Springsteen Plans Fenway Foray

For the first time in history, Fenway Park, a shrine to the Red Sox faithful, may be used as a venue for a major rock concert — and the featured performer is Bruce Springsteen.

"We know what Fenway means to the people of Boston and are very appreciative to the Boston Red Sox for the opportunity to play at this great symbol of the city of Boston," Springsteen's manager, Jon Landau, said in a statement.

Also announced Monday were concerts in three other major league ballparks: Chicago's Comiskey Park, Detroit's Comerica Park and Milwaukee's Miller Park. Concerts at stadiums in Chapel Hill, N.C., and in Buffalo, N.Y., also were announced.

Springsteen, 53, is in the midst of a tour that began in August 2002 and will extend to the end of September. Nearly 3 million tickets have been sold, according to his publicists.

Red Sox officials appeared Monday before the city's Office of Consumer Affairs and Licensing to ask for permits for concerts at the park on Sept. 6 and 7, when the team will be on a road trip. Springsteen's publicists say the show is scheduled for Sept. 6.

Patricia Malone, director of the licensing office, took the request under advisement. She has 30 days to rule.

"I'm very optimistic. I think it's an appropriate show. It's a good venue for the show," said Larry Cancro, senior vice president of Fenway affairs for the team, who said the show would combine an "iconic ballpark and an iconic rock act."

Cancro said the only other time that a concert had been held there was in the 1970s, when the Newport Jazz Festival needed temporary quarters.

He said the idea for the concert at the 36,000-seat park "fell into our lap" and wasn't likely to turn into a regular thing.