You've never known me to shy away from controversy, right?

[Dojji]

The Sox need to increase their revenue stream in order to have a chance to match finances with the Yankees and remain competitive now that free agent contracts continue to rise.

 

It's time to replace Fenway.

 

The downside of the sellout streak and one of the reasons for all the scaplers is the simple fact that demand for seats, tickets, etc. to watch Red Sox baseball is drastically outstripping the supply. To the point that fans rabidly chase after that elusive opportunity to watch the SOx take on the Kansas City Royals. To the point that I believe that the Sox are letting money get away by not building a capacity that can handle the real New England demand.

 

There's little doubt in my mind that the fanbase would fill a 50,000 seat stadium. This team is not as good as it could be with that revnue stream as a result of its addiction to the past. This leads me to believe that for the sake of the product on the field Fenway should be retired except for a few commemorative games or for the playoffs.

 

You will never see me calling for Fenway to be torn down. I have no doubt at all that it not only could, but should and will be preserved even when (not if) the Sox eventually move on. But it's time to stop pretending that a park build nearly a hundred years ago is adequate to the demands of a modern sports fanbase.

[BSN07]

I love Fenway, but with the current finacial structure replacing it is really the only reasonable way to close the gap.

 

That said I guess your opinion will be decided if you hold Fenway and all that it brings to the table over having the team be able to compete toe to toe with the Yanks.

 

Me personally, I am planted firmly atop the fence. With both sides having compelling arguments.

[Dojji]

All you get for sitting on the fence is a deep wedgie.

 

There's plenty of ways to honor our past and even to make good use of Fenway Park without making it the everyday home venue of the Boston Red Sox. Keeping the Yankees home games, the playoffs, the Patriot's Day morning game, and other selected games in Fenway should keep it in memory while also allowing the team plenty of opportunities to take advantage of the actual market for their performances in a venue of adequate size for their and our needs.

 

Since we're in the Northeast weather corridor, we really should look into a roof, too.

[BSN07]

All you get for sitting on the fence is a deep wedgie.

 

There's plenty of ways to honor our past and even to make good use of Fenway Park without making it the everyday home venue of the Boston Red Sox. Keeping the Yankees home games, the playoffs, the Patriot's Day morning game, and other selected games in Fenway should keep it in memory while also allowing the team plenty of opportunities to take advantage of the actual market for their performances in a venue of adequate size for their and our needs.

 

Wince we're in the Northeast weather corridor, we really should look into a roof, too.

 

Such a thing is unprecedented. but I guess it's possible to play home games in 2 parks.

 

I understand your history angle with the Yanks. But in the grand scheme of money making, wouldn't you want as many seats available to sell for a Yankees series?

[Dojji]

Yeah, but you want history, that rivalry's history, and a lot of superstitious fans would call for Fenway magic for those games anyhow.

 

It's pretty much just an off the cuff idea regardless so there's plenty of room for adjustment.

 

It's a better retirement plan than the Yankees or the Tigers had for their old parks. Cannibalizing the park for sale to the highest bidder or just plain demolishing it aren't really honoring the past, and Fenway has a lot of past.

 

Such a thing is unprecedented. but I guess it's possible to play home games in 2 parks.

 

Am I wrong to remember the Celtics playing some games last year in the actual Boston Garden, or was that in the preseason?

[Dipre]

All you get for sitting on the fence is a deep wedgie.

 

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z313/Sainthero/jew-jitsu.jpg

 

Doiji is a master of it.

[Rdsxmbnt]

I echoed on this back in July: BLOW IT UP!

[pinstripezac]

The downside of the sellout streak and one of the reasons for all the scaplers is the simple fact that demand for seats' date=' tickets, etc. to watch Red Sox baseball is drastically outstripping the supply. [b']To the point that fans rabidly chase after that elusive opportunity to watch the SOx take on the Kansas City Royals[/b]. To the point that I believe that the Sox are letting money get away by not building a capacity that can handle the real New England demand.

 

There's little doubt in my mind that the fan base would fill a 50,000 seat stadium. This team is not as good as it could be with that revnue stream as a result of its addiction to the past.QUOTE]

 

 

I just wanted to mention, I think 50,000 is to big

 

don't under estimate what you said in your 1st paragraph

 

the'' now thinking '' is smaller is better

 

the yanks got smaller , the A's closed off the top deck

 

with the thought that less tickets available causes a higher demand

 

it leads to people buying tickets ahead of time vs thinking

 

if they decide later that they want to go to a game they can get tickets that week

 

 

it's sad to say, but what fenway really needs is those luxury boxes

[BSN07]

It's hard to say, but if the Yanks can leave Yankee Stadium, the Sox can leave Fenway.

 

 

I would like to see the "look" of the park, the dimensions, Green Monster. I would bring in the RF wall though, maybe making it higher as well.

 

What about seating capacity? Should they go really big?

[BSN07]

They could go 45K seats, and maybe have an upper section that gets opened up for Yankee series, special occasions, Playoffs, All- Star game. Bringing the total capacity to around 50K.

[BSN07]

There not that far off here IMO.

 

http://www.ballparks.com/baseball/american/bosbpk.htm

 

 

I'd add the monster seats as to there design obviously. Even add more to that section if possible.

[rician blast]

Fenway is a shithole. It's outdated and as Mr Crunchy would say, the seats were built for 1918 sized asses.

 

That said, I'd have no problem pushing the button to blow it up. But who's gonna pay for a new stadium?

 

Boston ain't the Bronx and there's not an abundance of politicians or taxpayers willing to give the Sox the kind of economic blowjob the Yankees receieved.

[Dojji]

If you think that the Red Sox would have a hard time attracting corporate sponsors I really think you'd be in for a surprise.

[pinstripezac]

If you think that the Red Sox would have a hard time attracting corporate sponsors I really think you'd be in for a surprise.

 

who are you talking too ?

[Dojji]

Rican mostly, talking about financing the hypothetical new stadium

 

Real issue here in replacing Fenway is that "Fenway" is a trademark, and a well-known, lucrative one at that. Thus such things as Roush-Fenway racing. Replacing it with another corporate park might not be in the owners' best interest.

[a700hitter]

Fenway is a shithole. It's outdated and as Mr Crunchy would say, the seats were built for 1918 sized asses.

 

That said, I'd have no problem pushing the button to blow it up. But who's gonna pay for a new stadium?

 

Boston ain't the Bronx and there's not an abundance of politicians or taxpayers willing to give the Sox the kind of economic blowjob the Yankees receieved.

The problem with a new ballpark is not the financing of the construction. The problem is the layers of bureaucracy of crooked politicians, officials and interest groups that are impossible to navigate.

[Teddyballgame10]

All you get for sitting on the fence is a deep wedgie.

 

There's plenty of ways to honor our past and even to make good use of Fenway Park without making it the everyday home venue of the Boston Red Sox. Keeping the Yankees home games, the playoffs, the Patriot's Day morning game, and other selected games in Fenway should keep it in memory while also allowing the team plenty of opportunities to take advantage of the actual market for their performances in a venue of adequate size for their and our needs.

 

This is a very good idea, I dunno if it would ever happen though.

[Cocos Disciples]

I don't like that idea. If you're going to get a new stadium, play all the games there. Keep Fenway as a memorial, but move the baseball to Fenway II.

[BoSox21]

Yea, its about time to build a new ballpark but it just wont happen anytime soon. Ownership has been pouring money into renovations and new features every off-season since taking over which is a sure sign they have no intention of building a new park

[riverside sluggers]

Id say the talks would heat up after they have the 100th anniversary

[26 to 6]

At this point, as long as Henry and co. are the owners there will never be a new ballpark in Boston, which might not necessarily be a bad thing. I certainly understand that both remaining in Fenway and building a new park have their pros and cons, but at this point with the commitment that has been made to renovating and modernizing Fenway they should just stick with it and go full throttle. Despite my feelings towards the Sox organization, there is no denying that Fenway Park is an American jewel. I'm not an architect or an engineer or anything like that, and I know it would be costly but what about maybe adding onto the park somehow to increase the size which would allow more seats to be added? As for the size of the seats and how they were meant for "1918 sized asses," what about one offseason as the renovation project replacing all of those old, small seats? maybe renovate the outdated clubhouses and team facilities, and things of that nature. It will be costly, but it's better than going back on their commitment to Fenway and in effect wasting all of the money that they've poured into renovations.

[soxfan17881]

There's plenty of ways to honor our past and even to make good use of Fenway Park without making it the everyday home venue of the Boston Red Sox.

 

Using Fenway for gimicky s*** would be like retiring the Stanley cup but still bringing it to county fairs for chugging competitions. It's should be all or nothing with Fenway. IF they build a new stadium, they should tear Fenway down by Thanksgiving.

[BoSox21]

If they built a new stadium, they wouldnt necessarily have to tear down Fenway. Why not make the building part a Red Sox museum and the field a public park for example?

[Cocos Disciples]

Where would the new Fenway go? Would they go the YS route and build it in the parking lot area near Fenway (is there even room?), then tear down current Fenway? If they don't do that, there's really nowhere near the current park to build. They could do what McCourt wanted and build near the Convention Center, or go the Patriots' route and build it in the suburbs. Yuck.

[Optimist]

As for the size of the seats and how they were meant for "1918 sized asses' date='" what about one offseason as the renovation project replacing all of those old, small seats?[/quote']

 

I went on a tour a few years back and someone asked that. They said too many seats would be lost if they switched to bigger seats... as if capacity wasn't enough of a problem already.

[BoSox21]

Where would the new Fenway go? Would they go the YS route and build it in the parking lot area near Fenway (is there even room?)' date=' then tear down current Fenway? If they don't do that, there's really nowhere near the current park to build. They could do what McCourt wanted and build near the Convention Center, or go the Patriots' route and build it in the suburbs. Yuck.[/quote']

 

I dont live in Boston but from the 3 times ive visited the city, there doesnt seem to be a whole lot of room to build a 50,000 seat stadium so Id imagine it would go somewhere in the suburbs

[SCM33]

Where would the new Fenway go? Would they go the YS route and build it in the parking lot area near Fenway (is there even room?)' date=' then tear down current Fenway? If they don't do that, there's really nowhere near the current park to build. They could do what McCourt wanted and build near the Convention Center, or go the Patriots' route and build it in the suburbs. Yuck.[/quote']

 

I echo this, theres no room in Boston for it.......where will they put it? On the Dorchester/Chelsea line? They are in a prime location right now, with the attractions in the area....maybe they play their games at a temporary location, rip down the old one, put up a new one.....but I mean, this is the RedSox.....and fans wouldnt go for that, and with the amount of money they will lose...ownership wouldnt either.

[Dojji]

You're right that that is an impediment, but if the new ballpark was well built and honored Fenway they'd probably get over it.

[jacksonianmarch]

Boston doesnt need a Yankee style mecca. Lets be honest, the new yankee stadium is supposed to be like a shopping mall inside of a luxury baseball stadium. A 1.3 billion stadium isnt what the sox need. That being said, as a fan, Fenway is a hole. And it was WORSE than the old Yankee Stadium and Shea, two places that were not fan friendly to begin with. If you get a 45K seat stadium that accomodates today's fans then the sox profit margin will increase over time. Will there be a short term loss? Of course, but thats the point of an investment and that is what a stadium is. And the big thing that will generate massive revenue are the lux boxes. Something that the yankee stadium lacked and something that Fenway totally lacks if I am not mistaken. Remember, those are not only massive money makers, but they are not included in the calculated revenue stream. So they are revenue sharing exempt. Plus, the sox would have a massive amount of their revenue sharing payments garnished so they can pay for their stadium. Think about that.

 

Significantly increase regular fan revenue, thus increasing the revenue sharing number.

Massive increase lux box revenue which you get to keep 100%

Decrease the amount of revenue sharing you pay for the life of the lease.

 

Overall, it is a massive moneymaker, no matter what Theo and the PR posse try to say. But it does involve a significant up front investment, something we know that the sox ownership would like to avoid.

[Dojji]

But it does involve a significant up front investment' date=' something we know that the sox ownership would like to avoid.[/quote']

 

Well played. You managed to include a sideswipe at the Sox' FA policy in a discussion of whether or not we should build a new park.