Larry Lucchino

Larry Lucchino president of the Boston Red Sox ascent asking you shall receive -- half an -- he image he's strong lap after lap appear he's. Larry Iran on the show earlier today and get it and half hours at a pro team just did well. So I don't -- and every team but these these fans are pretty please pretty passionate pretty and excited to be -- toad says it's great news is almost too much on the I'm a system like the 2009 season cloak closer. Well we just joked I mean I can't believe there are too many teams across baseball there that have an event like this where they. They open up the ballpark opened up a sweet like this what fans -- in my tickets. I mean it's if you got a fan base here that is loyal to the point where they're fill this place to buy tickets here in December.

All year I make it's a it's -- The places crowded is -- good Spirit here we've got a lot going on while people are in line getting tickets here. People are buying tickets on. Either by telephone -- through the Internet there on the Internet you can go to Red Sox. Protect dot com on the Internet buy tickets that he'd be may have below patient now there's quite a demand and there are a lot of people kind of buy tickets because there are literally. Tens of thousands of tickets available I know there's a lot of concerning various quarters about the availability of Red Sox tickets. Well today tomorrow the next several days at that -- criticism would not be there. Because there aren't they say. Tens of thousands there's a and he tickets available to be purchased they go to. 877 Red Sox nine and do by telephone the old fashioned way were happy to do it that way we go to Red Sox dot com. You can buy the tickets today you can buy and tomorrow you can buy the next several days so long as the as picnic supplies that we have for these select games on remain.

side I appreciate you being here we both appreciate being here. UB crazy like him like I'm going to ask you something about baseball related as the early. So you may mister Bradford -- Oh while it I do appreciate you being here and is creative and I think it's -- Let me ask you this how much have you seen as the ball over the last few years this event.

Well it's it's more orderly now. I think the first time we started at 67 years ago. It was a great idea and and lined. But we had some kinks that we had to straighten we had to make it a little more friendly for people who were here waiting we have to -- little -- entertainment. I think it's maturity it's evolved into something that's. That's the most smoother. More efficient kind of a process and we've expanded it -- Christmas at Fenway started Thursday night really with the unveiling of the modified uniforms -- road uniforms in the adjustments to logo. Brandon -- fashion show kind of and get together. And then today we at Christmas and -- ways a traditional stuff and then tomorrow -- got a great Fenway -- ourselves which is started really. -- today's some of the people here that will be. Opening full force tomorrow. Four people want to. Fenway. And B you know -- this or broken. Yet publications and that's going to be.

It is cool went home and now going to ask you a question the there's the question -- I've been thinking about this week with the Steve Sampson comments about the Yankees about. Basically coming out and saying okay you know in this Financial Times news in the way the economy is they're responsible for the Yankees to do what they're doing. And there's two different ways of looking at it you have a a unique perspective on it wondered what your thoughts on those comments were your thoughts on the current situation.

Well I think it's one's got to be pretty bold to the talking other teams in such. Graphic terms. I find it. We have our hands full focusing on the Red Sox needs in the Red Sox. Priorities in the Red Sox goals. And it like talk about that I think I -- I admit I'm time that time. Talked about the Yankees there. -- perspective and.

Which I did I manage as -- like your spots this week. We would then Childress -- the yes the where where pride cast right things that you know we got the Red Sox you have to take. The usual. What voted transportation and we realize the private planes in your email response -- this to happen.

Instead it is. Six incidently I can't say we aren't the Red Sox. And I say thank Yankees certainly are -- thank goodness.

I think the Red Sox fans were absolute truth about -- that you mentioned Thursday the unveiling of the the new -- now primary road Jersey there's sort of an alternate. Hanging Sox local that I I would call it. What is being your responses the owner of this team people you've talked to the fans you've talked to has been a positive responses have been negative has been mixed how BC.

Why I'm just so one of these owners -- Jan Hendry down Warner are -- ownership group was we're actively involved in in that. And logo and uniform and just in his well. Because -- happen that often but these are not major changes the road Easter road uniforms were just need to go back to it kind of retro look. And and I I think the general reaction that has been positive in this -- surveys we've seen in 5560%. Like it. And forty percent then they'll like it overall. No we are going to please everyone time you make it changes going to be some some resistance that we. The the alternate uniforms I used very infrequently -- rated the blue. But there and a nice change pace with fantasy. You know handful of times each season. The biggest I think misunderstanding. As to do with me the -- it is him you had with a head hanging Sox that is an alternate -- I was not replacing the traditional without the -- And some misunderstanding about that we will be wearing a traditional Red Sox he had. I would say ninety that 99%. Of the time next year on the other hand -- warm. From time to time I should a pitcher want to try. From time to break his something like that there maybe and maybe some of that. But that by analyzed in the logo was kind of fine tune I think -- Sox we're lucky to have things that there are few. Organizations that can be identified without any word so it's -- Nike -- There is probably a few others -- yeah golden arches and McDonald's. Things so it's no letters no words -- nothing to assemble.

As you as -- as few -- Go about the economy as you watched the winter meetings unfold. Knowing the stadium economy did. It how it unfolds did that surprise you at all or it. Did you feel with this was the way it's going to go the Yankees -- offers an area and everybody else is going to kind of this scale back okay.

It wasn't entirely surprising every winter meeting every sort of offseason has its own. He served so characteristic of personality. There was plenty of evidence that this going to be slower -- off season. Before the way meetings you and I think that held up there probably less grades latest free agents signing here than in recent years. The Yankees rather shoot we're aggressive with their. -- in pursuit of CC sabathia. And that came to fruition so in some ways that was predictable. Given the -- Zealand there and level at which the papers that. -- I think that. There's there was a lot. Of uncertainty out there how how profoundly -- macroeconomic problems affected. Baseball this year immediately -- what the impact be several months in the making. We're we're lucky to some degree in Boston none of us are immune completely impervious to the economic factors to set the nation. But with the passionate fan base that we have here. And the core of support that we had very picky maybe. Stronger that's not to say we won't be affected and impacted someway that we don't ticket prices and first time in fourteen years who want to use them. Since that he twos plate are fans maybe in. But I do think we have in inherent advantage of some sort weaknesses and strengths. And breath. Red Sox some.

Portnoy it's a dominant brand and it's got such loyal support not only here in new England -- across the country Larry. You see the NBA as a week with some layoffs the NFL pretty similar they're going to come down to playoff ticket prices worried about the economic up feeling right now on this country's. As a league began it with your fellow owners finally here but across the league. Are you sort of preparing that hey as as Major League baseball's an entity is don't want to baseball network here on TV January 1. We gotta sort of prepare here in 2009 that the league in a hole might feel that affect.

Yeah I think that the commissioner's responsibility is to focus on the league as a whole. And now all of -- to keep an eye on that. Of course it is fundamental responsibility. And he has warned all of us. He's gone to be Kovalev bringing hopeful we're on present like the -- economic advisers. To command and talked to baseball about how serious these issues are how we can life likely. Ignored these. Its currents that are out there that are causing great. Unrest and uncertainty. And so he is focusing on it. There's been some -- reduction in force that bam Major League baseball's advanced media program I think they're 4% it. Deployment force there has been released. So we will all the league will will will deal with that the commissioners is. Very. Involved in economic and issues that -- the game the ticket prices and TV contracts and sponsorship. Activity. And he's certainly you know focused on the macro problems that face -- the game and some of the ownership of some of the team.

Do you think revolution are sharing is working that you have guys like you go back to Sampson comments that via the flip side of that is -- can say. Bowl war wise he complaining he's going to be. The reaping some of the benefits of this so do you think this is working to beat -- was -- the money wise.

Well -- I think that the system can be improved to I certainly do I think that does. But the the commissioner would say that it is it has been working because we have achieved I heard it is we've achieved. Gigantic -- yeah. New levels competitive balance from them better levels of competitive balance and we've ever had when we started revenue sharing. He must remember it was period at Yankee dominance within one year after year here.

Yeah sure. You guys took over as an ownership group what almost seven years ago now he had a press conference here late December 2001 and one of the first things you talked about as a group was that you were not going to move out of this ballpark and I will fully admit that time. Young dumb can I say this is craze in the new ballpark waterfront makes a lot of sense. Boy I've changed my -- you guys I think as a fan of done a great job at this building going forward I Acie Law constructing one out there right now doing this broadcast. Are those changes for next year of those changes and we'll see or those changes. Just help preserve the ballpark point four because it is and all the build.

Yeah it's the course the oldest smallest most beloved ballpark in baseball and America as -- as very. Frequently say the changes that you asked about or we both they'll be some that the fans will not see because they will be. Affecting the infrastructure. The integrity of the structure of the waterproofing of the structure. And anyone able Fenway Park to be around for the next thirty or forty years at a minimum. We're not talking about that mandates that are going to keep this place going for the next three or four years to whatever we're. I think John Henry down -- entire ownership group made commitment to Fenway Park. To to preserve it protective long term and yet allocated tremendous. Of our revenue to do yet this week the world around me. And that is commitment that was -- long term. Now for next year we going to see some of the waterproofing in the old as part of the ballpark the 1912 bowl accused them to again. So that those that. Structure. With the new seats. The pupils. -- world. Last furlong time and make this facility. This enemy suitable for decades now you'll also see. Some things that the fans will notice on the right field line going towards the Budweiser decked out there. As it chunk of right field box seats second level the that they -- La. They. Needed some attention and network in the -- corners passed them on there. And that's been renovated it being renovated right now and you'll see makes you -- about 350 additional tickets for -- out there. So some of them receipts all of them very cool standing. And -- And that's about it the more people per game becoming the ball park overeating one -- that point 5000 more. Tickets for next year so what we're trying to do one in two. -- their capacity sir that and they are crying for tickets. Tickets that they again you're treatments that it's that they would be -- today. Tomorrow morning and Monday Tuesday going to -- rights acts that. 877 -- nine -- tickets available including. That some of those new seats right.

And volleys and be nicer to -- those tickets knowing via Mark Teixeira on the roster well and I would never ask you how -- to handicap the Mark Teixeira on. But I was still able ask you about Scott Boras has said that -- that Teixeira had met with the ownership group of each team so did you where you part of that meeting yeah.

There was a meeting scheduled -- but for -- pick for some logistical. Reasons. It didn't happen it happened with. -- Tito and the some of the coaches -- but the with no ownership pitches -- so and so that wasn't entirely accurate is that I think area may have been schedule. Okay what time assists and just didn't happen okay in numb you -- you were you're familiar with Baltimore guys that he from that area and and have you followed his career quite a bit throughout and in what -- this your thoughts on well he's a all around a player an exceptional players. The real addition to whatever team is successful in getting him. The we don't really want to talk about the stages of negotiation and I would never ask you create a terrorist attack but -- it. We. Actively pursuing. Free agents and that. And actively. Pursuing him but that's although I think it's appropriate -- publicly.

I would say this in the was talking with people the winter meetings -- the reds are -- a better position than most teams. And and I with meant you -- degree in the sensitive because of the position put himself in terms of obviously resources but also the way you develop players. And would be fair to say that as you sat there the winner reasonably that this team look to your team's. Kind of situation that it was probably pretty good feeling knowing what we can go this way they'll be okay but we can go this way Nabil K --

Why don't and I think that serve miss characterizes our our our state of mind. We are comfortable and and pleased with the level of internal player development. We do think that. Got the right people making the right evaluations. We've got the right kind of financial commitment being dedicated to signing and developing players we've dramatically increased the amount of money that's available for manager -- yes and we. We signed a much higher percentage and ten billion dollars last year invest in this draft that we think we've got we've got that piece. You know organized. But we've we go into the offseason with them much. He -- desire to win every year and -- so there's that sense of come complacency Horry or even complete confidence you know he's going to be a little bit on a team that worried about it next. Closest competitor. And and that's -- what we do how we do we we are pleased I mean we realized we don't have to. To do would it all on the backs of free agents we can we have. Three or four different avenues that we go right and that's system that does give us a little a greater sense of comfort. But we go into the offseason saying how we gonna make this team better because other teams cannot stand still we've got to make this team better. And assigning it -- island Japanese pitcher will make this team better than signing. Dustin Pedroia to -- make this team that in. And we've got more work is what.

I think that the perspective wise for a lot of people -- all the Red Sox in years past always had the react how the Yankees -- but. I think I'm correct in saying is that. You knew this was coming from the Yankees I mean you knew that if the new stadium they're going to spend a lot of money absolutely and so now the Red Sox were going board with the plan as currently constituted in. And that the Yankees moves it. Don't really affect you much.

Well which has -- that last race and I think the country I think I was up myself. They do affect us to be here because. Stations and saying to be a real baseball Pena -- that as juniors to rival. -- As the people behind them and keep them right we think it is a rough carrier equality. You know our position in -- needs. Much bigger. Market they've got the largest market in the western world but it terms of where we stand respect different then we're we're looking. -- they have for some time.

Last month for me you know -- Mike Dee talked about how the uniform change you guys and -- Thursday with not okay we decided July did you this it was a two year process in terms of you -- uniform and half the local we talked about. I know we're three years away from the Centennial 2012 here Fenway too early to ask if if that's starting to be planned and eventually -- plan for your kick off that season throughout the year got -- hundred years of ball club here in Boston.

Exactly in my it's not too too early to to plan that doctor and ask about it these guys that we had -- session yesterday with one hour -- fellows. -- Q -- comprehensive plan for the for the organization and execution. And we part Centennial 2000 -- So we're actively involved in it beginning right now. And now with these folks. On my stuffed them celebrate here park. -- to things so is this the first ever on Centennial Torre Major League Baseball facility ball park stadium whatever. We're going to make a big deal well Larry thank you so much -- computer and I thank Travis I was happy holidays do you have panicky too yes thanks for talented Christians and.