Red Sox Announce changes & new food offerings for 2023 season

soxhop411

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Dec 4, 2009
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As part of an ongoing effort to enhance the facilities in the Red Sox clubhouse and centered around feedback from players and coaching staff, the Red Sox locker rooms have been remodeled and reengineered for the 2023 season. The refurbished player locker room space features new, custom maple lockers with closeable doors and generously sized to accommodate more storage space for personal belongings. The lockers feature built-in, multi-color LED lighting with power and USB charging stations and a lockable safe for valuables. The entire locker room has been outfitted with a new LED lighting system, premium sound system, and sixteen state-of-the-art television displays overhead that offer 360-degree views from the lockers. The space also has a newly furnished seating area for pre- and post-game use.
Throughout the renovated space, new energy efficient LED lighting with automated controls were added and custom storage units for game bats and player apparel have been outfitted in the space. A new, on-site laundry service area with commercial washers and dryers have also been installed for player uniform laundering. Throughout the clubhouse, images of the 2004, 2007, 2013, and 2018 World Series Championships along with new artwork, signage and graphics have been integrated into the space.
Coaches Room Enhancements, New Women’s Locker Room, Tunnel Refresh
In addition to the player locker room, a new, expanded Coaches Locker Room has also been created with new custom maple lockers, workstations, television screens, food and beverage center, and a private restroom and showering area. A newly constructed Women’s Locker Room has also been added with a private restroom and shower area as well as custom lockers, workstations, televisions, and food and beverage center.
The tunnel from the Red Sox Clubhouse that leads to the dugout received several enhancements including new LED light fixtures and graphics depicting Championship banners.
A new, energy-efficient LED field lighting system has been installed this offseason in the Fenway Park light towers that will provide better visibility for players and fans during night games. The installation of LED lighting is another step in the ongoing effort to make Fenway Park a more sustainable venue. The previous field lighting system was originally installed in 1982 and consisted of metal halide light fixtures. The new LED system offers superior brightness and clarity and improved uniformity of lighting on the playing field. The LED lighting system offers a 10- to 20-time longer product life than the previous lighting and is more eco-friendly with its energy conservation and CO2 emission reduction.
The new LED field lighting system was made possible through the assistance of project partners Musco Lighting, ME Engineers, Sullivan & McLaughlin Electrical, Glancy Crane & Rigging, Midwest Helicopter, and Eversource, with additional collaboration from local agencies including the Boston Police and Fire Departments, Inspectional Services, Public Works, Boston Transportation Department, as well as the Federal Aviation Administration.
In accordance with Major League Baseball’s new rules for the 2023 season, five clocks will be in place at Fenway Park: two on the field wall behind home plate, one affixed to the main videoboard, one on the light tower in center field, and one high above home plate directly beneath the Dell Technologies level. Pitchers now have 15 seconds with empty bases and 20 seconds with runner(s) on base to deliver their pitch. The pitch clock debuted during Spring Training and helped speed up the pace of game by 26 minutes compared to 2022 Spring Training games.
Additionally, bigger, 18” bases have also been installed in the infield decreasing the distance between bases by 4.5” from first base to second base and second base to third base.
Kids Concourse Enhancements
The Kids Concourse, presented by L.L.Bean, received several updates to elevate family fun this season, including the installation of a new pitching cage that will allow fans to test the speed of their pitch and the addition of a giant Rubik’s Cube portrait to be installed in game. The “How do you measure up?” murals portraying the height of players like Hall of Famer David Ortiz and Red Sox Hall of Famer Dustin Pedroia have expanded to include silhouettes of Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez and current Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale, third baseman Rafael Devers, and outfielder Masataka Yoshida. New elements that will debut later this spring include an augmented reality photo booth that allows you to take a photo with your favorite Red Sox player as well as an improved 360 camera booth. Located in Right Field inside Gate B, the Kids Concourse continues to feature the popular virtual reality Home Run Challenge, presented by Altec Lansing, and various opportunities for kids and families to “touch the game” with game-used gloves, balls, and other items that fans can interact with.
MassMutual, a signature partner of the Boston Red Sox, is now featured prominently in centerfield with an iconic 80-foot-long long by 10-foot-high sign above the main videoboard. The letters of the interactive sign can change color in recognition of special celebrations throughout the season. The five dots that are part of MassMutual’s logo will keep track of balls and strikes during games. MassMutual will also have signage featured throughout the ballpark, including fixed signage on the center pad behind home plate, in the Red Sox interview room, and on a patch affixed to the sleeve of Red Sox player jerseys. A cornerstone of the 10-year partnership between the two organizations includes the collaboration between the Red Sox Foundation and the MassMutual Foundation on the expansion of the Fenway Park Learning Lab, a program piloted in 2022 that is being expanded this season. The program will provide 6th grade Boston Public Schools students with an immersive, in-person learning experience at Fenway Park that combines their classroom-based math, science, language arts, and history lessons with a fun and engaging, co-designed learning experience throughout the ballpark.
Assisted Listening Device Technology
A new ADA compliant assisted listening device technology called the Listen EVERYWHERE app is a new feature at Fenway Park this season allowing fans to conveniently stream game audio directly to any compatible mobile phone or tablet in real time using Bluetooth technology while connected to Fenway Park Wifi. Directions to downloading the Listen EVERYWHERE app on a personal device are available in the Fan Services section of the MLB Ballpark app. Fans can also visit Fan Services booths at Gate B and E to pick up an assisted listening device for their use during the game.
Expansion of AI Check-out Technology and New Fenway Park Concessions
Fenway Park will expand its Artificial Intelligence (AI) self-checkout offering that debuted last season in the Truly Terrace to other areas of the ballpark this season. A self-checkout, grab-and-go kiosk has been added in the concourse behind Home Plate and two new units that allow for contactless beverage checkout are now available on the State Street Pavilion Level and in the Big Concourse. Four self-dispensing popcorn machines with AI self-checkout capabilities are also available in the Big Concourse and in the left field State Street Pavilion Level.
Fenway Park concessionaire Aramark will debut several new gameday offerings for the 2023 season including crabcake sandwiches, avocado fries, and gluten-free cheese pizza made with a cauliflower crust. A New England maple bacon burger featuring a fresh beef patty with maple bacon, caramelized onion, and Vermont cheddar cheese served on a brioche bun will be a new featured item available on the Truly Terrace and at concession stands behind home plate.
Classic ballpark favorites such as steak & cheese and grande nachos in a baseball helmet will now be available at concessions stands throughout the ballpark.
https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-red-sox-locker-room-renovation-new-led-field-lighting-pitch-clocks
 

canderson

Mr. Brightside
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Jul 16, 2005
39,429
Harrisburg, Pa.
New food for those too lazy to click like I normally am:

Avocado fries
As part of Aramark's "Seasons Innings Stretch" lineup of culinary creations, Fenway Park will be serving up these avocado fries. The fried avocado slices are served with green goddess dressing and are available at the Big Concourse in center field and on Jersey Street.

Crab cake sandwich
This crab cake sandwich is served with iceberg lettuce and tartar sauce on a potato roll. It is available at the Jersey Street Fish Shack.

New England maple bacon burger
This burger features a five-ounce beef patty, maple bacon, caramelized onion and Vermont cheddar cheese on a brioche bun. The item is available at the Truly Terrace and the Home Plate Grill.

Grande nacho
This pile of Tostitos chips is topped with beef, nacho cheese, pico de gallo, sour cream and guacamole made with Avocados from Mexico. Fans can purchase the grande nacho at various Fenway Park locations and can get them in a traditional nacho tray or in a souvenir Boston Red Sox helmet.

Lavender lemon drop
The lavender lemon drop is one of two new signature cocktails available at Fenway Park and is made with Ketel One citroen vodka, triple sec, lemon juice and lavender syrup. Fans can get this drink at the Royal Rooters Club, Dell Technologies Club, State Street Pavilion and Ford Clubhouse.

Spicy watermelon margarita
The spicy watermelon margarita, the second new Fenway Park signature cocktail, is made with spicy tequila, lime juice, fresh watermelon puree and a salted rim. This drink is available at the Royal Rooters Club, Dell Technologies Club and State Street Pavilion.
 

Max Power

thai good. you like shirt?
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Jul 20, 2005
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Weird that they're advertising lock boxes in the player lockers. Have people been stealing their stuff during games?
 

SemperFidelisSox

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The program will provide 6th grade Boston Public Schools students with an immersive, in-person learning experience at Fenway Park that combines their classroom-based math, science, language arts, and history lessons with a fun and engaging, co-designed learning experience throughout the ballpark.
Just what every kid who goes to a baseball game wants. Homework.
 

RIrooter09

Alvin
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Jul 31, 2008
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Those concessions sound like things other teams debuted 10 years ago. Food at Fenway is so far behind the curve.
 

ifmanis5

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Rotten Apple
Not to derail but how many more years do we have to endure the 'artisanal' idea of "we put this regular beverage in a mason jar so it's automatically better" vibe?
 

Ale Xander

Hamilton
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Oct 31, 2013
72,429
Frying an avocado?
Drinking lavender?
Why don’t we rather have lavender soap in the bathrooms and avocado toast on the menu and lower prices on food and drink and face value of tickets, instead, please?
 
None of them were very photogenic. But it also looks like the intern took the photos on a 10 year old cell phone.
I'd probably be willing to give whatever is the helmet bowl a try, and the fried avocado looks like it could be OK despite being weird. Of course I'm assuming California avocado quality here, so the actual product is probably a disgusting brown mess.

The burger on the other hand looks like it's prepared the exact opposite of what it should be. Nobody wants a crunchy beyond-well-done patty and undercooked soft bacon.
 

pk1627

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Sox have had sub-par nachos forever (except at Ford Club). This version seems worth a shot.
 

Max Power

thai good. you like shirt?
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Jul 20, 2005
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They're still ballpark nachos, but they're fine. They were dinner a couple times in the 2021 playoffs. It really depends on who's working the booth, though. I got someone who will loads you up on everything and pull some pickled jalapenos out of nowhere. Another time it was someone who was super skimpy and the end of the chips were dry and sad.
 

canderson

Mr. Brightside
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Jul 16, 2005
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Harrisburg, Pa.
I’m a pretty firm believer in food at a game should be limited to hot dogs/sausages, chicken strips, fries, popcorn, pretzels and a burger mayyyyybe. Except in Baltimore where you get the old bay crab pretzel.
 

Minneapolis Millers

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Jul 15, 2005
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I’m a pretty firm believer in food at a game should be limited to hot dogs/sausages, chicken strips, fries, popcorn, pretzels and a burger mayyyyybe. Except in Baltimore where you get the old bay crab pretzel.
When it’s 38 in mid-April (not uncommon in these parts), a bowl of chili or wild rice soup is AWESOME.
 

Minneapolis Millers

Wants you to please think of the Twins fans!
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Jul 15, 2005
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Maybe this is just me, and it’s my time spent in MD, but I’ve never put tartar sauce on a crab cake sandwich. (But also, I’m not a big tartar sauce fan, so, yeah, maybe it’s just me.)
 

pedro1918

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I’m a pretty firm believer in food at a game should be limited to hot dogs/sausages, chicken strips, fries, popcorn, pretzels and a burger mayyyyybe. Except in Baltimore where you get the old bay crab pretzel.
I will never forget taking my father to the Fleetcenter for the first time after he had spent 60 plus years going The Boston Garden. His reaction to the new food options can be summarized with his statement “My God, what Bruin fan would ever want fruit tarts and a daiquiri?“
 

Lose Remerswaal

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C'mon, it's New England, surely the bottom half will be cargo shorts, tackle twill.
I moved to SoCal. Anything under 70 is FREEZING for me now. And they don’t put ice scrapers in cars rented in NYC in late March it would seem
Black jeans?
Fair question, and I did bring them with me, but that’s not what I have on the schedule for Sunday
 

Max Power

thai good. you like shirt?
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Jul 20, 2005
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Boston, MA
Thats ridiculous
That's when the nicer food options start looking more appealing. Am I going to spend $7.25 on a single hot dog and still be hungry, or spend $11 for the nachos or gobbler sandwich? We usually eat before or after the game and just get the kids cotton candy or ice cream or something. That's a big reason the Red Sox would rather have out of towners show up and the locals stay home. You're way less price conscious if you're at one game on vacation than if you go to 15.