Topping-Off Ceremony held at Polar Park

Worcester – The City of Worcester and the Worcester Red Sox held a Topping-Off Ceremony at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 13, to observe and celebrate the installation of the last structural steel beam at Polar Park.

The ceremony featured a short speaking program, followed by the raising of the final beam.

Topping off is a longstanding tradition in the construction industry, celebrating the placement of the final beam during building construction. The milestone at Polar Park, future home to the Worcester Red Sox, comes almost five months after the first steel was erected on March 16 – and nearly two years after the Aug. 17, 2018 announcement that the Boston Red Sox Triple-A affiliate Pawtucket Red Sox would be moving to Worcester. When complete, the ballpark, whose construction is being overseen by Gilbane-AECOM Hunt, a joint venture, will accommodate up to 10,000 fans at home games.

Delayed for seven weeks when the City of Worcester shut down construction projects as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ballpark remains on schedule to open in April 2021.

“This important milestone is a testament to the perseverance of all those involved in making Polar Park a reality in Worcester,” City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. said. “We faced roadblocks no one could have anticipated when this project was first envisioned, but the optimism and sense of pride we all felt when it was first announced remains as strong as ever. It has taken on an even bigger role now in symbolizing the resilient nature of Worcester and the forward progress that continues here amid even the most trying circumstances.”

“The steel of Polar Park is more than a building material,” said Red Sox Hall of Famer Larry Lucchino, Chairman of the WooSox. “It’s a symbol of Worcester’s personality—its strength to persevere and make this city an even better place in which to live.”

While festivities on Thursday were not open to the general public, the ceremony was broadcasted on Worcester Government Channel 192 and livestreamed on the City of Worcester’s Facebook page.