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With yesterday’s rain behind us, we have a weekend of sunny — if nice — weather ahead, and Boston isn’t letting it go to waste. The city is celebrating the weekend of September (yes, I know, already!) with two open-air events.
First, the city’s third open street day will close more than two miles of Dorchester Avenue to cars on Saturday for a variety of walking and shopping events. Then, we have the last Newbury Street of the year on Sunday.
Plus, don’t miss all the festivals happening around Massachusetts this weekend, as highlighted here by our arts and culture community.
Now, here’s the news: We still don’t know when actual sports betting in Massachusetts will begin, but we do know it will be a wait (months, at least). And it can be a wait even for the most popular format: online and app-based sports betting. Members of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission said Thursday that they are considering the industry’s emergence, allowing virtual sportsbooks in places like casinos to open before mobile wagering takes place.
The commissioners said that the two-step process could at least allow more startups to bet on sports than if they launched the entire industry. The first brick-and-mortar locations eligible to host sports betting are the state’s three casinos — Encore Boston Harbor in Everett, MGM in Springfield and Plainridge Park Casino — and simulcast centers at Raynham Park and Suffolk Downs. In fact, two of the casinos (Encore and MGM) have already built sports bars on their properties that they plan to quickly convert to sports books.
During a meeting with several dozen companies hoping to offer online betting in Massachusetts, almost no one expressed opposition to the idea of outsourcing seats. Almost all of the company’s representatives said they would be okay with the process, as long as in-person sportsbooks are not allowed to launch mobile betting platforms before the rest of the industry. Even DraftKings, the one company that has talked about leaving in-person sportsbooks open in the first place, said the top priority is to at least make sure all mobile platforms have the same start date.
PSA: Another MBTA line closure will begin tomorrow. The buses will replace the Green Line’s D branch (from Kenmore to Riverside) this weekend through next Sunday, Oct. 9. Then they’ll do it again for nine days on Oct. 8-16 — and then . October 22-30.
Like the Orange Line closures and others in the past, T officials said the closures will allow them to ramp up much-needed maintenance. In this case, they will replace more than 6,000 feet of track, upgrade the crossing, and install new anti-collision equipment.
Free shuttle buses will stop at all D branch stations except Beaconsfield due to narrow lanes. T officials advised users of Beaconsfield stations to either jump on the train at Lakes or use the C branch which is only five miles away.
Meanwhile in the Worcester area, bus riders can keep their wallets in their pockets. Yesterday, leaders of the Worcester Regional Transportation Authority voted to extend their free program from the end of this year to next June.
The WRTA is one of three transit agencies in the state with fully scheduled free bus service, along with the Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority and the Franklin Regional Transit Authority.
The Boston Celtics officially announced last night that they have suspended coach Ime Udoka for the duration of the 2022-23 season due to reports that he had a bad relationship with a team employee. Also, the Celtics did not guarantee the return of Udoka, saying that “a decision will be made on his future with the Celtics after this season.”
Meanwhile, Celtics assistant coach Joe Mazzulla, 34, will take over on an interim basis. On his part, Udoka released a statement in which he apologized and said he accepted the suspension.
PS – The Massachusetts House raised the new tax proposed by the city of Boston this week. You know what it will affect? Then take the Boston News Quiz and test your knowledge of the local news we’ve covered this week.
