The Red Sox and New Balance have agreed to a multiyear partnership that recognizes New Balance as the official footwear and apparel sponsor of the team. New Balance has unveiled an illuminated sign featuring the company's signature red logo atop the new HD videoboards in Fenway Park's right field. Per the deal, New Balance will provide footwear and apparel to all fan-facing employees at Fenway Park, and will serve as the presenting sponsor of the Red Sox Baseball Academy, the team's official summer camp. The agreement includes in-park branding at Fenway Park and the team's Spring Training facility, JetBlue Park in Lee County, Fla. New Balance also has agreements with several members of the team, including manager Terry Francona, 2B Dustin Pedroia and 3B Kevin Youkilis (New Balance). Red Sox President & CEO Larry Lucchino at the announcement of the deal yesterday said, "I, for one, have discarded all my Reebok shoes and have been very pleased with the result." In Boston, Thomas Grillo notes the 70-foot-wide illuminated New Balance sign at Fenway Park is "designed to display a flashing 'We won' message to highlight Red Sox victories to fans." Lucchino: "It's the newest and coolest sign in Fenway Park. You'd be hard-pressed not to notice it" (BOSTON HERALD, 4/5).
