Red Sox turning Fenway into ‘the cottage’ for Heated Rivalry Night
The Boston Red Sox will give away 'Heated Rivalry' Hollander and Rozanov jerseys and host a themed pregame dance party.
Mark
From hosting two NHL Winter Classics to inviting legends like Bobby Orr and Zdeno Chára to throw out first pitches, the Boston Red Sox and Fenway Park have long established a connection to their Bruins hockey brethren.
But this August, for the first time ever, the Sox will be celebrating a new partnership with the Hub’s most recent on-ice sensation from the “Heated Rivalry” universe: the Boston Raiders.
On August 31, the Red Sox will host Heated Rivalry Night at Fenway Park prior to that evening’s MLB game against the Seattle Mariners.
Considering that it’s been 12 years since the Raiders won the “Cup,” it’s about time.
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As part of the promotion, the Sox unveiled a Heated Rivalry Night special ticket package featuring Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander Red Sox jerseys. Ilya’s number 81 comes in Raiders black and gold (coincidentally also the colors of the Bruins) while Shane’s number 24 is cast in Montreal Metros red and blue.
Alas, there is no option to order a “BORING 24” jersey.
Additionally, for “Heated Rivalry” superfans who can afford to spend a little bit extra, the Boston Red Sox revealed a VIP ticket package that includes a jersey, early entry into the ballpark, and a baseball cap reading “I’m coming to the cottage Fenway.”
Based on that phrase alone, we can only hope that David Ortiz has been spending the past few months working on a Russian accent.
Tickets go on sale at this link this Thursday at 10amPT, and a portion from each one will be donated to OUT MetroWest, an LGBTQ youth nonprofit based in suburban Framingham, Mass.
Gay Red Sox Vice President David Baggs, who came out publicly in 2016, is especially looking forward to this promotion.
“I loved the show. It was super fun and authentic, and it delivered a powerful message,” he told Outsports in an e-mail, “If the Heated Rivalry Night, Pride Night, or other themed nights that celebrate the LGBTQ community make fans feel more welcomed at Fenway and other venues, then that is a win.”
“It wasn’t too long ago that members of the LGBTQ community may not have felt welcome at sporting events. With the advent of Pride Nights and now multiple nights and initiatives, it is a welcoming sign that baseball is being moved forward,” he added.
Prior to the game, the team plans to host a trivia contest on the Sam Deck in right field as well as a pregame dance party inspired by Episode 4’s club scene.
As Boston’s marketing team wrote on their promotional announcement, “don’t worry, our DJ understands the assignment.”
If the bottom of the eighth inning rolls around and the Fenway sound system replaces “Sweet Caroline” with “All the Things She Said,” we’ll know that they meant it.
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