Warming to Worcester?
Lucchino & Co. meet with Worcester officials last week
PawSox officials confirm meeting with Worcester officials to discuss, among other things, a potential ballpark there.
PAWTUCKET — It appears Worcester’s pitch to lure the Pawtucket Red Sox is gaining some serious traction. In an article published on Monday by Worcester Magazine,
PawSox chairman Larry Lucchino along with several frontoffice members made a pilgrimage to Worcester last Friday for a tour/meeting that was hosted by the city’s mayor, Joe Petty, City Manager Ed Augustus, Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Tim Murray, Chief Development Officer Michael Traynor, and Assistant Chief Development Officer Heather Gould. The Call
The PawSox confirmed to that a meeting did take place, saying they were merely responding to an invitation from Worcester officials.
“The club toured the city’s bustling Canal District and learned of Worcester’s interest in the PawSox,” the team said in The Call. an emailed statement to
Besides Lucchino, the PawSox entourage to Worcester included vice chairman Mike Tamburro, general manager Dan Rea, senior vice president for club counsel Kim Minor, and longtime ballpark architectural consultant and urban planner Janet Marie Smith, who has a history of working with Lucchino on a few ballpark-related projects. Smith is joining the PawSox’ planning and developing team.
“We did what we’re supposed to do,” Worcester Magazine Petty told about the PawSox paying a visit to a New England city that’s been mentioned as a possible landing spot in the event the team, the city of Pawtucket, and the state of Rhode Island are unable to come to an agreement for a new ballpark.
“It was just an introductory meeting. It seemed pretty positive. Hopefully those conversations will continue,” Petty added.
Earlier this month, the PawSox announced the club would respond to other cities who present proposals for potential ballpark sites. The PawSox pledged exclusivity through the R.I. General Assembly’s legislative session ended in June. The proposal for a ballpark that would be situated on the Apex department store land was never formally introduced before the session ended, though the possibility of reconvening for a special fall session was mentioned.