Kenmore Square Will Close During Super Bowl
Police to shut down streets, sidewalks to prevent riots
Police will close Kenmore Square Sunday after the Super Bowl’s third quarter. Photo by Kalman Zabarsky
With Kenmore Square under lockdown on Super Bowl Sunday, the University will broadcast the New England–New York football face-off on Agganis Arena’s JumboTron, adding free skating, free food, and a “touchdown dance contest” with prizes into the mix.
Boston police will shut Kenmore to all pedestrian and motor vehicle traffic after the game’s third quarter “with no exceptions,” says Captain Robert Molloy of the Boston University Police Department. BUPD officers will assist in policing the square and will also deploy four-cop teams to West Campus, South Campus, Bay State Road, and the area around Marsh Plaza and the George Sherman Union. Molloy says a stand-by “civil disorder unit” will be on call to respond to any area that has trouble with rowdy crowds.
Students planning to watch the game at a Kenmore Square location should know that police plan “to funnel bar patrons exiting the establishments to streets away from” the square, Molloy says. “I recommend avoiding those venues that have presented problems in the past, such as bars on Brookline Avenue and Lansdowne Street and venues close to the Harvard and Brighton Avenue intersections.”
The security measures are in effect in the wake of riots following the Pats’ Super Bowl victories in 2002 and 2004 that left overturned cars, vandalized property, dozens of injuries, and in 2004, one death. A Northeastern student, 21-year-old James Grabowski, died when he was struck by an SUV that plowed into a crowd.
Whatever students’ plans for watching the game, “they should keep themselves safe,” says Kenneth Elmore, BU’s dean of students. “There will be a heavy Boston police presence throughout the city, but especially in Kenmore Square.” The dean also urges students to “make smart choices about their alcohol intake” and to make sure guests at any parties they host are safe.
The three-hour Agganis event starts at 5 p.m., about an hour before kickoff. Elmore (SED’87) predicts 2,000 students could attend what he calls “one of the biggest Super Bowl parties in New England.” Agganis also televised the 2008 clash between the Patriots and the Giants for football’s biggest prize. The Pats memorably lost that game, 17-14, prompting Elmore to add, “I hope we’re not going to jinx it.”
So basically, if a student lives East of Kenmore, and goes to the Agganis event, she’ll be unable to go home? Or will Bay State Road be open?
Bay State Road will be open for students needing to get to home east of Kenmore.
Man, sucks for the cops that got put on that patrol and have to miss the game.
They’ll be making ridiculous overtime pay, which shall surely soothe their troubled souls. Great deal for the ones that don’t care, anyway.
Will faculty and staff be able to watch the Super Bowl with their families in Agganis Arena along with the students? Is there a charge for this or is it free with a BU ID?
Fine for faculty and staff to attend – free. Have your BU ID.
Will the t be running?
Can I bring friends that are not BU students? If yes, is it free for them too?
I believe I read on the Facebook event wall that non-BU people are not allowed. You need a BU ID.
Yes, the MBTA will be running regular Sunday service on Bowl Day.
Surely there are other places to riot? /s
Non-BU students may attend the Agganis event but must be accompanied by a BU student when they enter and at all times inside.
What about people staying at the Hotel Commonwealth? They will be unable to leave or enter the hotel?
Can someone answer this question, I live in the red building next to the hotel, but my ID does not have that address on it.
We understand all paying guests of the hotel will be treated as such. According to The Boston Globe:
“Access to the Kenmore and North Station areas will be restricted at half-time. Those who are not inside bars or restaurants at that time will not be able to enter the area. Those inside who leave establishments after half-time will be told to leave the area, officials said.”
If Kenmore Sqre is closed and a big celebration is being held at Agganis,will the BU shuttle be able to operate on Super Bowl Sunday?Based on whats posted and word from BUPD,the roads used by the shuttle will be for the most part cloaed.
Where did you get this information from? Just called both the BU police and the Boston Police and I was told they only implemented parking restrictions, nothing to do with the pedestrians.