Red Sox
Patriots
Celtics
Bruins
Revolution
Take 5
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The Red Sox tonight announced that all games at Fenway Park previously scheduled for 7:05 p.m. will now be played at 7:10 p.m. as the club moved back all its late games by five minutes for the 2009 regular season.
The time change will not affect games previously scheduled for other starts times, including weekend matinees.
“During the week approximately 60 percent of our fans enter the ballpark after 6:30 p.m.," said Red Sox president/CEO Larry Lucchino, in a press release distributed by the team. "Moving the starts by even a few minutes will give them a little more time to make it to Fenway Park from work or home, take advantage of pregame festivities and ballpark amenities, and reach their seats before the first pitch."
More from the Red Sox:
The time adjustment will not require any alteration in batting practice or broadcast schedules for the Red Sox and opposing teams. The change should not affect the timing of pregame activities, Fenway Park-related operations or length of game. Gates will continue to open two hours prior to first pitch.Additionally, the Aug. 16 game against the Texas Rangers has been moved to 2:05 p.m. from its original start time of 8:05 p.m.
Check out the updated schedule below:
Pathetic, Larry Lucchino wants another round of TV/Radio Ad$ before first pitch. He is a weasel spewing this crap about people getting to Fenway on time.
Please. It's oblivious this is more about to sell 5 minutes more of commercial time on NESN.
It's not really a big deal but just be more transparent about it.
Why don't they just tell it like it is, they slip the extra 5 minutes in, they figure its an extra beer, extra hot dog, extra time for little Johnny to beg for that new Red Sox cap or jersey. The Red Sox prove once again they are the masters at subtle ways to make money. I give them credit, and they deliver to us by bringing the Titles. But why not just be honest about it? I'd respect them more if they did that.
this is all about $$, as usual.
they can now add an extra commercial break on NESN before the first pitch is thrown.
I'm sure that this has nothing to do with food/beverage sales. Think about an extra 5 minutes of sales for the 59 games that are affected.
What's wrong with 5 minutes? Last time I checked, Lucchino was not a volunteer, and the Red Sox organization was not a 501c(3). The economy is tough, even for (or rather, especially for) businesses. If people have 5 more minutes to buy concessions, or the team gets revenue for 5 more minutes of commericials, it keeps them from raising prices again before the beginning of the season, or somone in a service position at the ballpark from losing a job. Calm down, people...
With ad budgets/rates where they are right now, I don't think this is a commercial move at all. I would guess that they are struggling to fill all the commercial spots they currently own at standard ad rates. Marketing budgets have been hit hard across the board and inventory, even prime inventory, is not scarce.
There are commercial breaks and then there are COMMERCIAL breaks. Most advertisers would love to be right before the first pitch and would pay extra for the privilege. You never know with sports if it's going to be a thriller or a blow out. There is only one first pitch. With ad budgets tight having more premier inventory can only help. So yeah this is all about the Benjamins.
Looks like supahfans.com is going to have to throw out all of their "Is it &:05 yet?"
t-shirts and replace them with "7:10"
As a Red Sox fan in New York State, I hope this doesn't effect the chances for games to be on ESPN because they normally start the games on Wednesday night at 7 PM so for them to have to wait an additional five minutes means ESPN may not air them!
@Bat Insider
browse this blog
by category