(U-WIRE)-On April 20, 1912, Fenway Park opened its doors. In a game delayed two days by rain, the Red Sox squelched the New York Highlanders-later renamed the Yankees-to christen their new home.
Ninety years later, the ballpark -and, incidentally that rivalry-continues to captivate baseball fans and players everywhere.
Fans, Red Sox players and other major-league players agree: Fenway Park is a great stadium, and the Red Sox ownership should work to preserve it.
“I would never get used to a new Fenway,” said native Bostonian Leigh Warren, a sophomore at Brandeis University. “There’s just nothing like Fenway. There’s nothing like a small ballpark.”
Several years ago, however, the Red Sox ownership group discussed building a new Fenway Park. Rumors swirled around the Hub, and many fans decried the call for a new stadium.
A non-profit organization called Save Fenway Park formed in response to rumors of a new Fenway. The group has grown from 25 Sox fans gathered by the Boston Preservation Society to over 1,000 dues-paying members, according to charter member John Valiente.
The Red Sox ownership articulated why they wanted a new stadium in a 1999 proposal put forth by then-Red Sox CEO John Harrington. He proposed a new and relocated Red Sox ballpark, citing Fenway’s “economic obsolescence.”
The proposal suggested building a new Fenway Park across Yawkey Way, directly behind the current park, keeping the city’s famous Citgo sign visible from Fenway.
But three years have passed, and new owners have taken the reigns of the club. On Jan. 17, John Henry and Tom Werner headed up a group of buyers who purchased the team for $480 million, which will be distributed to various charities.
Fenway underwent several revisions this off-season, and many think the Red Sox will probably call Fenway home for years to come.
Steve Wojnar, chairman of the board for Save Fenway Park, noted the many improvements to the park. In addition to having new seating, the stadium has been cleaned and painted and now boasts new concession stands featuring a wider variety of food. Members of Save Fenway Park think the new ownership is committed to the park’s current location, citing the new ownerships’ willingness to listen to fans.
“All indications are they’ll continue to renovate [Fenway],” Valiente said. “Personally, I think they’ll do a lot this offseason. They’re somewhat in agreement with what we’re saying. They want to listen to the average fan.”
According to Boston Red Sox public relations officials, the team has not commented publicly on any further renovations Fenway may undergo.
As many opposing players can probably attest, Fenway-filled with ardent Sox fans-is a difficult place to play. Red Sox players recognize the devotion of their fans.
