Faithful to Fenway
THE HISTORIC legacy of Fenway Park meshes with on-field play to create an unparalleled experience for Red Sox fans. Today, team owners are expected to formalize their intention to stay rooted in baseball's oldest professional stadium.
The decision should be applauded not only for its recognition of a baseball monument but for burying the claims of the former ownership that Fenway Park, built in 1912, was too decrepit to be saved. The current owners are finding ways to accommodate fans with expanded seating and new concessions. Financial constraints come with the territory. But so do marketing opportunities. The willingness of the public to pay high ticket prices in baseball's smallest stadium reflects knowledge that a trip to Fenway is both a sports outing and an authentic urban experience.
A commitment to remain at Fenway Park is not grounds, however, to tap public funds. Too many policymakers got swept up in efforts by previous ownership to build a new stadium. Tens of millions of dollars in pledges were made to defray infrastructure and site acquisition costs. Thankfully, the new park was never built and the public funds were never expended. Taxpayer subsidies for sports facilities are all too common across the nation. Exaggerated claims get tossed about regarding the economic multiplier effects of new stadiums. Yet the only sure winners in the game of public funding for stadiums are the owners and the players. The
Sox management stresses that the decision to stay in Fenway Park does not depend on public funds. That's a good message to send from the start. Budgets for public safety, education, and human services are tight enough without pressure from private businesses. There may be some limited role for government in upgrading public transportation and streets near Fenway Park provided these serve a public purpose. The Red Sox will need to make a strong case that their requests will benefit those outside the organization.
One fruitful area may be improved commuter rail service along the Worcester/Framingham line, which stops at Yawkey Way near Fenway Park. MBTA officials are mulling a station upgrade that would include a longer platform capable of serving up to nine cars, signal system improvements, and ramps for disabled passengers. Such an upgrade would serve the Longwood Medical Area year-round. Minimally, the MBTA should consider adding a special train or increasing service to Yawkey Way on game days, thereby reducing congestion on the roads and the Green Line.
The world champion Boston Red Sox earned public acclaim, not public funds.
