Where in Worcester are the Tornadoes?

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Joe Parello, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

The corporate offices of the Worcester Tornadoes were closed to the club's staff Monday.

Locked out of their corporate offices with four games remaining on their schedule, just where are the Worcester Tornadoes conducting their business these days?

The club's office on Main Street was visited by movers yesterday, removing furniture and personal items after the staff had been locked out by a constable Monday. The constable delivered paperwork notifying the staff that the franchise was in the process of being held due to a lawsuit filed by attorney Margaret M. Melican, representing The Hilton Garden Inn on Major Taylor Blvd. among others.

Multiple sources near the campus of the College of the Holy Cross, where the Tornadoes play their home games at the school's Hanover Insurance Park, said they had seen Tornado personnel working out of the ballpark. A call placed to the field's press box was answered by a male identifying himself as a member of the Tornadoes.

The man would not reveal his name, and denied that the Tornadoes were operating out of Hanover Insurance Park. He instead said that a small portion of the staff was working from a different, undisclosed location in the city of Worcester. However, the number dialed is listed as a Worcester Tornadoes number at 1 College Street in Worcester, the address of Holy Cross.

Holy Cross among the creditors

The Tornadoes allegedly owe Holy Cross upwards of $50,000, but the school's Manager of Media Relations and Communication Crystal Stewart says that will not affect the team's ability to finish the season.

"The Tornadoes' summer season at Holy Cross is offered to them rent-free. That includes use of the press box and locker rooms," Stewart said. "The money they owe Holy Cross is largely for maintenance costs and utilities."

Stewart went on to say that she was unaware of the staff working out of the park's press box, but that she is hopeful the team is able to rebound and return to Holy Cross.

"Holy Cross has been a partner with the Tornadoes since they came to Worcester," Stewart said. "We're going to continue to work with the Tornadoes and with the city to try and keep professional baseball in Worcester."

The Tornadoes played last night at the ball park and will finish up their home schedule tonight at 7:05 pm against the Rockland Boulders.