Normally this would bother me, but you know, the truth is, Fenway doesn't have the seating capacity for the revenue they're looking for, so if corporate sponsorships with those little patches for games overseas keep the club looking the way they do and make it so we can afford to keep Fenway? I'm going to be okay with it.

That being said, it is tacky at best.

It disappoints me a tad, because it's lame and very Euro - but doesn't really bother me enough to get worked up about.

We're very lucky here in the U.S. - the MLB, NFL, NBA and NHL have all flatly refused to let their athletes become walking billboards a la the footballers in the Premier League and every where else on the planet. If putting a patch on the unis in Japan or putting an extra sponsor's name on a billboard at a ballpark means that we don't have to have NASCAR-ish logo overload, I'm fine with it. I mean- good God, overseas, the team's name ISN'T EVEN ON THE SOCCER UNIS. It has a sponsor's name across the chest. NO THANK YOU.

Totally agreed... I've heard NASCAR drivers spoken of in terms of the ads they'll be wearing, just like we might talk about a player's stats. How unpleasant.

And if I'm being honest with myself--I probably won't even watch the Japan games. I love the Sox, but I don't know that I'd wake up early for them unless I was going to be seeing them in person.

I may be being alarmist but this article unnerved me. I know this ownership has stated that they're committed to maintaining Fenway and they're obviously investing in it with the renovations but the comment about how hard it is to maintain enough revenue because of the park, while kind of obvious, makes me wonder if we're being prepared for something.

Maybe it's just that all this winning has me thrown. I can't seem to break out of the old habit of expecting to be heart broken by something to do with the Sox - even though I know that's sooooo last century.

FC--

That's kind of what I was saying---to maintain competitive revenues, the ownership has to supplement ticket sales with merchandising and sponsorships.

I actually believe the ownership about their commitment--they really are pulling out all the stops.

That being said, we as fans have to recognize what they're trying to do and accept that we might have to accept some unpleasantness in the form of these other revenue streams in order to keep Fenway. It's a trade-off.

I know this is heresy, but thinking about that VWR on Saturday, there's a part of me thinking about how nice it would be to have one of those massive stadiums with a bajillion seats. Am I really the only one?

In the real world, I wouldn't give up Fenway, not for anything. I can see the glow of its lights from my office, and can hear playoff crowds from my apartment. But there are sacrifices that we make.

Sponsorship patches for a few games really seems quite reasonable to me from that perspective.

yours,
M

PS--as for being thrown by winning, I know the feeling--but remember the other side of being a Sox fan? Having persisting faith. Gotta keep those two sides in a nice balance...

fc--- forgot to mention the whole point of the previous post--

don't get alarmed at the article. This has been an issue for a long, long time. Sudden changes are extremely unlikely with this one, especially because of the heavy investment being made in Fenway currently. I wouldn't worry--not while we're still able to maintain payroll. If the Sox can afford to pay everyone, maintain ownership of NESN and all the other media folks, and continue to grow, we're still okay.

If that changes--if they start falling in the red or debt becomes a problem--then we can start getting worried about our park.

Man, I knew that accounting class would come in handy.

Fenway gets "National Historic Site" status in 2012, so it won't be able to be torn down after that, even if the team does leave. If they were to decide to build a new stadium tomorrow, it's very unlikely that they could plan it, get funding for it, find a site, get approval for it, and construct it within the next four years, while keeping the current stadium operational in the meantime.

There was a lot of talk about building a new park adjacent to the current one (some plans can be found at this site: http://ballparks.com/baseball/american/bosbpk.htm ...looks kinda like the current Fenway on 'roids ), but there was a huge outcry, and when JWH bought the team, they made it very clear they weren't going to do that. I don't have a problem with them placing ads on every square inch of the park if they want to, I just want the team to stay there, VWR's and all.. some of the ads themselves do become endearing in their own right.

Yup, I remember all that hoo ha about a new park, and the public outcry, and the result, but this subject resurfaces continually and always makes me nervous.

Margaret - NoNoNo to a big comfy park! But thanks for the reassurance, sometimes I need a buddy to talk me down from the ledge. And I'm just up the (Beacon) Hill at work, and just across the (Zachim) bridge at home and still just a little jealous of your relative proximity to Mecca.

You know what? Scratch that about being jealous of Margaret for being fractions of miles closer to Fenway than me. I know lots of you who stop here including our wonderful host TG herself are all over the country. I should count my blessings for being in Boston, and believe me, I do. Daily, and twice on game days.

(raising of drink to fc) Amen. We're lucky.

You born and bred locally?

May I also contribute to the discussion of the Grey Cloud Sox Mentality - that it's my belief that 50% of the problem (maybe more) is due to the fans in questions being (mostly) New Englanders. Y'all have an uncanny way of always waiting for the other shoe to drop, no matter the situation.

And fc- thanks! I'll be lucky to get to the Fens a couple of times this year. However, I do console myself with the fact that I live right smack dab next to Wrigley Field. Which, as far as neighborhoods go, pretty much rules. I think I told the story on here once of how when the power goes out in the summer, I just walk over to Wrigley and go to a game... there's always guaranteed food and beer and electricity there.

Margaret - backatcha. I'm from that hotbed of excitement, the central CT burbs. (And for the record, the 'contested ground' status of CT is greatly exaggerated. Except for the snooty little lower left-hand corner of the state that counts itself part of greater NY, people in CT know they're from New England, and New England=Sox Country.)

I never wanted to live anywhere but Boston, even when the Sox weren't such a passion, for the arty-urban-college town-music scene coolness factor. And here I am, with everything I could ever want, including those wonderful boys at Fenway, just a T ride away. Life is good.

You a local girl? I hope you'll accept me as a wiliing adoptee cuz this is definitely my home.

"A Boston man is the east wind made flesh."

Oh yes, born and raised locally. Born just down the green line from Fenway, actually. And the same is true for a long, long line of ancestors. That's right, everyone--you have one of THOSE Bostonians among you.

I agree with TG-- locals are a noisy noisy contingent of the nation and known for being, well, somewhat belligerent. I won't argue with that characterization; we will pick a fight with a houseplant if it's the only thing around. But at least we're never bored.

As for the Grey Cloud issue: it's all about the Sword of Damocles. And it has served us very well for a number of centuries. But it makes victories all the sweeter.

All of you are welcome adoptees as long as you reward me for actually coming out of my frosty little shell and allow me to buy you a drink when you come to town for a game. Honestly. We'll set it up.

As I've told TG in the past, if any of you EVER need the Boston culture explained in any way-- or need any info for a visit-- just give me a heads-up. We're not known for our hospitality but that's no reason not to try, and I LOVE helping people experience the best of my wonderful city.

And just apply this to the local venom-spitting Sox fans: "It may be true that occasionally [people from Massachusetts] are shortsighted and oblivious to certain faults in their surroundings which may be obvious to others, but when their attention is directed toward these faults, they leave no stone unturned in an effort at rectification."

My roots are solidly planted in New England even though I don't live there anymore. Nascar sucks. The only REAL racing is Formula One....(or Formula Une, Ricky Booby). I was wearing my Boston Red Sox hat in Indianapolis at the 2005 United States Grand Prix when someone tapped my shoulder, pointed to my hat and gave me a big thumbs up sign!! WOO-HOO

Margaret - I don't need any explanations or info but that doesn't mean we can't meet for a drink & fight over who's buying! And worry ourselves sick over the future of Fenway, alarming trade rumors, and other Grey Clouds.

fc-- I'll bet we have other things to be grouchy about too. Maybe we can even find some tourists to scowl at.

More fodder for the nervous from boston.com
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