Boston sports are returning to the city in the aftermath of the hunt for Monday’s bombing suspects, but the Red Sox and Bruins are planning to increase security measures.
Monday’s bombing at the Boston Marathon left three people dead and close to 180 injured, and also caused the cancellation of Bruins and Celtics contests early in the week. As the city slowly recovered mid-week, the Bruins played a home game against the Buffalo Sabres that was seen as a measure of healing for the city .
When police closed in on bombing suspects late Thursday night and early Friday morning, shutting down the city as the search for the remaining suspect intensified, the Red Sox and Bruins again canceled games . Now that the remaining suspect, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, has been captured, Boston sports are ready to return.
The Red Sox are set to play the Kansas City Royals on Saturday, with tighter-than-normal security at Fenway Park planned. A few hours before the game started, a SWAT team member with a German shepherd stood at the doorway leading to the visitor’s dugout while officers in military fatigues swept the visitor’s locker room before the game.
The Bruins are also playing an afternoon contest against the Pittsburgh Penguins amid greater security .
“Clearly we were all watching for days and being here yesterday and being in the hotel, being inside certainly became a part of the situation and part of what the city of Boston was going through. I think although we weren’t a part of it, the celebration outside as a city and as a people last night, and just feel like it’s a great opportunity to play a game today with the city of Boston and not just against the Bruins but with the city and with the Bruins,” Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said.
Outside both games, fans appeared ready for the return of Boston sports. Many wore the baseball team’s home white jersey that says “BOSTON” rather than “RED SOX” and others wore “Boston Strong” t-shirts that benefit OneFund.