Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | October 25, 2021 | Worcester Business Journal 37 W O R C E S T E R R E D S O X F A C T B O O K I n a world of COVID-reduced expectations, the Worcester Red Sox were pleased with the home attendance in their inaugural season at Polar Park, although the baseball team wants to increase that for its second season. "Our expectation is getting even stronger attendance figures," said Dan Rea, WooSox general manager and executive vice president. "I feel confident - yes. I would expect numbers that are comparable, if not better, next year." In a season beset by capacity restrictions, first due to coronavirus gathering limitations, and then delays in the completion of the $160-million Polar Park stadium, the WooSox averaged 6,145 fans per home game in 2021, making them sixth among the 120 Minor League Baseball teams. Still, that number is not quite what team and city officials projected when they excitedly announced in 2018 the team would relocate from Pawtucket, R.I. "Before COVID, if you would have Improving expectations Following their inaugural season, the WooSox seek to build on COVID-impacted attendance BY BRAD KANE WBJ Editor said the team would average 6,100 in its inaugural season, that would have been a disaster of a number," said Victor Matheson, a professor specializing in sports economics at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester. Of the other teams who finished top 10 in attendance, Matheson said they averaged a decrease of 2,200 in fans per game for 2021, while the WooSox saw an increase of 900 fans per game, compared to their 2019 season in Pawtucket. "It was way better than the zero attendance they all had in 2020," Matheson said. "is is a weird season in general for folks overall." Like Rea, Matheson expects the WooSox attendance to increase in the team's second season, although the pandemic is eating into the 10-year honeymoon period teams typically get when they move into a new stadium. Rising attendance, limited sellouts For the first 12 home games of the WooSox season, state-mandated COVID regulations limited attendance to 2,377. Aer that, the construction of Polar Park was ongoing, limiting capacity in various stages until all the seats could be opened for ticket sales. Average game attendance in June was 6,813, followed by 7,151 in July. "We figured this was the hand we were dealt," Rea said. "We had high expectations. Even with the specter of COVID, we thought we would have a robust turnout." e team sold out the planned capacity of 9,508 for the first time on The Worcester Red Sox inaugural game at Polar Park was May 11, which had a restricted attendance of 2,377. By this June 4 game (pic- tured), COVID capacity restrictions were lifted, and the team had 6,029 fans attend this game. The first WooSox 2021 home game were limited to season tickethold- ers, with a very small number of gameday tickets. PHOTOS/MATT WRIGHT Continued on next page

• Cover