WORCESTER, Mass. - Polar Park was just named best AAA ballpark in the country by Ballpark Digest, but one local professor said the park hasn't been a homerun when it comes to city finances. 

Robert Baumann at College of the Holy Cross said the park has promised more than its actually delivered. When being pitched to residents, the city said the park would pay for itself and they would not need to dip into the general fund. Baumann looked at the promised returns for 2024 and found instead of a forecast $4 million surplus, the park will actually come up $1 million short. 

"If you enjoy the park, that's wonderful, this is not about disliking baseball or anything on that," Baumann said. "This is about what was promised, not to dip into the general fund, and it is, in our opinion. It's not the hugest amount of money.

"You could easily make and argument that, 'I like the park, I like the identity that is gives Worcester,' which I agree is a great thing. The point is the city is still saying the park is paying for itself and, based on the numbers I saw for the projected 2024 budget, that's not the case."

It's important to note Baumann said the original city economic report did not take risk factors into account and the COVID-19 pandemic ended up being a big one.

Worcester Mayor Joe Petty said to his knowledge, the city has not dipped into the general fund to pay for anything, and he agrees the pandemic has delayed some of the economic development surrounding the park.