Changes in 2018

The following changes in the ballpark have been noticed in 2018:

— The “Jim Beam Dugout Club” has been constructed between Canvas Alley and the camera well next to the Red Sox dugout.  This below-ground-level area has 19 seats, plus three tall tables with chairs.  Now the front row dugout boxes 13 through 16 are no longer front row seats, and Field Boxes 11 and 12 have the Beam Dugout entrance area in front of them.  The rolled-up tarp is now slightly further from home plate, and the foul territory area has been further reduced.

The Jim Beam Dugout Club must be purchased as a unit; individual tickets are not available.

— The safety netting has been extended behind both dugouts and past them.  On the first base side, the netting ends at a pole close to Canvas Alley; fans between there and the Pesky Pole still have to watch out for foul line drives.  On the third base side, the netting ends at a pole where the seating area angles near the foul line.  Players can no longer roll balls to fans on the dugout roof, but players do toss some balls over the net.  The third base ball girl gives fewer balls to fans.

A new pole at Fenway, close to the foul line where the seats angle back.

— The Bud Deck has been transformed into the Sam Deck, with a giant Samuel Adams sign mounted where the Budweiser sign had been.  There is abundant Sam Adams signage now throughout the park.

In my dreams this would be a giant Narragansett sign, for the major sponsor of the 1960s.

— The ball, strike, and out displays on the fascia videoboards have been altered to show red and green lights instead of numbers.  This effect mimics the green and red lights on the Green Monster scoreboard.

The Fenway Purist enquired last year if this was possible, and sure enough, it is!

— The screen behind home plate has been tightened so that fewer foul balls rolling up the screen drop down to the fans below.  Most now roll back down the screen.

— All references to Poland Springs water are gone; Dasani water is the new water provider.  The Poland Springs Green Team is now the Dasani Green Team.

— Some concession stands have been renamed, and the style of video menus at concession stands has been modified.  More lobster items are available.

Lobster nachos, a seafood treat available for $14.75.

— Various advertisements have been changed here and there.