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IL Worcester Red Sox

WooSox to Launch "Second Half" of Inaugural Season with Debut of "The Berm" in the Outfield at Polar Park

July 12, 2021 - International League (IL)
Worcester Red Sox News Release


WORCESTER, MA - Coming off a record-setting Fourth of July at Polar Park, and a Saturday Open House that drew more than a thousand fans, the Worcester Red Sox will tomorrow launch the "second half" of their inaugural season, introducing "The Berm" in the outfield to provide General Admission lawn seating. The grassy slope extends from left field to centerfield.

The club will cut the ribbon on the latest feature at Polar Park when the gates open at 5:30 p.m. before they start a 7-game, 6-day series against the New York Yankees' Triple-A club, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. Game time Tuesday is 6:35 p.m.

The Berm is the first of several additions expected to debut during the second half of the season. Later in the summer, Polar Park is set to receive an authentic Boston Duck Boat, "Beantown Betty," that carried World Champions of the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics, and Bruins through the streets of Boston and, in some cases, into the Charles River. The amphibious craft is retiring to Worcester and will welcome well-wishers when it resides on Summit Street beyond right field.

A vintage piece of Worcester Americana is also expected to join the Duck Boat on Summit Street this season. The authentic Sherwood Diner (pronounced Sheerwood) is currently being restored to its mid-20th century luster, and will serve as the home of the WooSox Foundation. Former Red Sox players are expected to meet fans, sign autographs, and help raise funds for charity inside the historic dining car.

Forthcoming elements also include "A Taste of Worcester," presented by Masis Staffing, where more local restauranteurs will offer their selections to increase the ballpark's local flavor. Delicacies will include Nuovo of Shrewsbury Street, Taco Caliente of Main South, Chashu Ramen & Izakaya on the Worcester Common, and Akra, which provides West African cuisine in the Worcester Public Market. More partners from Worcester's vibrant restaurant scene are expected as well.

This local flavor joins Polar Park staples such as Coney Island Hot Dogs, Table Talk Pies, Wonder Bar Pizza, BT's Smokehouse, and specialty dishes from Lock 50 and Russo's for fans in the DCU Club. And of course, Polar Beverages are ubiquitous at the ballpark that bears its name, and Wormtown Brewery has a vast array of popular local products.

The season's second half will also see new members of the WooSox Corporate Family, including Framingham State and the Worcester Regional Airport.

The club will continue its planning and development efforts on the heels of 305 suggestions that came from fans who attended Polar Park's Inaugural Open House this past Saturday, July 10. Fans roamed the new ballpark and gave feedback to Red Sox Hall of Famer and WooSox Chairman & Principal Owner Larry Lucchino, as well as renowned Ballpark Advisor Janet Marie Smith, and a host of club officials.

The fan feedback has now been codified and added, hand-written, to the "Blue Book" of 877 ideas generated in 21 Fan Planning Meetings held from October, 2018 through March 5, 2020. Contributions from "Suggestion Saturday" raise the total to 1,137.

Ideas ranged from adding WRTA shuttles from high schools to providing kids with Cotton Candy and adults with Iced Coffee.

A number of fans suggested additional illumination under the nearby Madison Street and Green Street bridges, as well as signage at the more than 21 downtown parking lots and garages that guide fans to the various entrances of Polar Park. All four gates-A, B, C, and D-are now open for fans.

"We built this ballpark upon a foundation of creative and thoughtful ideas from thousands of people," Lucchino said, "Now we want to refine and improve and enhance this ballpark with their feedback as well. It was gratifying to hear the abundant praise, to be sure, but it was also inspiring to hear suggestions that can make Polar Park even more comfortable."

Beyond the ballpark in the second half of the season, the WooSox and the WooSox Foundation will start visiting towns in Worcester County and beyond to connect with more fans and to extend the club's impact on the community.

"Fans have been coming to us from Shrewsbury and Princeton and Holden and Paxton; from Northbridge and Southbridge and Uxbridge and Grafton," Lucchino said. "Now we want to go visit these towns-as well as such hotbeds of passion as Leominster and Fitchburg and Clinton-and engage with these loyal fans as well.

"There is always a way to help a community, and we are setting out on an ambitious road to see how our WooSox Foundation can help each city and town in our region. Gestures do not have to be grand to be impactful; you can enhance lives with the smallest of touches. We look forward to beginning this regionalization initiative imminently."

The 7-game, 6-day series begins with "An All-Star Tuesday." Fans not only receive the latest Photograph in the season-long Polar Park Collection series, they can also extend their visit after the game to watch Major League Baseball's All-Star Game live from Coors Field in Denver, CO.

On Wednesday, the WooSox and RailRiders play a single-admission double header starting at 4:35 p.m. The twin bill makes up for the postponed game Friday, July 2. Fans with tickets from the rained out game can exchange them for any regular season home game this year at the same or lesser value, pending availability.

Hanover Insurance will be bringing the largest group-more than 4,000 fans--in the park's young history on Wednesday, and the club will continue its series, "Women on Wednesday; the Women of Worcester." Between games, the club will honor Deb Hall, Executive Director of the YWCA, for the organization's efforts to help those affected by domestic violence. She will receive an autographed baseball signed by Hall of Famer Joe Torre, who attended Polar Park's Opening Day and who created the Safe at Home Foundation to fight domestic violence. Gates open at 4 p.m., and fans can arrive anytime during the first or second game.

Thursday is another College Night (a $15 ticket includes a $9 credit for food, beverage, and merchandise), and popular Friday Night Fireworks are presented by UniBank.

Saturday's 4:05 p.m. game includes a special Polar Park visit from two colorful characters of the "All-American Girls Professional Baseball League." Maybelle "All the Way Mae" Blair, 94, and Shirley Burkovich, 88, played more than 70 years ago in the league that inspired the Hollywood Baseball Classic, "A League of Their Own." Both were involved with the making of the movie. Saturday's game is followed by a Sunset Catch on the Field presented by Dunkin'.

Sunday's series finale, which starts at 1:05 p.m., is punctuated with another edition of "Kids Run the Bases," presented by HP Hood. Sundays are Fallon Health Family Fundays.

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