A Red Sox parade 86 years in the making with only 72 hours to prepare
It’s Wednesday morning, Oct. 27, 2004. The Red Sox are up 3-0 against the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series and the chant of a sweep is all over morning-drive radio. I’m on my way to work at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where I was vice president of communications, when I get a call from Mayor Tom Menino. He and I developed a decent relationship when I was news director at WBZ-TV. The mayor is secretly planning a victory parade, but no one can know. After all, there’s this thing called a jinx.
The mayor is looking for advice on the TV piece of this puzzle. He wants me in his office by 10 a.m.
What transpired next is forever etched in my memory. A former TV journalist involved in conversations that everyone wants to hear but that cannot be shared, sitting behind closed doors with a group of dedicated professionals and Sox fans — Menino and his closest staff and advisers.
I share this story to shed light on what took place behind the scenes to plan such a historic event, which one could say was 86 years in the making — though with only 72 hours to prepare.
With the mayor and his team, led by his chief of staff, Merita Hopkins, the ideas flow freely. Everyone’s on a mission. This team is excited, and the thinking is incredibly focused.
The number one issue is always public safety. If the Boston Police and BPD Commissioner Kathleen O’Toole have concerns, everyone listens. But the real theme is how to make this the best possible experience for fans.
The first big decision — can we have a rally? Considering the expected numbers, there is no venue large enough in Boston. The last Patriots rally jammed City Hall Plaza with more than 1 million fans, and this Red Sox victory parade will attract more.
Wednesday ends with an initial proposal: a 7- to 8-mile parade with duck boats that starts in Brighton and ends on Cambridge Street past City Hall Plaza. The big question is the reaction from the Sox; after all, the team has a little thing called Game 4 on its mind.
We know how it ends — the Sox win in a 4-game sweep. The mayor calls his team together first thing Thursday morning. Red Sox leadership is coming in to talk, with no sleep. One expresses concern that this parade could last four hours or more.
That’s a long time in a duck boat. Larry Lucchino suggests a start at Fenway Park. The mayor’s team likes that idea. We talk about a pre-parade rally inside Fenway for the TV audience. Everyone agrees. Then the mayor’s team maps out a shorter route and shares it with the Sox. The fans get to hear the concept of this “rolling rally” at a midday news conference with the media. We all go home to sleep on it. There is still time.
Friday morning comes and the shortened route is an issue; is there enough space for the projected crowds? The mayor’s team is asking how we can make more room for the fans so they get a front-row seat at the celebration. The Red Sox ownership comes to City Hall again. Everyone wants this parade to equal the triumph of this historic World Series victory. Clever minds go to work and the idea of “Ducks on the Charles” floats to the surface. It’s funny, because the mayor on Wednesday, with a twinkle in his eye, had suggested, “how about the ducks in the water?” At first reflection he wasn’t sure, but on this day his gem of an idea appears to be the incredible visual ending that everyone was looking for.
Now, it is becoming more than a city event. The duck boats would need to travel on state-controlled Storrow Drive. The mayor, campaigning for presidential candidate John Kerry in Pennsylvania, keeps in touch with his chief of staff. He gives the go ahead to talk to the state. The call is made to invite Governor Mitt Romney’s team to City Hall.
This is where I suspect it will get interesting and challenging. The city and state need to have a final plan quickly. Government simply does not move that fast.
At this moment, I wish every Red Sox fan could stand in my shoes to see the Menino and Romney teams work together.
Governor Romney’s chief of staff, Beth Myers, hears the plan, and it takes her and Secretary of Public Safety Ed Flynn no time to say yes. Romney personally participates to ensure support and resources.
This is coming together at lightning speed. No one is second guessing.
Everyone wants to make it the best possible parade for Red Sox fans.
I know that sounds like a cliché when it comes out of a politican’s mouth at a news conference, but even behind closed doors when cameras aren’t rolling, these are the words that are spoken: “Let’s think of the fans.”
Every fan would have loved this moment. The word “credit” is not spoken at this City Hall gathering.
The mayor and governor are ready for the final news conference, both smiling and chatting. The Red Sox leaders are at City Hall all day to be part of the process. The news conference is held — we are now less than 15 hours out from our rolling rally.
Saturday morning. The pre-parade rally at Fenway is underway. Smiles supply the energy that the sun does not. The weather is not cooperating, but that doesn’t matter now.
What matters on this day is that Red Sox Nation is cherishing a moment that was designed by a smart and talented group of people we call our politicians and government. On this day, an all-star team made magic together, for Boston and for Sox fans everywhere.