Tuesday, April 13, 2004
This Old House: Red Sox Make the Most of Fenway
The Hartford Courant's Alan Greenberg looks at how the Red Sox have squeezed more revenue out of Fenway Park, and concludes they're not likely to build a replacement any time soon.
Since acquiring the club two years ago, John Henry, Tom Werner and Larry Lucchino have found ways to squeeze 1,300 more people into Fenway. They've increased advertising and concessions revenue. All told, Andrew Zimbalist estimates the Sox have boosted their take by $40-$70 million/year. Sounds great...but unfortunately for them, the Yankees' revenues have jumped by around $100 million over the same period, due largely to their new YES Network.
Steve Wojnar, chairman of Save Fenway Park!, praises the new owners' attitude toward Fenway.
"There is nothing Mr. Henry has done that the previous ownership couldn't have done 20 years ago. The big thing he has done differently is care. He became one of us in a hurry. ... Now we have (Mayor Tom Menino) saying Fenway Park is one of Boston's greatest treasures, whereas four years ago he was saying Fenway Park couldn't be saved."
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The Hartford Courant's Alan Greenberg looks at how the Red Sox have squeezed more revenue out of Fenway Park, and concludes they're not likely to build a replacement any time soon.
Since acquiring the club two years ago, John Henry, Tom Werner and Larry Lucchino have found ways to squeeze 1,300 more people into Fenway. They've increased advertising and concessions revenue. All told, Andrew Zimbalist estimates the Sox have boosted their take by $40-$70 million/year. Sounds great...but unfortunately for them, the Yankees' revenues have jumped by around $100 million over the same period, due largely to their new YES Network.
Steve Wojnar, chairman of Save Fenway Park!, praises the new owners' attitude toward Fenway.
"There is nothing Mr. Henry has done that the previous ownership couldn't have done 20 years ago. The big thing he has done differently is care. He became one of us in a hurry. ... Now we have (Mayor Tom Menino) saying Fenway Park is one of Boston's greatest treasures, whereas four years ago he was saying Fenway Park couldn't be saved."
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