Sox: Theater on deck
5,000-seat venue to go up near Fenway
The owners of the Red Sox plan to build a 5,000-seat theater next to Fenway Park in a bid to make the area a year-round performance destination.
“The success of Fenway Park as a year-round venue has paved the way for this project, which will ensure the Lansdowne Street area remains a true entertainment district in Boston,” said Fenway Sports Group Chairman Tom Werner. “To have an intimate, indoor performing arts space for smaller-scale events will allow for a wider array of uses throughout the year.”
The proposed theater, which would sit on the corner of Lansdowne and Ipswich Streets, would be owned by Fenway Sports Group, the owners of the Sox. The theater would be operated by Fenway Music Co., a new company composed of Fenway Sports Management and the Live Nation-affiliated Crossroads Presents. Fenway Music Co. will also book and manage the House of Blues across the street.
Fenway Park has increasingly played host to a number of high profile performances in recent years, including Paul McCartney, Pearl Jam, Lady Gaga, and Dead and Company.
“For a decade and half, we’ve enjoyed a successful partnership with the leadership team at Fenway Sports Group, and we are pleased to now expand on that relationship through this new venture,” said Don Law, president of Crossroads and Live Nation New England. “We look forward to making the Fenway Theater an essential stop for artists planning tours in the Boston area.”
An FSG spokeswoman said the theater would host a variety of events, including concerts and community events.