Patriots stadium construction firm to serve as WooSox ballpark project manager

Image/Courtesy A rendering of the proposed Polar Park, to be home of the Worcester Red Sox starting in 2021.

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By Zachary Comeau

Worcester officials are set Friday to select New York-based Skanska USA, a subsidiary of Swedish construction firm Skanska, as the owner’s project manager for the $90-million Worcester Red Sox stadium project.

The Worcester Redevelopment Authority, the city’s public body managing the project, is set to vote Friday to select Skanska USA Building, Inc. as the OPM and to authorize the spending of $545,650 for the initial phase of services.

If selected, the firm will be responsible for ensuring Polar Park, proposed to be built as part of a $240-million redevelopment of the Canal District, is open for the start of the 2021 baseball season.

Skanska USA is based in New York City and has offices in Boston. Its parent company, Skanska, is based in Stockholm, Sweden.

The firm has extensive experience building sports facilities, including Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, the home of the New England Patriots and New England Revolution.

Other sports-related projects include Nissan Stadium for the NFL’s Tennessee Titans, MetLife Stadium for the NFL’s New York Giants and New York Jets, and several other stadium projects for colleges and universities.

The vote is expected to come two days after an agreed-upon deadline of Oct. 10, per a letter of intent signed between the city and club on Aug. 17.

The city could accomplish several significant milestones for the project this week, as it is expected to interview a designer for the ballpark Wednesday and Thursday. The seven firms up for consideration will be ranked and a recommendation will be made to City Manager Edward Augustus.