In their quest to increase Fenway Park's capacity and revenue, the new Red Sox organization first added 274 seats atop the Green Monster, then 240 on the newly-built right field roof deck, plus additional standing room in each of those sections.

This off-season, they've blown out and reconfigured much of the seating structure behind and above home plate, adding 2500 premium and luxury seats. The whole ballpark is a MUCH more accommodating place than it was when ownership changed hands four years ago.

I recently ran across an EXCELLENT series of videos of a presentation given by Janet Marie Smith, the Red Sox' architect in residence. I think she's brilliant, and her presentation is fascinating for those of us interested in Fenway's recent history, and its future. They're in the section titled The Past and Future of Fenway Park. (Peter Gammons shows up, too.)

I am seriously impressed with what they have done. Can't wait to see the changes.

I had heard they were remodeling, but was afraid they were going to ruin an icon.

Have to admit it looks well thought out, and might even be better.

Now lets hope the RS can get to the pennant this year.

R

Yeah, my company is one of the sponsors/owners, or whatever you call it of the "new 406 club", and all it means is that more executives who don't give a shit about baseball will be able to see games for free.

I sound bitter. LOL

What??? Hmmm???? Bitter???? You?

Nah. nope unh, unh.... wellll...

Now that you've mentioned it...

-----------------------------------------------

I am kind of glad they made the changes to the 406 and the HoF; I really liked the 406 on a cold evening, but you just were not part of the game there. You couldn't hear anything, and it just wasn't.... Fenway.

But heated leather seats like in my car would have been nice on some of those evenings...<sigh>. I take it that part never made it through the process into the renovations.

Ohhh well, I would rather be in 1st base line field boxes anyway (which I hear they have also expanded somehow).

Sigh, probably no games this year unless something really special happens.

"Cricket" is just NOT the same, even if I could figure out the rules.

R

PS - Yes, the above was a DIG , if you couldn't tell...

Ed for PS

[ March 30, 2006, 06:21 AM: Message edited by: ITJock ]

Actually, "gone is the high glass that sat in front of what was the .406 Club. That area will be open now, with a lower half -- the EMC Club, a $275 seat that will be heated -- and upper half known as the Home Plate Pavilion."

I expect the whole section will become commonly known as "the EMC Club".


ETA: I just found this great aerial photo of the area surrounding the ballpark, with my condo building at the very bottom. Cool!

[ March 30, 2006, 11:50 AM: Message edited by: fenwayguy ]

Not related to Fenway renovations, but the red Sox do have a new marketing partner. From the Associated Press:

There's no sanctioned gambling in baseball, right? There is now.

According to Bloomberg News, the Boston Red Sox have teamed up with the state of Massachusetts to sell lottery tickets, beginning April 11. Prizes include $1-million payouts and lifetime season tickets to games at Fenway Park.

Red Sox President Larry Lucchino calls it an "innovative venture." Too bad Pete Rose didn't think of that.

I wish my LA Kings would do something like this. I'd much rather win my season tickets than pay for them!

~Adam

whoops, had my info wrong, one of the new sections will be named after the company I work for...I thought it was the .406 club, but it's a new pavillion.

LIFETIME Seasons tickets? Er, which section ?

How many lottery tickets do I have to buy?

Considering a pair of Field Box Seasons Tickets set you back an average of around $180 per game this year...

R