Boston says no to ‘Derek Jeter Center’

eBay bid to rename FleetCenter for a day won’t happen

updated 7:14 p.m. ET Feb. 25, 2005

BOSTON - The “Derek Jeter Center” in Boston will not come to pass.

A New York Yankees fan whose $2,325 bid won an eBay auction giving him the one-day naming rights to the FleetCenter wanted to pay tribute to the Yankees’ shortstop and captain.

But Manhattan lawyer Kerry Konrad agreed Friday to call it the “Jimmy Fund Center” after a Boston friend and Red Sox fan donated an additional $6,275 to the charitable effort.

Story continues below ↓

Real estate developer Jerry Rappaport Jr. brought the total to $8,600 in recognition of 86 years between Boston’s World Series victories. The Jimmy Fund, one of the world’s largest cancer charities, supports the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. It has been the official Red Sox charity since 1953.

Konrad and Rappaport, both Harvard alums, are scheduled to be at the “Jimmy Fund Center” on Tuesday to present their donation to the charity.

Konrad’s original proposal was rejected by FleetCenter president and CEO Richard Krezwick. Arena officials have reserved the right to approve or reject any winning bid.

“All names have to be rated ’G’. We determined that Derek Jeter Center is an obscene and vulgar use of the English language in Boston,” Krezwick said, joking.