We will see Fenway Park extended netting in 2018, as the Boston Red Sox announced plans to install fan protection both in Boston and at the team’s spring-training ballpark, JetBlue Park.
At Fenway Park, according to the Red Sox, the new netting system will extend from Field Box Section 79 to Field Box Section 9, expanded from an area previously covering Field Box Section 61 to Field Box Section 29. It will be positioned with the same consistent height as the existing system, which stands at 12 feet, 8 inches above the playing field.
Additionally, in collaboration with Lee County, Florida, protective netting will also be extended at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers from Field Box Section 111 to Left Field Box Section 114, expanded from Field Box Section 105 to Left Field Box Section 106. This new system will be completed for the start of the upcoming 2018 spring training season.
Like virtually every new MLB installation, the Fenway Park extended netting will feature a finer weave of net and will be green to better blend into the playing field.
Over the last several months–particularly in the period since a young girl was severely struck by a foul at Yankee Stadium in September–several Major League Baseball teams have announced plans to extend their protective netting in 2018. Among the clubs that have already unveiled plans to extend protective netting at their ballparks include the Detroit Tigers, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, San Diego Padres, Baltimore Orioles, Colorado Rockies, Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, Minnesota Twins and Milwaukee Brewers. In addition, extended netting has been announced for spring-training games at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium, Steinbrenner Field, Hammond Stadium and LECOM Park.
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