Boston Red Sox Plan To Open A Theater Next To Fenway

BOSTON, MA — The parent company of the Red Sox plans to build a performing arts center next to Fenway Park called the Fenway Theater. They also plan to renovate space at the park to serve both the new theater and the ballpark.

The planned project will be situated at 175 Ipswich Street on a 67,400 square foot parcel on the edge of Fenway Park where a parking lot and the building used for dining or function spaces is currently situated, according to the letter of intent written by the Fenway Sports Group, the parent company of the Boston Red Sox.

The letter, dated Tuesday, describes the main component of the project as the performing arts center, which would seat about 5,000 people.

"The theater would host a wide variety of entertainment and civic events on a year-round baisis, enlivening the Landsdowne Street entertainment district on both Fenway Park event days and non-event days and providing a steady stream of patrons for the neighborhoods many restaurants and retail establishments."

The renovations to the ballpark itself would include a new area for concesssion and restaurants but also a new function space with "sweeping views of Fenway Park suitable for large groups and private events."

The idea would be for that space to be shared between the ballpark and the theater.

Next up? Public hearings on the proposal. So far there are no dates for the construction or hearings just yet.

According to a September press release, Fenway Music Company will book, manage, and operate the Fenway Theater, as well as the nearby House of Blues Boston on Lansdowne Street.

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Photo by Jenna Fisher/ Patch Staff. Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).