Fenway has new energy in off-season
Fenway Park was hopping on this January winter day. The weather was spring-like and Bruins fans came out in high numbers for the Winter Classic game at the ballpark. The hockey game is just one of many big attractions bringing more and more people to the Fenway neighborhood outside of the baseball season.
Everything looked out of place at Fenway Park on this winter day, Jan. 2.
“Sausage guys, hot dogs, ice cold drinks,” yelled a vendor.
The Boston Bruins are playing hockey inside the ballpark and the January temperature is in the 50s.
Joe Spano is the general manager at Cheeky Monkey Brewing Company.
“Fenway has changed so much. There is something always going on and before it used to be only baseball season, late entertainment on the weekends and now we are busy every day of the week,” Spano said.
The Fenway area is also getting a huge bump from the crowds that have been filling the new MGM Music Hall on the back side of park. Businesses say the area used to be a ghost town in the off-season.
“Where you see the little tumble weed go by, that is Lansdowne street but today we feel like we are at a World Series Sox game with the amount of people who are here,” Spano said.
Hockey fans of both teams were definitely spending.
“Probably grab some lunch,” a woman said.
“We stayed in a hotel last night downtown, had some dinner in the North End,” a mother said.
Marketing researchers estimate the Winter Classic, which has been at Fenway before, will have a $22.8 million impact to the economy.
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