Fenway Improvements

The Spring Training games began this weekend with the Sox taking two from the college kids (Boston College and Northeastern) and splitting with the Twins, their cross town rival. As Spring Training is still young, I thought I'd continue on the offseason happenings track by reporting in on changes at the Sox home ballpark, Fenway Park.

Over the last ten years (really since the current ownership group bought the Sox in 2002), Fenway Park has been receiving a facelift to address some functional issues, make some areas more comfortable, and (most importantly to the owners) to increase the capacity of the park. Built in 1912, Fenway is the oldest ballpark in the majors and one of the smallest (in fact, the smallest depending on how you count tarp covered seats in Oakland and Florida). Over the last ten years, improvements have increased the capacity of the park by 10%, from roughly 34,000 in 2001 to 37,400 now. Here’s a primer on the changes made each year.

Year I (2002):

Having bought the Sox midway through the offseason, the changes made in 2002 were relatively small. The Sox added the Yawkey Way concourse to be included as an area requiring a ticket during game days. This included improving the concourse area. Also added were 400 new seats including 160 dugout seats located between the backstop and the dugouts.

Year II (2003):

In 2003, the Red Sox added what are considered by some to be the best seats in baseball. The 269 Green Monster seats are perched atop the 37-foot wall in left field and provide a commanding view of the field where previously there had only been a net to catch home runs. Also added in 2003 were 133 more dugout seats and 87 home plate seats. Year II also marked the addition of the Big Concourse area beneath the centerfield and right field bleachers, providing expanded concessions and fan amenities.

Before:

After:

Year III (2004):

The Budweiser Right Field Roof Deck was added in 2004, adding 192 seats around home plate shaped tables and a bar area. Also completed in 2004 were refurbishments to the Third Base Concourse which expanded the space and concessions available to fans.

Before:

After:

Year IV (2005):

The Fenway Park playing field had always been a source of contention until 2005. The field was said to put funny hops on ground balls and was notoriously poor at draining after even medium-sized storms. In response, the entire playing surface was removed, an extensive drainage system was added, and the field was re-sod. Also done in 2005 was a renovation of the home clubhouse including the addition of a weight room for the players. Fans benefited from the addition of the First Base Deck and improvements to Lansdowne Street including the addition of Game On! Restaurant.

Year V (2006):

Year V saw the replacement of the glassed in .406 Club with the open air EMC Club and the State Street Pavillion. This change connected the first and third base pavillion levels in one coherent line and supposedly eliminated some of the adverse wind currents Wade Boggs (among others) had complained about when the .406 Club was built. The pavilion level was also expanded to include five additional rows of seats, adding roughly 1,300 seats overall.

Before:

After:

Year VI (2007):

Private suites were renovated in 2007 and the visitor’s clubhouse benefited by the addition of a batting cage. The press box was also expanded. For everyday fans, the 3^rd base deck was added providing additional restrooms and concessions.

Year VII (2008):

The Coca Cola Corner was added to include 412 new seats in left field in 2008. Additionally, 800 new State Street Pavillion seats were added along with two new private suites. The first year of a five year program of concrete repair and waterproofing was started with repair to the centerfield bleacher seats and bowl.

Before:

After:

Year VIII (2009):

Concrete repair continued with work on the lower bowl and seats. Most seats were replaced but the original wooden grandstand seats were refurbished and reinstalled. The roof deck along the first base line saw the addition of 560 new seats. Twenty-eight new seats were also added to the expanded Budweiser Right Field Roof Deck (built in 2004).

Year IX (2010):

Improvements in 2010 included expanded concessions behind home plate. Concrete repair continued with repair to the left field bowl and seats. As was done in 2009, seats were replaced except wooden grandstand seats. Finally, the visitor’s clubhouse and grounds crew areas got a face lift as well.

Year X (2011):

In the last year of major improvements, the centerfield video screens are being replaced with three HD screens. Concrete repairs are to be completed this year with work done of the right field bowl; grandstand seats again will only be refurbished while all others are replaced. A ticket booth will be added to Gate D (behind home plate on Yawkey Way) as well.

Before:

Coming Soon:

Overall, the improvements to Fenway have been fantastic. They’ve blended into the existing structure while still adding modern convenience. The Green Monster seats, Budweiser Roof Deck, Coca Cola Corner, and EMC Club/State Street Pavillion all look like they’ve always been there. It’s been a true success of this ownership group to expand the seating capacity of the park so drastically and not eliminate the quirks, charm, and aesthetic coherence of the park. Next season will mark the 100^th anniversary of Fenway and with the renovations made, we can all hope to have many more years at the historic field while may teams are moving into newer, cookie cutter stadiums.