Boston Mayor's Office Warned Of Issues Over Red Sox' Rights Near Fenway Park

A Boston Redevelopment Authority official told former Mayor Thomas Menino's office last fall that a "controversial deal giving the Red Sox permanent rights to Yawkey Way and Lansdowne Street was going to be a problem," according to Richard Weird of the BOSTON HERALD. The e-mail is "one of hundreds of documents obtained in a public records request on the sweetheart deal." Former BRA Exec Dir Peter Meade in '11 said that he would "demand that the BRA’s fee be tied to the Red Sox’ income from the two streets when negotiations resumed" in '13, after its previous 10-year deal expired. But instead, the BRA "gave the Sox exclusive rights -- in perpetuity, as long as the team plays at Fenway Park -- to use Yawkey Way for concessions on gamedays and concerts, as well as air rights above Lansdowne," for $7.34M. The pact was "blasted by watchdogs as a backroom deal that fleeced taxpayers of millions" (BOSTON HERALD, 7/2).