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Fenway Considering Hosting English Premier League Soccer Match

Fulham's Damien Duff Fenway Park is proving to be a lot more versatile than a simple baseball field these days. This past summer alone, the iconic stadium has hosted multiple concerts and a even wedding. Now that baseball is done there until next April, it's preparing to host a few hockey games come January.

But it likely won't end there as the Fenway Sports Group is considering bringing soccer to the Hub's prized pitch. Hockey in the offseason and concerts or weddings during long road trips are one thing, but soccer on Yawkey Way? It could happen, according to Sam Kennedy, president of FSG.

"It's absolutely an idea at this stage," Kennedy told the Boston Globe. "It might not even be a good idea. Our mission is to explore all sorts of what we call blue-chip events in Fenway Park. It started back in 2003 with the Bruce Springsteen concert."

Since Bruce and his E Street Band rocked out in the center-field triangle of the lyric little bandbox, acts such as the Dave Matthews Band, the Rolling Stones, Phish and Neil Diamond have played to an ocean of screaming, Red Sox cap-clad concert goers at the Fens. With all of these acts having infiltrated the MLB's oldest ballyard, a soccer match -- that would likely involve the English Premier League's Fulham club -- wouldn't be too big of a stretch.

"The concept of an English Premier League game at Fenway is very, very exciting, and fits in line with our standard of events," Kennedy added. "I don't know that they would be interested in doing it. We need to do some more homework and see if it would work."

Fenway Sports Group signed an agreement with Fulham recently to help the club find a name team sponsor.

The EPL playing here in the States would be nothing new. In fact, right down the road in Foxborough, Gillette Stadium once hosted an EPL exhibition match. If Fenway were to host a match, it would have to be after the MLB regular- and postseason, prompting Kennedy to target either a November or December tilt.


About the Author

After graduating from Springfield College, John Beattie spent two seasons reporting for the New York Jets' Internet and Publications department before the Longmeadow, Mass. native joined NESN. While at Springfield, Beattie played first base and outfield for the Pride.


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