MARLBORO, Mass.-
A 30-year-old construction worker from Arizona was killed when he fell 35 to 50 feet while working at the New England Sports Center on Sunday.
Police said they were alerted to the fall just before noon and the man was taken by ambulance to UMass Memorial - Marlboro Hospital, where he died about an hour later.
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration responded, along with the medical examiner’s office and police detectives.
Marlboro Police Lt. Robert Jusseaume said the man was working for a steel company that is constructing new ice rinks at the facility on Donald Lynch Boulevard. It is believed he fell from a beam, police said.
MARLBOROUGH – The 88,830-square-foot expansion of the New
England Sports Center remains on track to be completed early this
spring.
The project: The City
Council this summer signed off on a special permit allowing New England
Sports Management, which operates the center, to expand. The expansion
will include two new ice rinks, 110 more parking spaces and potentially a
second restaurant, said Wes Tuttle, general manager of the New England
Sports Center.
Timeline: Construction crews
recently installed footings, plumbing and the foundation for the new
rinks. Tuttle expects work on the last foundation wall will be completed
in the next few days and crews will then begin work paving the parking
lot. “We’re very, very happy with the progress,” said Tuttle. “It’s
exciting. We’re anxious to get it done.” Crews cleared numerous trees
over the summer where the rinks and parking lot will be located. Tuttle
hopes the new rinks will open in February or March.
Growth:
The expansion will provide additional opportunities, such as allowing
more teams to play at the complex, attracting bigger national and global
hockey tournaments and the addition of a curling club. Tuttle and
Sudbury Firefighter Mike Matros are also organizing the Hero Cup hockey
tournament, which will bring teams of firefighters from across the world
to the center to compete.
Economic benefit: Susanne
Morreale-Leeber, president and CEO of the Marlborough Regional Chamber
of Commerce, characterized the center as a key resource to helping city
businesses flourish. Morreale-Leeber expects the ongoing expansion will
increase business to city hotels, restaurants and shops. “The New
England Sports Center has been really key all these years in helping our
community stay stable,” she said. “With the expansion, they’re going to
be able to attract large competitions and that means more business for
our business people. It’s good for the business community.”
The facility:
Built in 1994 with four ice rinks, the New England Sports Center has
undergone a handful of expansions in recent years. In 2005 the facility
added a fifth rink and expanded again in 2010 to add a sixth to meet the
growing demand for ice time. The complex also features a pro shop,
arcade and restaurant. The center has hosted numerous national and
regional events during its history.