Idea kicked around: Premier League soccer at Fenway
ANAHEIM, Calif. - Though it might be just in the theoretical stage, the idea seems particularly captivating to Sam Kennedy. With the Fenway Sports Group having signed an agreement this week to help English Premier League club Fulham find a name team sponsor, the Red Sox’ chief operating officer has begun to dream of a regular-season Premier League game at Fenway Park.
“It’s absolutely an idea at this stage,’’ Kennedy said. “It might not even be a good idea.
“Our mission is to explore all sorts of what we call ‘blue chip events’ in Fenway Park. It started back in 2003 with the Bruce Springsteen concert. We’re having outdoor hockey games with the NHL and Hockey East. The concept of an English Premier League game at Fenway is very, very exciting, and fits in line with our standard of events.
“I don’t know that they would be interested in doing it. We need to do some more homework and see if it would work.’’
The concept has been mentioned to Fulham officials but has not yet been discussed with the EPL. Kennedy foresees a regular-season game in 2012, as part of the 100-year anniversary of Fenway Park, in addition to any hockey games or concerts that are planned for the park that year. He called it “a long shot, given that it’s just an idea at this point. It’s something that we’d like to seriously explore.’’
The Premier League has played in the United States, including at Gillette Stadium, but they have been exhibition matches.
Unlike a concert, a soccer game likely would have to be played after the postseason, given the impact on the field. Kennedy said they would target the game for November or December, though there could be snow issues.
“I don’t think Theo [Epstein] and the crew would be pumped with me,’’ Kennedy said, about having a game on the field during the season. “They’d give me grief over that one.’’
