It turns out the hockey team won’t be the only UMass team to play at Fenway Park in 2017.
The Minutemen will play Maine in football at the historic Boston ballpark on Nov. 11.
The Red Sox announced Thursday that game would be one of three intra-New England matchups at Fenway. Brown will host Dartmouth on Nov. 10 and UConn will host Boston College on Nov. 18.
The contest will be a home game for the Minutemen, who were originally hosting the Black Bears at McGuirk Stadium in Amherst.
Athletic director Ryan Bamford said UMass and the Red Sox began discussing the possibility of a game at Fenway almost a year ago.
“We’ve been in talks with the Red Sox since last spring,” Bamford said.
He hoped the venue might help put the program in front of new potential fans.
“It might be a Red Sox fan who just wants to see it and realizes ‘this is good football,’” Bamford said. “It’s a tremendous opportunity for our program.”
Bamford said the revenue distribution from ticket sales is as follows: UMass gets the first $100,000. The Red Sox receive the next $400,000. After that UMass receives 45 percent of any ticket sold while the Red Sox get 55 percent.
UMass retained all broadcasting rights for television and digital distribution.
Bamford said the school will enter into a deal with Twins Enterprises to create event-specific merchandise and souvenirs.
Since John Henry’s ownership group purchased the franchise and ballpark in 2001, the Red Sox have used the venue to host events other than baseball, including soccer, concerts, outdoor hockey and winter extreme sports.
The Red Sox brought football back to Fenway for the first time since 1968 when Notre Dame hosted Boston College in the 2015 Shamrock Series. If the field setup is the same or similar, one end zone will be in front of the bullpens in right field, with the other lined up with the visitors’ dugout along third base.
According to the Boston Globe, five professional football teams — the Boston Redskins (NFL), the Boston Shamrocks (AFL), Boston Bears (AFL), Boston Yanks (NFL) and Boston Patriots (AFL) — played home games at Fenway Park.
The UMass hockey team has twice played outdoor games at Fenway Park as part of the Frozen Fenway events, including Sunday.
The Minutemen have played at Fenway numerous times as part of the Baseball Beanpot, which is sometimes held there, but won’t be in 2017.
The football team has never played there.
UMass’ other five homes games in 2017 will be in Amherst.
Ticket prices, sale dates and kickoff times will be announced at a later date.
Matt Vautour can be reached at mvautour@gazettenet.com. Get UMass coverage delivered in your Facebook news feed at www.facebook.com/GazetteUMassCoverage