“Pep” Conferences and Boston Sports

Boston sports fans are a very lucky breed.

We’ve seen World Series trophies, the Stanley Cup, Superbowls, and a 17th green banner in the Garden, and that’s just in the past decade! Boston is also a world-famous running city — a fame that is growing every day as people are training for the 2014 Boston Marathon.

A lot of work goes into making sure people get to enjoy Boston sports events. Public safety is paramount, and that takes a concerted communications effort, involving the media, colleges and universities, restaurants and bars, and the general public.

When the Boston Red Sox won the 2013 American League Pennant, the City of Boston got to work. This interdepartmental effort involved the Mayor’s Office, Consumer Affairs/Licensing, Boston Transportation, Boston Police, Boston EMS, and the Red Sox organization as well.

After all, it’s a lot easy to get a message out there, while still maintaining a sense of excitement, when Wally the Green Monster is standing with the police chief.

In addition to road closures and parking restrictions, approximately 200 restaurants, bars, and other businesses in the area of Allston/Brighton, Fenway, Back Bay, the South End, and Downtown, received detailed instructions from the Mayor’s Office of Consumer Affairs and Licensing on directives in place, should the Red Sox reaching a clinching game.

Yeah, there were rules. But there were also no arrests made or problems reported when the Red Sox won the ALCS. So we were doing something right.

In the Press Office, we also handle the mayor-to-mayor sports bets that come when your teams are in a championship battle. A lot goes into enjoying sports in Boston!