Red Sox Announce changes & new food offerings for 2023 season

8slim

has trust issues
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Nov 6, 2001
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Yes. This board has a long history of tut tutting most things that aren't quiet appreciation for the finer points of the game. Billboards are garish, speakers are too loud, patches on the uniforms are a disgrace, and now the light show didn't allow viewers at home to see whether Duvall touched second base, and I'm sure if the Sox added home run fireworks we'd hear about all the poor dogs in the neighborhood traumatized by such foolishness.
Bingo. Hell, they've been playing Sweet Caroline for, what, 25 years? And there are still missives written here about how awful that song is. Meanwhile I seriously have never encountered a person in real life who hates when it's played at Fenway.
 

jayhoz

Ronald Bartel
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Jul 19, 2005
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Bingo. Hell, they've been playing Sweet Caroline for, what, 25 years? And there are still missives written here about how awful that song is. Meanwhile I seriously have never encountered a person in real life who hates when it's played at Fenway.
Heaven forbid we have a fun collective experience as fans that doesn't involve proper on field play. Can you imagine the whining if Edwin Diaz was our closer?
 

Green Monster

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When the lights went off, I wasn't upset about not being able to see Duvall touch second base, but I hadn't finished reading the 73 advertisements plastered on the wall, fence, backstop, mound, and screen
 

biollante

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Do they still sell cheeseburgers ?

I go to a game in May. I may just make some PB and Js and bring a 12 pack of Miller before I get there.
I don't want to feel ripped off all the time at Fenway.
 

OCD SS

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I was just thinking the way to stop this shit quick is a seizure complaint or some other medically induced issue from them. This was at twilight, it’s going to look shittier when it’s a night game. I think they need to come up with a better way to use them than that light show.
They should be donated for use as part of the Emergency Broadcast System

Look I don't know what Avatar 2 matinee crap y'all were expecting, but Apocalypse Now is a masterpiece and its climax is one of the defining moments in cinema. Iconic.
View attachment 62947
Well played.
 

geoflin

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Bingo. Hell, they've been playing Sweet Caroline for, what, 25 years? And there are still missives written here about how awful that song is. Meanwhile I seriously have never encountered a person in real life who hates when it's played at Fenway.
I guess you've never sat next to me.
 

simplicio

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Apr 11, 2012
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SoSH is historically resistant to most ballpark changes. I've posted here for two decades and, for the most part, every new thing introduced at Fenway is immediately dismissed or attacked. Meanwhile, those who were actually at the park on Saturday have said the lights were a cool addition.
I don't give a damn about tradition. Don't care about rebranding or advertising on jerseys or whatever, I just value being able to see stuff happening on the field in the baseball game I'm watching. I can appreciate that it's a different experience at the park (though we have people in this thread saying it wasn't an enhancement in person either), but I assure you on TV it looked like garbage.
 

YTF

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I'm watching MLB Tonight as I'm reading this thread and watching highlights of the Mets vs Brewers. They just showed Bryce Turang (who?) hitting a grand slam in a game that Milwaukee won 10-0 and as he rounded the bases there was one of these LED extravaganzas on display. I can't speak for those in the park, but this is just a horrible look on TV.
 

nvalvo

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I'm watching MLB Tonight as I'm reading this thread and watching highlights of the Mets vs Brewers. They just showed Bryce Turang (who?) hitting a grand slam in a game that Milwaukee won 10-0 and as he rounded the bases there was one of these LED extravaganzas on display. I can't speak for those in the park, but this is just a horrible look on TV.
Brice Turang was the prospect that made people think Adames might be available in trade.
 

twibnotes

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Jul 16, 2005
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I’m still pissed they don’t have gulden’s mustard. Fenway Frank isn’t the same
 

Pablo's TB Lover

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To be clear, I'm a person who actually wanted to ditch Fenway for a new more comfortable park 20+ years ago and love most of the Henry-era changes, so I don't have a total resistance to change. My lights complaint is more borne out of the obvious bandwagon-ing of the Yankee Stadium celebration lights which I already thought was terrible even in that new park.

My buddies who are not on this site hate 'Sweet Caroline' as much as I do: we do have fun at the game and make up inappropriate verses to sing along to, though.
 

Isles

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Aug 31, 2021
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They do, but the ketchup is also some weird non-brand
My daughter was not pleased with this ketchup. "Dad, the package says it's Veggie Ketchup and it has apples and spinach and carrots and butternut squash in it. Who wants this? Why did they do this? What was wrong with normal ketchup?"
 

Lose Remerswaal

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My daughter was not pleased with this ketchup. "Dad, the package says it's Veggie Ketchup and it has apples and spinach and carrots and butternut squash in it. Who wants this? Why did they do this? What was wrong with normal ketchup?"
I saw the label but didn’t look at the ingredients. That just seems like an odd choice.
 

twibnotes

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I think they’ll sell any shitty condiment that they can get a big sponsor from, fans be damned

not having Heinz ketchup is a joke
 

voidfunkt

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They do, but the ketchup is also some weird non-brand
Seems they only have the brown mustard down on the concourse. Ordered from a wandering vendor and he wasn't carrying any packets of brown.

I ate it with yellow mustard but I was dissatisfied. So I guess I now get to blame John Henry for ruining the hot dog.
 

lexrageorge

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Removing Heinz ketchup and Gulden's mustard is a classic example of solving a problem that never existed.
 
Mar 30, 2023
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Removing Heinz ketchup and Gulden's mustard is a classic example of solving a problem that never existed.
It's most likely just a classic example of FSG trying to make as much money as possible. There's almost certainly nothing more to the change than the fact that this new company offered the Sox a better deal.
 

jwbasham84

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brienc

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Coming across posts like this is why I love this site. Now I know to bring a couple of packets of Gulden’s with me the next time I’m heading to Fenway Park.

I’m pretty sure the last food I really enjoyed at Fenway was a Legal clam chowder on a cold night. I’m fine with Fenway Franks and cold beer, but a Legal Sea Food lobster roll on a hot day would be nice.
 

YTF

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Coming across posts like this is why I love this site. Now I know to bring a couple of packets of Gulden’s with me the next time I’m heading to Fenway Park.

I’m pretty sure the last food I really enjoyed at Fenway was a Legal clam chowder on a cold night. I’m fine with Fenway Franks and cold beer, but a Legal Sea Food lobster roll on a hot day would be nice.
I can only imagine the price of a lobster roll at Fenway.
Removing Heinz ketchup and Gulden's mustard is a classic example of solving a problem that never existed.
Just curious, does anyone know if Fenway is offering this new veggie ketchup exclusively or is it in addition to Heinz?
 

BigJimEd

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Jan 4, 2002
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I can only imagine the price of a lobster roll at Fenway.

Just curious, does anyone know if Fenway is offering this new veggie ketchup exclusively or is it in addition to Heinz?
From the article linked above
True Made Foods as their exclusive partner for Ketchup, Mustard, and BBQ Sauce.
 

rlcave3rd

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Nov 5, 2005
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It's most likely just a classic example of FSG trying to make as much money as possible. There's almost certainly nothing more to the change than the fact that this new company offered the Sox a better deal.
Given that it is a "healthy" alterative from a small company, I wouldn't be surprised if the new ketchup actually costs more than Heinz. Is Sox management going on a health kick? Will they eventually replace Fenway Franks with tofu dogs?
 

JOBU

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Sep 22, 2021
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Ketchup-gate is just another thing on what is now becoming a rather lengthy list that shows Henry is an aloof owner and that his main priority is the bottom line instead of the in-the-bun product.

All kidding aside tho… ketchup on a hotdog? The fuck man.

And while we’re at it the overall Fenway Frank quality has fallen significantly in the last 20-25 years. They need to bring back the steamed dogs that sat in the murky water for hours.
 
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YTF

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Given that it is a "healthy" alterative from a small company, I wouldn't be surprised if the new ketchup actually costs more than Heinz. Is Sox management going on a health kick? Will they eventually replace Fenway Franks with tofu dogs?
An exclusive deal for a small company guaranteeing exposure to 2.5 million potential to sample your product is very valuable. Given that value, I'm sure Aramark (yes Aramark, not cheap ass John Henry) aren't paying True Made Foods more than they were paying for Heinz. There is also a philosophy behind the concession offerings.
https://www.mlb.com/redsox/ballpark/green-initiatives/aramark
 
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Ale Xander

Hamilton
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Oct 31, 2013
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An exclusive deal for a small company guaranteeing exposure to 2.5 million potential to sample your product is very valuable. Given that value, I'm sure the Sox aren't paying True Made Foods more than they were paying for Heinz.
Your point stands, but it's not close to 2.5 million unique.
 

YTF

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It’s not 2.5 million people that are sampling. Season ticket holders and others go to more than 1 game
No doubt and of those, not everyone is trying the ketchup, but that's still damn fine exposure compared to samplings at multiple retailers where there is still no guarantee of samples taken and there are slotting fees involved in getting that exposure.
 

lexrageorge

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Yea, it’s a huge opportunity for True Made Foods. But not one without risk. What most fans may remember is that they are paying more for a less desirable product.
 
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Red(s)HawksFan

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Yea, it’s a huge opportunity for True Made Foods. But not one without risk. What most fans may remember is that they are paying more for a less desirable product.
How do we know it's less desirable? Serious question, has anyone here actually tried these new products yet? Or are we just seeing strange new labels and dismissing them because we don't know them?

I mean, ketchup is ketchup is ketchup. I can't say that I've ever been deterred or upset by the brand name on a ketchup bottle/packet.
 

Max Power

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Jul 20, 2005
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How do we know it's less desirable? Serious question, has anyone here actually tried these new products yet? Or are we just seeing strange new labels and dismissing them because we don't know them?

I mean, ketchup is ketchup is ketchup. I can't say that I've ever been deterred or upset by the brand name on a ketchup bottle/packet.
The new ketchup has this thick texture and seemingly very little salt. You need a ton of it to taste anything. I wouldn't say it tastes really bad, more bland and gloppy than standard ketchup. I would never purchase it if I saw it on the shelves of the grocery store.
 

Harry Hooper

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For the legal-types here on SoSH, any thoughts on what sort of escape language might be in the "exclusive" agreement if the Sox wanted to provide additional options such as Heinz or Gulden's?
 

GB5

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Aug 26, 2013
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I would imagine it’s a 100% no go. My guess is that True Made Foods or whoever they are paid a hefty sum to be the Sole and Exclusive provider of these condiments. They certainly wouldn’t pay all that money to give the RS a chance to add a competitor brand into the mix.
 

Ale Xander

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Oct 31, 2013
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Semi-related, but BPD has put up a couple
Signs that illegally parking in resident parking during Fenway events will now be an increased ticket cost of $100 (I think it was 40 50 before)
Now too risky to park at 3:50 etc in those 8-6 zones