One of my favorite hobbies is soaking up America’s pastime by attending Worcester Woo Sox games. The Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox celebrated its inaugural season in 2021, one year removed from being stuck at home during the coronavirus pandemic. The team’s arrival marked a much-needed oasis for entertainment for me. I fondly recall going to several outings during the team’s first year, roaring along with every home run and affectionately swinging my arms up during the wave.
With my girlfriend living near the Worcester area, the Woo Sox are the closest thing I consider to a hometown team for me. They are also a joy to watch, considering their close-knit ties to our beloved Boston Red Sox (sorry, Yankees fans, this column is not for you!). Seeing stars like Triston Casas and Ceddane Rafaela emerge from simple beginnings into becoming household names continues to be a gratifying experience for regional fans.
I am also a big fan of Polar Park, the beautiful new stadium that the Woo Sox call home. The ballpark feels traditional yet still features countless modern amenities, while the stadium’s intimate seating guarantees no bad views in the arena. There is no feeling like watching a baseball game on a scenic summer night.
Of course, no baseball game is complete without snacks. Polar Park houses a plethora of enticing food options for patrons to munch on during the tense action. I always try my best to “hit the cycle” when I visit, meaning engulfing as much junk food as I can stomach. Here are some of my favorites for those who may be planning a Polar Park visit:
George’s Coney Island hot dog
No baseball game feels complete without a hot dog. It is the perfect portable receptor; you can even hold it in one hand while catching a foul ball with the other.
The Boston Red Sox are famous for featuring Fenway Franks at their ballpark. Thankfully, Polar Park spotlights its own iconic hot dog. George’s Coney Island, located in the heart of Worcester, operates a food booth at all Woo Sox games. Snagging a Coney Island hot dog is always the highlight of my trip.
Coney Island hot dogs are an ideal comfort food. The flavorful meat blend and signature snap of the restaurant’s hot dog offerings are sinfully delicious. It also makes for the perfect accompaniment for a boatload of toppings, including onions or hearty chili.
Ice cream
Ice cream is another must at any baseball game. I always embrace ice cream as the ultimate closer, the dish I call into the game late to provide the perfect grand finale to my eating experience. Polar Park’s ice cream is velvety and rich, conveying the frosty appeal everyone loves in a tremendous soft-serve ice cream dish. Of course, any ice cream at a ballgame must be ordered in the souvenir baseball helmet to match the baseball aesthetic.
Popcorn and pretzels
I always have an insatiable craving for something salty at a ballgame. Sometimes, you just want something to mindlessly chew on as the pitcher and batter engage in their tense standoffs.
Popcorn and a pretzel are the ideal vehicles for that. The doughy, buttery delight of a good pretzel is excellent at filling any appetite, while the well-calibrated saltiness of the popcorn often leaves me grabbing handful after handful.
Polar drinks
One of Polar Park’s specialties is being the purveyor of Polar brand drinks. Polar’s factory is actually located in Worcester; you can see it clear as day from the highway by looking at the inflatable Polar mascot, Orson the Polar Bear, who waves at patrons driving into the city.
Everyone always loses themselves in the time-honored debate between Coke and Pepsi. For me, I would go with Polar products any time. They offer the traditional slate of sodas, but what makes Polar stand out is their eclectic array of flavorful seltzers. There are great standard options like lime and strawberry, but the go-to is always the brand’s seasonal summer staples. From refreshing watermelon to even creating a “Papaya Breeze” flavor, Polar’s seltzers are like a rainbow of exotic yet satisfying sensations.
