$5M a year could head out of Lancaster -- and right into Leominster

LANCASTER — According to a Citizens Bank spokesperson, the Mass Youth Soccer field complex on Lunenburg Road could pump $5 million a year into the local economy, but for the time being, that money may be heading to Leominster.

Citizens Bank has purchased the naming rights to the soccer complex, which officially opens in September but will begin hosting games as early as this month or as soon as the snow melts. The Citizens Bank Fields at Progin Park is expected to be a boon to the region by bringing youth soccer players and their families from around New England to Lancaster.

Mike Jones, director of New England media relations for Citizens said the purchasing of the naming rights is part of a longtime relationship with the soccer organization and a project the bank warmed to.

“There’s going to be a major economic benefit to not only Lancaster but to the region and Massachusetts,” Jones said. “This will be the first complex of its kind in the region.

But the economic benefits spurred by the tax-exempt complex could be headed outside Lancaster, at least for the time being. Jones said studies show the 16-field complex will pump an estimated $5 million a year into local hotels, restaurants, gas stations and other services. The only problem: none of those things exist in North Lancaster. Instead, the nearest shopping centers, hotels and services are just down the road from the complex — in Leominster.

“Clearly those businesses are not in Lancaster,” said Planning Board Chairman Victor Koivumaki upon hearing the estimated revenues. “Although their presence may spur more.”

In fact, the Citizen Bank Fields at Progin Park may prove a key component in further development of North Lancaster — an area rife with developable land and sitting alongside Route 2.

“It’s logical to believe you’re going to see hotels, you’re going to see restaurants. It’s going to be a major destination for the community,” Jones said.

In addition to the fields, Wal-Mart is currently in the planning stages to build an 187,000-square-foot Supercenter just down the road on Old Union Turnpike where the Lancaster Golf Center is now located.

As for the name of the field complex, John Burrill, executive director of Mass Youth Soccer, said Citizens as well as several other organizations and individuals were instrumental in making the complex a reality.

“We had discussions with a number of different organizations, but Citizens Bank was persistent and, certainly from our perspective, brought more to the table both in terms of financial support and other support than anyone else,” Burrill said.

The Citizens contract is for five years. The bank is not disclosing the purchase price for the naming rights, but, according to Jones, the bank hopes it’s a long-term deal.
Burrill agreed.

“Our intent is to go above and beyond what’s called for in the letter of our contract so that citizens wants to remain involved,” he said.

(Noah R. Bombard can be reached at nbombard@cnc.com or at 978-365-8040)