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Poll results

When Worcester city officials first proposed the Polar Park baseball stadium in August 2018 as the new home of the minor league baseball Pawtucket Red Sox, the cost was estimated at $101 million, with the team paying for $36 million of that expense while the city government paid for the rest; and city officials insisted the stadium costs would be more than covered by the tax collections and other revenues from the surrounding development, even as sports economists doubted the veracity of those claims. The City Council unanimously approved the ballpark development plans, based on those numbers and the excitement of the team moving to Worcester. On Friday, city officials increased the stadium cost estimate for the second time, with the total expense now at $157 million, and the team covering $53 million; and city officials remaining steadfast the stadium would pay for itself over 35 years.

If you had known in 2018 the public cost of the WooSox baseball stadium would be $104 million (instead of $65 million), would you have supported the project?
Yes, I supported it then, and I support it now. (35%, 84 VOTES)
Yes, I didn't support it in 2018, but now I see the positive impact it is having on Worcester. (1%, 2 VOTES)
No, the costs seemed reasonable then, but now they are out of control. (17%, 40 VOTES)
No, I didn't support it then, and I don't support it now. (25%, 61 VOTES)
It doesn't matter. The decision has already been made, and we need to move forward. (22%, 54 VOTES)
Poll Description

When Worcester city officials first proposed the Polar Park baseball stadium in August 2018 as the new home of the minor league baseball Pawtucket Red Sox, the cost was estimated at $101 million, with the team paying for $36 million of that expense while the city government paid for the rest; and city officials insisted the stadium costs would be more than covered by the tax collections and other revenues from the surrounding development, even as sports economists doubted the veracity of those claims. The City Council unanimously approved the ballpark development plans, based on those numbers and the excitement of the team moving to Worcester. On Friday, city officials increased the stadium cost estimate for the second time, with the total expense now at $157 million, and the team covering $53 million; and city officials remaining steadfast the stadium would pay for itself over 35 years.

  • 241 Votes
  • 3 Comments
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3 Comments

  • Mark Mungeam
    January 12, 2021

    I feel for the city because I'm sure that a large amount of this latest additional cost was due to delays caused by the COVID crisis, over which they had no control. It is a complex project being done at a time when construction costs are high and I feel they should have been better prepared for design changes and cost overruns.

  • Dom Cassone
    January 12, 2021

    Anybody who thought that the costs would not go up doesn't know how government project work. They always tell you one number, then it gets much higher.

  • January 12, 2021
    In 35 years, when it will have "paid for itself," the stadium will be out of date, as was the DCU Center, and then need upgrades to meet new codes. At what cost to the city?