr., Mayor Joseph Petty, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, Lucchino, Pedro Martinez and Jim Rice threw out the ceremonial first pitch at Tuesday's game.
WBZ's James Rojas (@JamesRojasWBZ) reports:
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(Photo: James Rojas/WBZ NewsRadio)