| Give Us Your Opinion | | The WBJ Daily Report Flash Poll seeks the votes and viewpoints of Central Massachusetts business leaders each week on a topic of importance. Please take a minute or two to read the question below and the details behind it, then cast your vote and add your opinion. The results will be announced in Thursday's edition of the WBJ Daily Report. | | THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: | To entice the Pawtucket Red Sox to move, Worcester will borrow about $101 million to fund the construction of a new Canal District ballpark development, which also will include hotels and apartments. The team is putting up $6 million up front and will pay the team about $30 million in rent over the 30-year lease to help pay back the loans. The city says the project will pay for itself with revenues from a special taxing district surrounding the development. In Rhode Island, the team would have had to put up $45 million in upfront construction costs in addition to likely lease payments. Is the WooSox stadium deal good for Worcester? Yes. The ballpark and surrounding developments should attract enough business to generate sufficient tax revenue to pay off the $101 million.
Yes. Landing a Red Sox minor league franchise is a coup regardless of whether the development pays for itself.
No. A $101-million public subsidy is far too much for a city still struggling with high business property taxes.
No. Worcester’s inconsistent history of supporting sports team will bear out once the novelty wears off.
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