WORCESTER, Mass. - Polar Park is trading in its foul poles for goal posts this weekend as the home of the Worcester Red Sox welcomes college football back.

"It's a great way to see Polar Park, if you haven't seen it," WooSox Chairman and Principal Owner Larry Lucchino said. "Or, if you've only seen it in one dimension, that is the baseball dimension."

What You Need To Know

  • Holy Cross will take on Bucknell in the 2nd EBW Classic football game Saturday at Polar Park

  • Last year, Holy Cross and Colgate played in the ballpark's first football game in front of more than 9,500 fans

  • Assumption University and Worcester Tech will also play football games at the ballpark Sunday

The second edition of the EBW Classic will feature the Holy Cross football team taking on Bucknell Saturday afternoon.

For Lucchino, events like this game are part of the promise they made when they came to Worcester.

"This is more than a ballpark," Lucchino said. "And we're happy to do that. We want to do more of it.” 

Last year, Holy Cross defeated Colgate in front of a sellout crowd of more than 9,500 fans in the first ever football game at Polar Park. Holy Cross and the WooSox are looking to recreate the magic of 2021, but year two comes with its challenges.

"After the first of something, right, that's always the challenge," Kit Hughes, Holy Cross' Associate Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics, said. "How do we make sure the sales are still strong? And you know, frankly, it has been picking up."

Hughes says having a good team has helped ticket sales. The Crusaders are undefeated so far this season, in the top 10 of FCS rankings and are looking to claim their fourth straight Patriot League title.

"We have a chance to do things other teams haven't done here before, frankly," Hughes said. "Those opportunities don't come around all the time."

By Tuesday afternoon, most of the infield dirt was covered with grass as crews prepared the field for Saturday's showdown. It's a game both the college and the baseball team want to become an annual tradition.

"It makes for a better investment for the city," Lucchino said. "It makes for a more interesting city."

"Being able to host an event like this in the city, closer to folks and hopefully make it special and easier for them to get engaged, you know it ties into everything we're trying to do big picture," Hughes said.