12/03/24
June 24, 2003
The Boss (of the Non-Yankee variety) Takes Over Fenway and several other MLB parks: Bruce Springsteen is launching another leg of his tour in early fall that includes many MLB ballparks as venues. For the first time in 91 years, Fenway will host a major rock concert. I'm a bit torn on the issue because... (more inside)
posted by jerseygirl to baseball at 11:50 AM - 12 comments
For the first time in 91 years, Fenway will host a major rock concert. Wow, so 91 years ago, which rock act played Fenway? I bet it was the Stones...
posted by alex_reno at 01:05 PM on June 24, 2003
I heard Lucchino announce this during the radio broadcast of yesterday's game. He said it was in the middle of a long road trip and they'd consulted with the groundskeepers who seemed to think they'd have enough time to bring the field back up to where it was. I would think that the viewing angles at Fenway would be more of a problem than the sound. It's hard enough to watch a ballgame from some of those seats and the action moves around at least a little. Can you imagine sitting in those right field seats that face the wrong way and focusing on one part of the field the whole time? Boston area chiropractors will make a killing!
posted by Jugwine at 01:08 PM on June 24, 2003
But come on! "Every single song slams home like a baseball bat to the chest." Sounds like a good enough reason to me. As for the problematic sightlines, I don't think Springsteen's fanatical fans (of which I have been one since the sneaked out of the studio tapes of Born to Run blasted through the stereo speakers in early '75) will even think twice. Though Bruce often takes that kind of thing into consideration and may either block off the seats or find some other solution. Springsteen rocks! I saw him last summer and I highly recommend any of you in the vicinities take advantage!
posted by billsaysthis at 02:04 PM on June 24, 2003
I agree with bill about The Boss!!! I saw him on The Rising tour last semester in Atlanta, and he rocked my Friggin' Face. Oh, and for any youngens out there (me being one of them), you haven't seen hardcore till you've been to a Springsteen concert!!!
posted by jmd82 at 11:57 PM on June 24, 2003
the stage and stuff is considered and they figure out what seats they can sell. typically they have a standard layout in mind (though if fenway hasn't hosted a concert in 91 years they probably will have to work on that). so they will sell the tickets and when the stage is actually in place they can see if any additional tickets can be appropriately sold for the event and often these additional seats are sold in the days leading up to the show. so, i imagine some of the horrid seats one might think of as having problematic viewing angles won't be sold. and whatever seat sales are lost do to this consideration will be more than made up with the more expensive general admission standing on the field spots. they'll still get 35 thousand or whatever fenway holds. my thoughts would be about the sound. can't be all that good.
posted by gspm at 01:28 AM on June 25, 2003
*Holds lighter aloft* Red Sox fans should be proud, damn proud that the Boss deigns to grace their stadium with his presence. Perhaps we should form a Springsteen chapter of SpoFi (saw him at Rounday Park in Leeds on the Born in the USA tour meself). *Wanders off humming*
posted by squealy at 02:55 AM on June 25, 2003
Fire...fire, it's burnin' in my soul.
posted by billsaysthis at 11:20 AM on June 25, 2003
I have no opinion on Springsteen playing Fenway, other than I think he should be dropped off the green monster, on his head.
posted by corpse at 11:25 AM on June 25, 2003
Am I right in thinking it wouldn't be illegal to lynch a corpse? ;-)
posted by squealy at 12:11 PM on June 25, 2003
corpse, if you die in your dreams, do you really die in your sleep?
posted by billsaysthis at 01:51 PM on June 25, 2003
A friend of mine saw Bruce last night in Vienna (she lives in Budapest) and said the concert was awesome, best she's ever seen. Of course she's also 19... See him at Fenway or another stadium close to you if you can manage it, then thank me later.
posted by billsaysthis at 05:22 PM on June 26, 2003
I'm a bit torn on the issue because it falls during regular season play and hopefully (yeah right.) the Red Sox will be in contention for some post season action. I like the idea of it, I just think the timing is bad. I think it compromises the field conditions, no matter how they position the stage or set up the seating on the field. Not to mention Fenway is the most accoustically-challenged venue I can think of. The highway noise... the echo... Man, I feel bad for the Springsteen fans sitting behind poles.