Tom Werner

The news out of Fenway Park today the Red Sox announcing their holding ticket prices. 2000 and -- levels for all existing seats and standing room tickets. Available to the public for the or ninth season also holding ticket prices to the public for the 2009. Spring training games. Down at City of Palms Park. Now this one act as the first time in four years that team is held ticket prices. Across the board and that followed he -- works dot pitch and no World Series so all of this is a little bit different. And the way that a business is being done to hold back those ticket prices joining us live on the phone line right now is each other at such Tom -- right -- Atlanta area how -- you. Pretty good pretty good. So how much does this play into research that you guys have done on. The not just the economic situation of the country that the economic situation. On your base over the -- Europe your season ticket holders.

Well wouldn't say that you know we've done extensive it. Market research that we do feel that having talked to and having talked to our friends that. Listen we all know we're in pretty tough economic times that out went down another one -- percent today. And we recognize that. It's. It's expensive to. Buy tickets for and lane and we felt that this is the appropriate and fair thing to do at least it.

Obviously it's getting favorable reaction from people who buy the tickets over the were heard it all day long. How does it affect in any way European role for your ball club going forward for --

I think that. We have going to field a competitive club Glenn. Listen we we we have a challenge we all the challenge because we know that the Yankees there. Going to be building that finished this ballpark in the south of lessons. They're going to have a lot more revenues. We have closed the gap in the last few years in terms of our revenues for the Yankees that -- the -- are gonna explode. But at the same time. You know having that -- doesn't always mean that -- going to be as successful and we feel like. We've got an incredibly. Competitive club going into our next season and we're going to improvement in the offseason.

Your mind you about the Yankees forgot all about the you know there was to -- they have a -- I think so much raised now like to you know as the rivalry. Let's. Just don't.

And a leg you know let it got a lot of money that -- they gonna spend in the off season we just. We know they're going to get stronger and we aren't as we all know in the toughest division in baseball. But whatever we do. Off the field and we're going to went on to. Be stronger next year if this was the right thing to do in terms of holding our our prices at last year's. Levels.

It's on the sports parents are you butch -- good. The timing of this. Announcement is it normally around Thanksgiving when you guys announced increases or whatever he do with ticket twice so early.

I think that we we generally done that before Thanksgiving and maybe we may have we. I think he concluded that this was the right thing to do a few days ago we felt we might as well. Announce that but -- since consistently has. Our our efforts to. To do what's right for the fans we know that. You know being involved with the Red Sox are very special. Privilege and we hope that our fans understand that it was sensitive to. Tough economic conditions.

Right the last few used to do it the day after Thanksgiving and the media was -- or. It was a Saturday newspaper wrote about people wouldn't miss it when the went into what thinks you did right o'clock -- you find out of body like would find out about a week later some called Columbus and just get my season ticket rants --

Well we always work on Thanksgiving that -- conquer we signed. So our greatest players and I think giving Curt Schilling.

We -- the Thanksgiving this year.

All -- if I mentioned it to you I think that it would immediately go through to our friends -- so I'm not going to tell you that my table.

You go to your word about the raise its down. Trotted into intensity economic climate that you talked about how much concern how concerned. You guys around the league it baseball all the owners -- about you know we -- We're headed right now financially.

I think it's it's prudent to be concerned. I was talking into an owner of another team today and he said that he had lost it is. Presenting sponsor for next season. Yesterday I don't know if you guys read The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) that. Some sponsors are pulling out of the Super Bowl. In my conversations with the people of the networks says they're seen a lot of advertisers pulling out. You know you're in the car industry right now -- Carolina can be spending a lot of money -- next year. So I I think it's prudent. I don't know when you know Scott Boras tells me there's going to be no. No that it didn't you just. Where that talent. Is going to be making. Their salaries next year but I just feel like we're just at the beginning of this you know -- and the effectiveness. And I don't think anybody knows how long this recession -- if if you guys not only.

I don't think anybody knows this one and you know at at people who know far more than than we do worsening that this was the worst one I've ever seen -- We're talking about some. Experts out there we're seeing a lot of this. Over the years but how. How is baseball going to be able to handle I'm looking at. The possibility in the numbers I'm figuring out -- of course nobody sign it we won't hear that for a couple weeks. -- receptive mind boggling I mean. And -- comic out of run on the show yesterday as a possible 11680. Million dollar deal for CC sabathia. I mean is this just going to be. The whole process is it going to be escalated simply because the Yankees have all of this new -- revenue everybody else is trying to tighten the belt because of what's going on out there. The Yankees are finding things that they never. Access to before but the luxury boxes in the city by the way where everything you know business that emanates. Is is is are they going to change the landscape not there yet.

You know I I think it's something very interesting happened this year have been saying that the -- success of Tampa. Says something about his value of of young strong players and I think that this year even more than 2007 and two as the six. You saw a lot of stars who. Who were in their twenties. I think clearly you have to have indicative of strong free agents and young talent coming up that. My feeling is that in the and we're gonna end and again maybe it's because this schedule so rigorous you know 162 games and all the travel. But my feeling is that. You you just can't win by going after these the 160 and we finally I read an article and a -- guys read this but. You know -- that the Mets last year were very close to getting to post season and they felt. If they could just get Santana that that would. Put them over the top but that you know and Santana had a great year and yet they were in the same position so. It's such a dynamic business right now and I think you've got to. Count on if you could -- and which people got a cannon account coming up with a system.

on how many relationships you have around baseball is one of the people you know in the Mets are another National League team called you and said. You know what on the verge of giving Manny Ramirez sixty million dollars can you tell us anything what would you --

I'd tell the truth but it -- particularly Eric. But I mean those conversations to happen at that level don't.

Listen if if you know we're we're certainly prohibited from. Negotiating and finding out what other teams her. Offering that if someone wanted to ask me you know what work what was going on. In in July and -- the Red Sox want to give. The Dodgers that Manny Ramirez because of pretty strange thing together and man of that town to to pick up the salary for the rest of the year and beyond. And you can read between note.

on with the beach ever but the situation with me in the least tell the fans at least this that. This -- what they read the papers it was much worse than that.

I would say that by the time. -- he. Put that time -- that David couple days before. The trading deadline and it's something like in a trade -- for Brett party that's remember that he needed them and I get. I think that he was exhibiting. The kind of behavior that made it necessary. Two to trade him.

I what does it say about your fellow owners. Yeah if somebody. Uses as a barometer than ninety days he was out with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Where he was arguably the best player in baseball certainly investor base wilderness period. What does it say about your fellow owners if somebody goes out here and gives him a four or five year contract. That'll earn him over twenty million dollars a year sky Boris will be able once -- say I got my guy a hundred million dollars.

Well I guess you know god is saying is. Formidable. Negotiator and you know I don't want I you know I want to be too. Negative event Manning going forward after all he let an integral part of our two world championships. We had just come to a point and I think he'd come to a point where it was better for both parties to separate. And I don't want to have I don't lot of success.

Okay let's let's stay away from that and in just simply get the money aspect and look at it from a fan's perspective of being in Boston. And nobody blaming you like that most people even the most ardent many fans understood. That win the players in the clubhouse say. That they can no longer deal with the situation than you got to move the guy I think given I think most people pretty much agree that what does that say. We're saying here and the rest of the country in the deep financial recession. Receive another Major League Baseball team. Go out and spend that type of money. And that type of commitment for one -- say what I one year. And I'm on a short string -- short leash and see what happens but it talking about maybe commitment -- acres 200 to. Say about the industry.

Well I guess. You know everybody interested estimate their own financial decisions and is that Giants made a hundred million plus deal with Barry Zito I think that. You know we're in a business where you still wanna have be competitive on the field in. Their team is that that need to. That feel they need that one. Extra chipped it to get the playoff I think that he goes down at a different way and you know. The simple don't want what I have no idea anymore than you guys what the market will be for Manning in. And I wouldn't be surprised if if Scott they would get a four year deal.

Over the past you guys have been able to eliminate what you may have felt you guys have felt word that contracts were simply. Guys that maybe didn't fit in in this market you were able to deal while. And he money to the other ball club to take that player. And this economic climate with teams operating a lot differently and certainly the Red Sox operating differently and you know what else. The big -- the can still do something like that. -- pick a player. That may not fit in here that's got a high salary and send somebody someplace else rip money.

Well we we. Who we were prefer not to let. If if it's part of our overall. Goal of improving our ball club and trying to two two strength and we we considered I mean we are -- said. Still one of very strong financial position I certainly wouldn't want that -- to think it would going to two. Cut back on our payroll in terms of the of the players' salaries too much next year but. I think -- will do whatever we think is is that is smart and then we might even make a long term contract and we're we're not. But not precluded from doing what we think is right.

with -- coming back from the GM meetings in the rest of the baseball ops guys on the arm yeah GM meetings. And now the baseball winter meetings coming up if you guys are he had organizational meetings where you sat down and kind of formulated a plan going forward here.

I'm DL and is is baseball ops people talked to John and Larry in any event. What they're priorities are and we're. -- on the same page.

Tom public somebody you know kind of switching gears a little bit you you guys done a great job with the ballpark itself what are some of the things this year. That we expect to see for improvements at Fenway.

I think our improvement probably going to be a little bit more modest. Where adding. About 300 seats and the right field line that we're not going to enclose that would not going to go this far down the right field line in left field line. And we have been debating about. We are certainly have always two blown. Two put in -- new scoreboard that my guess is that going to be doing that. In the 2009 offseason rather in this season that. You know I think our our our are. -- Working out and infrastructure issues that. Probably be less noticeable with fans that we're going to be spending you know look quite a bit of money if he's in the off season.

as far as and his scoreboard when you -- over Japan and you ended up. And a couple bids are people talking about that didn't have.

We did I mean as part of her reasoning over there as we media. We we met with Tony we met with Mitsubishi. And we think we do need a new scoreboard. You know one of the things. We feel that the prices and misses into getting into an arcane topic but beating the prices of material approach be going down with the recession -- May be better off waiting embassies.

he had discussions are well in your opinion Tom. What are your chances -- in the All-Star game in 2012. And when do you think that'll be announced or decided on.

Well that's deceptive but it we've certainly. We've -- we've sent a letter in two articulate why we think. It would be great not just her our fans and for Boston and New England but good for baseball and the baseball got a big get boost -- a the in New York this year. It hasn't been that long you know it hasn't been thirty years since we've gotten -- so I would with their chances are probably 5050 but. Where we certainly are trying to articulate our case.

It's on the guys have done a terrific job in extending the brand and being able to take the whole area around Fenway Park. And making -- very viable area of the city does that become more difficult to do. In in this economic climate.

Not necessarily mean I don't I don't know if you guys have. Seems some of the work going on in across the street -- limped down but it. Event that. Concert -- apiece state of the art. I think that. There's going to be more and more. People coming to land and street as well yawkey way I'm very bullish about. The Fenway area I think it's gonna get closer and closer to. Two people going to be walking from back pay more and more I I'm very optimistic about. Everything going around Fenway Park.

But that deal Patrick lines that -- deal when the economy was kind of flowing -- and he got somebody -- very very quickly in the house of blues. I'm worried now going full and you were talking about some of the stuff we deal we don't know that going into. Uncharted waters here going forward and I know the -- that hotel and everything -- You know when Jerry Remy was going to. Continue his empire and and it was. In all sorts of stuff going into that and then it went I'm wondering going forward here with the continue to do that because my guess is when you talk about the Yankees. And comparing the revenue to the Yankees stuff like that allows you. To go out maybe and get that free agent and compete on that free agent market I would think that that's certainly has to help right.

It does that at and I'm not sure about the fifth -- I'm not sure when we're going to. And take ourselves out and this recession but we are going to dig ourselves out and and I mean I have a very year. Good feeling about. Surrounding streets it's -- being destination not just the 81 days we played baseball but all year. Think that that out of -- little be very successful. And and you know I just think as a question of timing.

one last question about Jason Varitek. -- yeah he's obviously much talked about this offseason now and because of that fact that you guys made him your captain because of what he's meant to this organization. Will this negotiation. Will you Larry and John be more involved at all. Or will the discussions be any different because of who he is and who he's been -- organization.

Well we've been you know I think that the -- look communicates well that's. Several times today and will be you know involved -- obviously. PO -- is is going to make it a recommendation we hope. We -- Jason back that. You know question when you're dealing -- Expectations the questions always you know how long and and how much per year.

Can you explain the premium seat contractual ticket holders because of -- that you're giving them an offer now. To freeze their price in for 2009. Is that they need to extend their contract for years now it's working.

Well if I can get it right that they have multiyear contracts and they will be given the option to a next year in 2009. It's saying. Same perceived as they paid in 2008. And if they choose to do so which it is it is not making them. -- would also have to agree to extend their contract -- one year.

And it's. It's funny before we let you go you're glad to see just how good. If that's what I just read and it took a bomb. Until it --

Can get this whole thing coming in from the outside for you and I remember how excited you guys were when you first came here and obviously you guys have had tremendous success here. Both him when he championship something that the series had not seen I don't I'm sure you remember that for a while. And you've had a lot of other success in the way you've been able to build that ballpark is there anything that you haven't been able to do. That you really wanted to do coming into this.

Well I feel. Let John said something yesterday you -- and that's which is that. He he attributed some of our success -- that they were still hungry. I think that the as as much as. As any fans we we want to win. Every year and I was I was devastated myself flying back from Tampa we were so close to. Two. Getting to the World Series and I was very confident about what -- gonna be able to achieve against -- week you know to be that close and then not. And not win that seventh game with heart out so I think if anything. Of course we want to win every year and and we wanted to win back to back it championship this year but you know what -- meant to be that we want to win next year.

I tell it's always great talkin' me up and always hit a Turkey fortune and you plan and -- much you've got to thank -- the chairman the Austin.