Worcester Red Sox

To make up for lost time, the project team could decide to speed up the schedule by having crews work 12 hours per day and/or six days per week, Worcester City Manager Edward Augustus said on the WBJ Podcast.

Construction on Polar Park is temporarily suspended in light of the coronavirus pandemic, Worcester City Manager Edward Augustus announced in a press conference on Wednesday.

Even in the minor leagues, today’s ballparks don’t just serve to host baseball games.

As businesses in the Central Mass. economy continue to react to concerns over the coronavirus, the construction of the $132-million Polar Park baseball stadium in Worcester's Canal District is not expected to be impacted.

The Worcester City Council has approved four new tax breaks for a mixed-use development slated to rise across Madison Street from the $132-million Polar Park public baseball stadium.

More than half dozen economists interviewed by WBJ said the cost overruns will make Polar Park far less likely to come close to paying for itself after it opens in 2021.

The total public spending on all four Canal District projects directly related to the August 2018 announcement by the Pawtucket Red Sox to relocate to Worcester has increased to $189 million.

While the cost to build the Woo Sox's new home at Polar Park in the Canal District has increased to $132 million, the Worcester Red Sox president promised opening day for the Triple A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox remains unchanged.

The $132-million public commitment for the Worcester Red Sox ballpark was to be a catalyst for a $125-million mixed-use development planned to rise next to the stadium. But existing tax breaks and public financing for the development may now be joined by further tax relief requested by Worcester City Manager Edward Augustus.

The planned baseball stadium the City of Worcester is building for the Pawtucket Red Sox now will cost an extra $30 million, with the city and the team paying for the added expense with increased ticket and parking fees, along with adding more properties into the special taxing district.