No public money for Red Sox
GOOD NEWS. The Boston Red Sox are staying at Fenway Park. Now what?
Ballpark improvements top the agenda, the Sox say. But under the direction of CEO Larry Lucchino, a group that includes consultants Larry Rasky and Joe Baerlein, and a small team of Sox personnel talks regularly about Fenway neighborhood issues. Each week, it gathers to discuss public policy matters: One delicate topic is whether to go to bat for public money.
Five years ago, the state Legislature authorized $312 million in city and state aid for a proposed new $665 million ballpark project. The legislation called for $100 million from the state for road, subway, and utility infrastructure; $140 million from the city for site acquisition and clean-up; and $72 million from the city to build a 3,000-car garage, with a portion of the parking revenue earmarked for the club. The public money was never tapped.The team, then owned by the Yawkey Trust, could not secure private financing for its part of the project. The team was sold, and new owners -- John Henry, Tom Werner, and Lucchino -- became the stewards of the beloved ballclub.
Last season the Sox won their first World Series since 1918. At the same time the owners are capturing new revenue via savvy business moves that underscore the decision to stay at Fenway, instead of building a new ballpark. The ballclub is not poor. Sox management added new seats and amenities, expanded onto Yawkey Way, and recently confirmed they are in discussions to buy three properties around Fenway Park. Last November they announced an overall 7 percent increase in ticket prices. When they rent Fenway for concerts by Jimmy Buffett, Bruce Springsteen, or the Rolling Stones, there is no revenue sharing with Major League Baseball; the take goes to ownership.
From the Sox perspective, the Red Sox are making a commitment to the neighborhood. They believe it is fair to ask, what do the neighbors need? From their perspective, it is fair to conclude that the neighborhood needs reasonable development, better roadways, public transportation, and more off-street parking. And it is fair for the rest of us to ask: Who pays?
Sox management makes many smart moves. The fans appreciate their attitude and the team's winning ways. There is magic to saving Fenway Park. Making official the decision to stay at Fenway is good for the neighborhood. Now that the uncertainty is over, the neighborhood has legitimate needs. But the world beyond Fenway has the right to know what role the Red Sox will play in advancing them.
Frankly, labeling the effort ''support for a neighborhood" not a ballclub is a distraction. Despite the spin, people will interpret it as the Sox laying claim to a large chunk of money at a time the Commonwealth faces difficult spending choices. Beyond the sports pages, daily headlines tell the story: the state is moving to close an institution for the mentally retarded, partly to save money. The state, which has slashed park funding by almost 40 percent in the last four years, is soliciting private citizens to contribute money to maintain public spaces. For lack of money, the city of Newton is firing librarians.
The politics are different than when the Legislature authorized public money for the Sox in July 2000. Then, the club was pledging $352 million in private money. Now, as Fenway-area developers, shouldn't the Sox be making linkage commitments like other developers?
In a mayoral election year, how does Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino make a grand financial commitment to the Fenway ahead of other neighborhoods? Will he pledge money to build a garage, as he did five years ago? How do Senate President Robert Travaglini and House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi authorize budget cuts but find money for Fenway? How does Governor Mitt Romney support tax cuts and still support public money for the Sox?
The Sox may be thinking that a championship makes the case for them. While victory feels terrific, it does not change the public policy discussion.
The Sox are entitled to your hearts, not your wallets.
Joan Vennochi's e-mail address vennochi@globe.com.
