Citgo Sign in Kenmore Square to Be Shut off During Renovations

The Citgo sign in Kenmore Square has become a critical piece of the aura of historic Fenway Park. That familiar glowing rectangle, however, won't be seen from the stadium for a while, as it will be turned off at the end of the month for renovations.

The 45-year-old sign will be at full force in time for the playoffs, according to a release. The upgrades will include 9,000 feet of lights, which are specially designed to withstand the harsh and unpredictable New England weather.

It won't be the first time that the sign will be going dark. In 1979, the city ruled that the sign would be turned off in order to save energy costs, but it was turned back on in the early '80s.

It was renovated in 2005, upgrading the bulbs from neon to LED, and it was at the center of political controversy after Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez called George W. Bush "the devil."