Futures at Fenway

"Futures at Fenway" is a baseball event held at Fenway Park in Boston. It features two minor-league affiliates of the Boston Red Sox playing a pair of regular-season games against teams from their own leagues.

The brainchild of Boston mayor Thomas Menino, the inaugural Futures at Fenway in 2006 was believed to be the first minor-league game(s) played at Fenway since 1977, when the park hosted the Eastern League All-Star Game. They were the first regular-season minor-league games there since 1968, and simply because of the size of Fenway Park, the crowds are among the largest ever to see regular-season minor-league games.

History

The first such event was held on August 26, 2006, with subsequent installments on August 11, 2007, and August 9, 2008. The 2011 edition, held on August 20, 2011, featured the Red Sox Double-A affiliate Portland Sea Dogs in the first game and the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox in the second. On August 18, 2012, a Red Sox Single-A affiliate, the Lowell Spinners, faced the Hudson Valley Renegades, and the Pawtucket Red Sox hosted the Buffalo Bisons. The day also featured a Star Wars theme with characters in attendance and a pre-game costume parade. In 2013, only one game was scheduled, as the Portland Sea Dogs were opposed by the Harrisburg Senators. Also, fans were allowed to bring their dogs into designated sections of the ballpark. The 2014 event was held on Sunday, July 13, and featured two Single-A teams, the Lowell Spinners opposed by the Mahoning Valley Scrappers. Again, fans were allowed to bring their dogs to the park. After the game, the movie Field of Dreams was shown. The event was not held in 2015.