Red Sox, city reach deal on Yawkey Way use

The Red Sox announced on Friday that they reached a new agreement with the Boston Redevelopment Authority in which rights around Fenway Park will be sold to the club and an important parcel of land near the ballpark will also be developed.

The Red Sox will pay $7.34 million to Boston and the BRA for continuing rights to use Yawkey Way and the air above Lansdowne Street for a portion of seats atop the Green Monster.

Along with the $7.34 million, surface rights to a key parcel of land, located between Boylston Street and Van Ness Street, owned by a Red Sox affiliate will be acquired by the BRA.

That land will be used to create a new public street that will run parallel to Yawkey Way that will help add to the overall environment and experience of Fenway Park.

"This agreement is an example of a mutually beneficial public-private partnership," Red Sox president/CEO Larry Lucchino said. "The Red Sox and our fans will have the advantage of continuing to use space essential to Fenway Park's safe, comfortable, expanded and more efficient operation, and the city will receive a larger payment, as well as the opportunity to create a new, public street that will serve as a catalyst for the Fenway neighborhood's future development and effectively reduce reliance on Yawkey Way as one of the north to south streets through our area."

With the amount of foot traffic in and out of Fenway Park, this new street should help with congestion and allow fans to make it in and out of the ballpark much quicker.

"The gates located on Yawkey Way are the two most highly trafficked by fans coming in and out of the ballpark," said Red Sox director of security Charles Cellucci. "Its closure during games and events at Fenway Park serves not only as a festive, expanded concourse area, it also plays a critical public safety function for the orderly entrance and exit of our fans during games. It is also a key evacuation route in case of a fire or other emergency."