More Than Ever, We Need A New Fenway Park

The dramatic and depressing loss of free-agent Mark Teixeira again throws the spotlight on the 800-pound gorilla that may tarnish the otherwise brilliant legacy of this new ownership group—the failure to provide a 21-century venue for the fans of the Boston Red Sox. If you needed further proof of the economic necessity of a New Fenway, just read John Henry's words: "... with a new stadium filled with revenue opportunities, they have leaped away from us again." Indeed. And what does that mean on a practical basis? No matter how lustful Young Theo is for a given player, the Empire has the financial wherewithal to blow us out of the water. They can charge $1200 for one box seat in their palatial new digs, while we slave-drive Janet Marie Smith to creatively shoe-horn 38,000 into a near 100-year old relic. A cool relic, to be sure. But a relic nonetheless. I love Fenway Park as much as anyone—I grew up watching Ted Williams and Frank Malzone and Jackie Jensen play there. But even my experiences were half a century ago! When will we finally face up to the need for a bright, new spacious replica of Fenway Park? Perhaps, when the next ownership group finds itself perennially in the cellar of the AL East with no fans and no future.