Today's Boston Globe has a story about the possibility of 500 new seats being added to the top of the Green Monster. The seats would go in place of the netting, apparently; and likely would not be built before next season, if they're built at all. The Sox's new owners are trying to squeeze in as many seats as they can, until a renovation or replacement plan for Fenway can be developed. Any thoughts?
The story is Sox envision seats atop the Monster.
Full Version: Sitting on the Green Monster?
I saw them discussing this on Pardon the Interruption earlier today and I agree with what Tony Kornheiser said. Those seats would be very, very popular and the equivalent of the bleacher seats at Wrigley Field or Yankee Stadium. There would be a whole group of regulars that would eventually have a nickname or theme. Maybe they'd be called "The Wall Whacks" or "The Monster Toppers". Sounds like it would be a ton of fun!
[ June 04, 2002: Message edited by: George_vikingfan ]
[ June 04, 2002: Message edited by: George_vikingfan ]
I love the idea! It'd be a kick to sit up there, and I imagine plenty of other Red Sox fans would feel the same way. It'll be a nice little revenue stream for the ownership group (an additional ~$1.4 million per season, plus whatever is spent on souvenirs and concessions). Every little bit helps since they're in hock for over $700 million.
I hope this NEVER happens -- is this really what baseball has become, someone, anyone please tell me no!!!!
Does History have any place in this game anymore? First the tigers leave the corner and now this.
Does History have any place in this game anymore? First the tigers leave the corner and now this.
I think the more important part of history is the Green Monster itself, not what's above it.
Puh-leeeeeze ... I never had much tolerance for the Banshees of Baseball who wail over every single change to the game ("Night games at Wrigley?!?! Baseball is RUINED!!!").
Relax. They still have wood bats, 108 stitches on the baseball, and all 37' of the Green Monster in Fenway's left field. Like Joe said, it's the wall itself that matters, not what sits above it.
Guess what? The new owners are going to put ADVERTISING on the Green Monster! Yup, maybe a big ol' Dunkin' Donuts logo, or something. And before you start screaming about all these dollar-driven changes, please note that they used to have advertising up on the Green Monster back in the day. So in a way, the new owners will actually be recovering a bit of Fenway history. Hey, the new ownership group is going to run quite a few million $$$ in the red this year and for years to come. So far, I like their ideas for generating additional revenue. The notion of turning Yawkey Way into a commercial pedestrian mall sounds like a good one. Maybe I'll looky-loo around the new mall before settling into my Green Monster seat next season!
Relax. They still have wood bats, 108 stitches on the baseball, and all 37' of the Green Monster in Fenway's left field. Like Joe said, it's the wall itself that matters, not what sits above it.
Guess what? The new owners are going to put ADVERTISING on the Green Monster! Yup, maybe a big ol' Dunkin' Donuts logo, or something. And before you start screaming about all these dollar-driven changes, please note that they used to have advertising up on the Green Monster back in the day. So in a way, the new owners will actually be recovering a bit of Fenway history. Hey, the new ownership group is going to run quite a few million $$$ in the red this year and for years to come. So far, I like their ideas for generating additional revenue. The notion of turning Yawkey Way into a commercial pedestrian mall sounds like a good one. Maybe I'll looky-loo around the new mall before settling into my Green Monster seat next season!
I am telling you its the first step of losing the monster. First you put fans above it and next you will just do away with it for luxury boxes and suites -- i am sorry but you can have your fancy smancy seats on top of the green monster but in my eyes it should be off limits plain and simple -- something has to be sacred in sports these days and it seems that $$$$$$ is driving more change and IMO it is not for the good!!!! Did i like the night games at wrigley -- no, can i live with it -- yes. do i like the seats above the green monster -- no, can i live with it -- yes, did i like when detroit moved out of the tigers stadium -- no, can i live with it -- yes. Not that big of a deal i JUST DON'T LIKE IT AND THINK IT IS NOT GOOD FOR THE GAME, NO NEED TO GET ALL HUFFY AND PUFFY THERE BUDDY!!!!
Who's getting all huffy puffy here, sparty on? Your post is the one screaming in all caps.
They can't get rid of the Green Monster and put seats in there because of the unusual dimensions of Fenway Park. The reason the 37' high Green Monster exists is that Fenway's left field is boxed in by some city streets and the Mass Pike (it's only 315' from home to the wall, I think). So to make it reasonable for the pitchers, they built a really high wall. If they removed it and just put a bank of seats in there, Fenway Park would become worse than Enron (oh, excuse me, Astros) Field for cheap home runs. The Red Sox pitching staff would stage their own mini-strike.
Rest assured, as long as baseball is played in Fenway Park, the Green Monster will endure. The bigger question is whether or not Fenway Park will continue to be called Fenway, or if the ownership group will take the $10-20 million a year for naming rights. Fidelity Field? John Hancock Park? Eeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!
They can't get rid of the Green Monster and put seats in there because of the unusual dimensions of Fenway Park. The reason the 37' high Green Monster exists is that Fenway's left field is boxed in by some city streets and the Mass Pike (it's only 315' from home to the wall, I think). So to make it reasonable for the pitchers, they built a really high wall. If they removed it and just put a bank of seats in there, Fenway Park would become worse than Enron (oh, excuse me, Astros) Field for cheap home runs. The Red Sox pitching staff would stage their own mini-strike.
Rest assured, as long as baseball is played in Fenway Park, the Green Monster will endure. The bigger question is whether or not Fenway Park will continue to be called Fenway, or if the ownership group will take the $10-20 million a year for naming rights. Fidelity Field? John Hancock Park? Eeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!
Count me among the traditionalists. I'd rather see advertising return to the Green Monster than seats atop it. Because I like that big blank space of netted sky above the wall and watching balls sail into it and on to Landsdowne St. Not to mention the view of the Citgo sign. (But those damn Coke bottles have to go.)
Besides, if they put seats on the wall the Fenway Faithful will piss and moan about the changed aerodynamics of park like they did when they built The 600 Club.
Besides, if they put seats on the wall the Fenway Faithful will piss and moan about the changed aerodynamics of park like they did when they built The 600 Club.
I know full well that the green monster will not go away inside fenway -- what i was getting at was that the sox won't be in fenway much longer if this $$$$ driven changes continues to happen in baseball.
Just an opinion and personally i would never ever sit up there if it does come to fruitation and yes I thought your other post was a bit huffy and puffy with the ""Puh-leeeeeze ..."" statement but that was once again just my opinion -- lets just move on, not a big deal!
[ June 05, 2002: Message edited by: sparty on ]
Just an opinion and personally i would never ever sit up there if it does come to fruitation and yes I thought your other post was a bit huffy and puffy with the ""Puh-leeeeeze ..."" statement but that was once again just my opinion -- lets just move on, not a big deal!
[ June 05, 2002: Message edited by: sparty on ]
Off topic for a sec:
[quote]Originally posted by BoSoxRudy:
Yup, maybe a big ol' Dunkin' Donuts logo, or something.
I was in Boston a couple of weeks ago and I've never seen so many DDs--like 6 in a two mile stretch north of the airport!! I realize the HQ is up there, but they put Starbucks to shame...
Anyhow, I look forward to the seats atop the Monster. And forward to the first drunk guy falling off the top of the Monster...
[quote]Originally posted by BoSoxRudy:
Yup, maybe a big ol' Dunkin' Donuts logo, or something.
I was in Boston a couple of weeks ago and I've never seen so many DDs--like 6 in a two mile stretch north of the airport!! I realize the HQ is up there, but they put Starbucks to shame...
Anyhow, I look forward to the seats atop the Monster. And forward to the first drunk guy falling off the top of the Monster...
Right from the start I'll admit that, because I moved into Red Sox territory (Cape Cod) only this past fall, my affection for the Green Monster has not had the chance to deepen into the strong devotion many lifelong Fenway fans have for that formidable structure, so I'll apologize if I sound disrespectful of tradition. If the wall's integrity --and the function it performs on the play of the game in Fenway-- can be maintained, I think adding seats is a fine idea. I'm just keeping in mind the previous Red Sox owners' threats to abandon Fenway altogether and, I support the new ownership in their efforts to balance "historic preservation" with ballpark revenue, that would enable the franchise to stay profitable in their century-old venue. It impresses me that they are at least trying to explore reasonable solutions, which seems very rare in the business of baseball these days...
[quote]Originally posted by George_vikingfan:
Maybe they'd be called "The Wall Whacks" or "The Monster Toppers". Sounds like it would be a ton of fun!
In another context entirely, I've refered to such people as "Wall Nuts"
Maybe they'd be called "The Wall Whacks" or "The Monster Toppers". Sounds like it would be a ton of fun!
In another context entirely, I've refered to such people as "Wall Nuts"
I found this great photo at SaveFenwayPark.com Green Monster at lower right.
PS- jqueer, LOL!
[ June 12, 2002: Message edited by: redsoxbreath ]
PS- jqueer, LOL!
[ June 12, 2002: Message edited by: redsoxbreath ]
Sorry... I misunderstood. The title on the thread had me thinking this was about Shawn Green...
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