FREITAS AWARD:TRIPLE-A WORCESTER RED SOX

The WooSox tap into the city of Worcester's 'habits, points of pride, idiosyncrasies' to create an inviting atmosphere for fans

- by BA STAFF

The Pawtucket Red Sox announced in August 2018 that the Triple-A International League franchise would relocate to Worcester, Mass., after negotiations for a new park in Rhode Island fell through.

According to Worcester club president Dr. Charles Steinberg, who was with the franchise in Pawtucket, 18 cities across New England made pitches for the franchise, with Worcester winning the sweepstakes.

A month later, the city rolled out a literal red carpet for its new team in the commons downtown, with Red Sox luminaries such as Worcester native Rich Gedman and Pedro Martinez on hand. Afterward, the club really started working to get to know its new home.

“One month after that grand civic celebration, on Oct. 16, we did the first of 21 fan plan sessions,” Steinberg said. “Each one had 25 people in a room. It was, ‘Tell us what you want. Tell us what’s important.’ We had to know how to make sure the franchise feels and smells and tastes like Worcester.”