Archive for Boston Red Sox
Fenway Park Citgo sign is switched off (and will be coming back greener)
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When you think of Boston landmarks you might come up with the Cheers bar, Paul Revere’s house or perhaps Fenway Park. If the home of the Boston Red Sox is somewhere you’ve visited (or even watched games on TV) you can’t help but notice the famous circa 1965 Citgo sign that stands beyond the left field wall, the famous green monster. As much as part the Fenway Park scenery as the ivy in Wrigley Field or the palm trees at Dodger stadium. Even people who don’t like baseball in beantown can’t help but be aware of the bright Citgo sign that towers above everything in the outfield except the floodlights.
The original Citgo sign has been there for 70 years and revised with bulbs 45 years ago now and has been lit for Red Sox from the Vietnam Era all the way through to a revival in the last decade which saw them win their first championship in over 85 years, Fenway Park itself has now stood for 98 years and the gasoline sign has illuminated left field for just under half of that time. The Citgo sign was last switched off in the 1970′s for three years due to the energy crisis (were we that aware back then!?) and will now be switched off for over a month for an eco-friendly upgrade. I was surprised to see this happen during the season but considering the first snows can often arrive during the playoffs in this part of New England they chose to do it this summer. They shouldn’t have worried as the Red Sox won’t be in the playoffs this season!
The giant sign measures 60 feet in height and width and currently contains over 210,000 LED lights and can be seen throughout the neighbourhood surrounding the ballpark. The signs goes dark to allow upgrades that will significantly improve the energy efficiency of the sign. Even though the lighting was replaced just 5 years ago the manufacturer no longer makes the lights required, hence the extreme makeover. The goal is for renovations to be complete in time for Citgo’s 100th anniversary in September, which might be the biggest event of the late season at Fenway Park. Congratulations though go to Citgo who are putting the new improved and green sign behind the green monster.
For more Citgo goodbyes (for now) please enjoy the video beneath.
Tags: Boston Red Sox, citgo sign, citgo sign bulbs, citgo sign going green, citgo sign going off, citgo sign history, citgo sign repairs, energy saving, fenway park, fuel crisis, LED lights, planet forward
Toronto Blue Jays – A Season Retrospective Of My Eco-friendly Club
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Yes, the Toronto Blue Jays are my home team and I’m proud that they are walking the talk by being an eco-friendly baseball club. Rogers, who owns both the team and their stadium has made a commitment to sustainability this past season and for season’s to come. Now that I have given my props to their eco-friendly position, I’d like to now move to a retrospective of sorts on the (lackluster) fashion with which their season ended. Make no mistake, I am an uber Jays fan but I’d like to put my devotion aside and speak what I see as the truth from the mind of a fan.
This season has been a rollercoaster for the Jays. They started off on a high that fans thought would last the year, but it didn’t. They released B.J. Ryan, traded Rios on waivers and almost sold Doc to the highest bidder. Snider was sent down to Vegas and brought back up, and there was a parade of pitchers. Aaron Hill had the comeback season of a lifetime and was the starting second baseman for the All Star Game his first time out. Adam Lind was also on fire and nearly made it to his first All Star Game. Vernon Wells crashed and burned and Randy Ruiz was a bright spot for the Jays. As I said, a rollercoaster ride. I can honestly say that as sad as I am to see this tumultuous season end, there are elements I will not miss about the Blue Jays:
- Newbie pitchers who can’t locate their pitches who then load the bases and can’t pitch their way out. I understand growing pains but you should be able to throw a strike at the big league level or you shouldn’t be in the bigs.
- Vernon Wells and his .205 RISP average and his .225 RISP average with 2 out – and he’s our clean up guy. Unless he is leaving the clubhouse spotless, I don’t see any cleaning up being done.
- Cito (we love you but) when a pitcher is struggling, especially a rookie, go to the bullpen. Pick a lefty a righty…I don’t care. Just as long as he can throw a friggin’ strike. Sorry. This is a touchy one for me. Read More→
New York Yankees – A league leader in green
Posted by: | CommentsThis new feature of the Sustainable Scribe will look at the variety of Green Initiatives of various MLB teams. Next up, the New York Yankees. 
As a Torontonian I am supposed to root for my home team, the Toronto Blue Jays and although I try my heart is in the Bronx. The Pride in the Pinstripes all the way, baby. I could write forever about this storied franchise but I’ll try to stay focused and impartial and just assess them on where they rank as an eco friendly ball club. Did I mention that I love them? Should I mention they lead the league in being eco-friendly too?
Professional sports franchises are often derided by cynics as being driven by greed and embroiled in controversy. I think that they can be cornerstones in bringing together communities and in terms of green initiatives can lead by example.
Tags: baseball stadiums, Boston Red Sox, co2 emissions, community building, eco-friendly ideas, eco-friendly stadiums, electricity, electricity conservation, Green Initiatives, green stadiums, Major League Baseball, MLB, MLB initiatives, new stadiums, New Yankee Stadium, new york city, New York Yankees, pinstripes, planet forward, Professional Sports Green, stadia, stadiums, sustainable environment, the bronx, Toronto Blue Jays, Yankee Stadium
