BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox and NESN are asking all fans coming to the Sunday, Sept. 4 matchup against the Texas Rangers to bring signs that demonstrate their passion and support for the hometown team. Fans are encouraged to bring poster-sized signs that express their love for the Sox, Fenway Park or their favorite player. Everyone who participates will have a chance for their sign to be broadcast on NESN, and one lucky fan will be selected to win an incredible prize package.
NESN's Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy will serve as judges and select the winning sign. The winner's prize package will include tickets to a future game, a private tour of the NESN studios, a chance to watch the pre-game show live on Yawkey Way, a meet-and-greet with a Red Sox player and lunch or dinner with a front office executive.
"We've been to every American League park this year and a few National League parks as well, and everywhere we go we see signs from Red Sox fans, but we always felt like the best signs come from the Fenway Faithful," said Orsillo.
"There have been some crazy and creative signs, no doubt. They've given us some of our best material during long games so we're looking forward to seeing what the fans come up with," said Remy.
Ticket holders to the game on Sunday, September 4 can participate in the contest by bringing a sign from home or by creating a sign at Fenway Park at one of the five sign-making stations around the ballpark. Fans can display their signs for NESN's cameras during the first six innings of the game. The winner will be selected in the 7th inning, and he or she will come up to the NESN booth for an in-game appearance with Don and Jerry.
Signs must be no bigger than 2 feet by 3 feet and must be capable of being folded (or rolled) and stored at the participating fan's seat. Fans can visit NESN.com/signs for the complete contest rules.
Fans not attending the Sunday game can also show off their creativity and love of the Red Sox by emailing a photo of their sign to signsoffenway@blastmob.com beginning today. The signs submitted online are not eligible to win a prize, but the best signs will be displayed in a NESN.com photo gallery, powered by netomat, Inc. (netomat.com).
The Red Sox would like to remind fans that, for the 2011 season, all Fenway Park gates open one and a half hours prior to the scheduled first pitch. The Red Sox continue to open a limited number of gates -– Gates A and D on Yawkey Way -– two hours prior to first pitch to provide fans the opportunity to attend extended batting practice. All fans entering at that time must have tickets to that day’s game and will not be permitted to exit and re-enter the ballpark. The team would also like to remind fans that up to several hundred tickets are also available for the day's game every game at the Gate E Ticket Window beginning 90 minutes before first pitch.
About NESN (New England Sports Network)
NESN has consistently been one of the top rated regional sports networks in the country with award-winning Red Sox and Bruins coverage. The network is delivered to over 4 million homes throughout the six-state New England region and an additional 3.7 million homes nationally as NESN National. NESN.com, the network’s online sports news service, is one of the most visited regional sports network websites in the country. NESN also produces a number of distinctive programs under its umbrella Original NESN Entertainment (ONE). NESN is owned by Fenway Sports Group (owners of the Boston Red Sox) and the Boston Bruins.
