Red Sox invite Super Bowl champion Patriots to home opener

The Boston Red Sox have invited the New England Patriots to participate in pregame festivities leading into the home opener at Fenway Park.

Boston is a city of champions and that glory will be on full display when the Red Sox return home next week.

The Red Sox will receive their 2018 World Series rings in a pregame ceremony prior to Tuesday’s home opener at Fenway Park against the Toronto Blue Jays. They won’t be the only reigning champs in attendance though, as the club has extended an invitation to the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots.

"“We’ve invited the Patriots and we’re ecstatic they’re going to be there. It’s going to be a great day,” team president Sam Kennedy told reporters, per WBZ."

Boston’s sports teams have storied histories that have achieved unrivaled success this century. The Patriots have won six Super Bowls during the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick era that dates back to 2001. The Red Sox are celebrating their fourth World Series title in that span while the Celtics and Bruins have also hoisted trophies in recent memory.

These organizations have been supportive of each other, often inviting their fellow Boston championship teams to celebrate in their home. The Red Sox made an appearance at the TD Garden in November during a Celtics game against the Milwaukee Bucks. We last saw the Patriots parade around Fenway after their epic comeback in Super Bowl LI against the Atlanta Falcons two years ago. That moment was highlighted by Brady tackling Rob Gronkowski to the ground after the star tight end pretended to steal one of the quarterback’s jerseys, a nod to a controversial story in which TB12’s game-worn jersey mysteriously disappeared after the championship game.

This time will be a bit different though. The Red Sox want to honor the tradition of acknowledging when another Boston team wins a championship, and rightfully so, but this is a rare scenario in which both teams won a title in the same season. That leaves the Red Sox sharing their spotlight with another franchise.

The presence of Brady and the Pats may take some of the attention away from the Red Sox but it increases the appeal for the fans. Two great Boston teams on the same field standing tall as reigning champions of their respective sports.

Kennedy also hinted at more surprises, including a connection to past Red Sox championship teams. It would come as no surprise if legends such as David Ortiz, Pedro Martinez, Jason Varitek, and Tim Wakefield joined the festivities.

The home opener is scheduled for Tuesday, April 9 at 2:00 p.m. Make sure to tune in early for the pregame ceremony!