Fenway Sports Management yesterday was running a promotion to "entice area fans to come out and see college football" at Fenway Park in November, according to Rich Thompson of the BOSTON HERALD. The Fenway Gridiron Series is the creation of FSM and "begins with a clash" between Dartmouth and Brown on Friday, Nov. 10. A matchup between UMass and Maine will follow on Nov. 11, with Boston College and UConn playing on Nov. 18. Thompson notes football at Fenway "dates back to its opening in 1912" (BOSTON HERALD, 4/26). In Hartford, Mike Anthony notes representatives from the six football programs gathered yesterday at Fenway, which "will be reconfigured" to accommodate the games. UConn coach Randy Edsall, asked if there was any hesitation about giving up a home game to play in BC's backyard, said, "No." He said playing at Fenway "draws a little bit more attention to the game, and if it draws attention to the game, it draws attention to our program." Edsall: "It's important. I guess you could say that we've lost a little bit of a niche, so we're trying to get that back." Anthony notes UConn has been guaranteed $1.125M for its participation and will "facilitate the distribution of 22,000 tickets." BC, which is "guaranteed no money, will distribute its 7,000 ticket allotment May 8-14 and the Fenway Group will sell any remaining from those bundles, plus 10,000 more, to the general public beginning May 15." The configuration at Fenway "will be unique, starting with teams sharing a sideline." UConn fans will be "seated on the first base side and the right field area." BC fans will be "seated along left field." Seats behind home plate "will be mixed" (HARTFORD COURANT, 4/26).
