Worcester State University has partnered with the Worcester Red Sox to celebrate regional pride and foster community among students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends.
As a proud partner of the WooSox, Worcester State will now have a visible presence in Polar Park, with a university ambassador scheduled to throw out a ceremonial first pitch and another to be interviewed in the broadcast booth live during a game.
The partnership will also immediately give the Worcester State community access to several perks. For starters, anyone with a valid Worcester State ID can now purchase discounted 5-dollar tickets to any game, including the Opening Day outing against the Syracuse Mets on Friday, March 27.
“By partnering with the WooSox, we’re able to put the university in front of hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people. This has obvious benefits in terms of reaching prospective students and letting them know what we can offer,” said Worcester State Vice President for Enrollment Management, Dr. Ryan Forsythe. “At the same time, the perks available to current students, faculty, and staff are in keeping with our commitment to fostering community among those who are already here on campus.”
Throughout the season, the university will additionally host a number of special game-day gatherings and events at Polar Park, including for alumni and friends of the university.
“We are fortunate to have so many alumni living and working in the Worcester area. Their proximity to campus is no doubt a big reason why so many of them remain engaged with the university, long after graduating,” said Executive Director of Development and Alumni Relations, Felicia Riffelmacher. “Partnerships like this create opportunities for our alumni to come together, celebrate their connection to Worcester State, and share in the pride of being part of this community.”
Added Vice President of University Advancement, Tom McNamara: “Worcester State donors support scholarships, give laptops to students, provide emergency assistance, and so much more. This partnership provides a wonderful opportunity to celebrate their support together at Polar Park.”
For its part, the WooSox organization is planning to celebrate the partnership with a visit to the Worcester State campus. On April 11, the team’s mascot, Smiley Ball, will be on hand to participate in Congratulations Day festivities.
“All of us with the Worcester Red Sox are excited to begin this partnership with Worcester State,” said WooSox President Dr. Charles A. Steinberg. “We offer many options for students to use the design of a ballpark and the beauty of baseball to learn the history of our land, the operation of a sports organization, and the role of an entertainment institution in the social and cultural fabric of a city. We look forward to interacting with the students, faculty, and administrators.”
Held every spring semester, Congratulations Day gives admitted students the chance to explore campus and meet other students and faculty. After meeting Smiley, prospective students and visiting families will be able to attend the afternoon WooSox game against the Columbus Clippers. Admitted students interested in attending Congratulations Day can register to secure their spots today.
The team is the Triple-A affiliate of Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox. Previously based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, the organization began play in Worcester in 2021. The WooSox are one of the Minor Leagues’ preeminent franchises, finishing every recent season with a winning record. Of the 120 Minor League teams, it’s the only one to sell more than 500,000 tickets in each of the past four seasons.
