May 30, 2005
Fenway Park (Capacity: 35,483)
Boston, MA
Boston Red Sox vs Baltimore Orioles
Final Score: 1 – 8
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On Memorial Day Weekend, some friends and I took a trip to visit someone in Boston and we had the privilege of taking in a Red Sox game while in town. Located on the eastern edge of Massachusetts near the Bay that gives way to the Atlantic Ocean, the largest city in New England is rich with history and full of places to visit. Boston became one of my favorite cities as it is historical, entertaining and unique. Perhaps no other city is obsessed with their sports teams like Boston and at the heart of their remarkably hardcore following are the Red Sox. With a history dating back to 1901, it is quite difficult to sum up this franchise in a few sentences. Though quite successful through it’s time, they became defined by championship heartbreak, which finally came to an end in 2004 as their breathtaking World Series win ended an 86-year title drought. Since 1912, Fenway Park has been home to the Red Sox and this venerable ballpark is a place cherished deeply. In the middle of a gradual ten-year renovation, famed Fenway is being modernized but still maintains many historic traits, making this an amazing place.
Prestige Ranking: 5 out of 5
Location
The ballpark’s name derives from the Fenway section of Boston where the stadium is located. This urbanized neighborhood is close to many of Boston’s attractions as it lies about a couple miles west of the Back Bay/Downtown (places to see there include the Freedom Trail, Quincy Market and Boston Common). A short walk to the north is Kenmore Square, which includes Boston University as it runs by the side of the Charles River. While there are a few museums in the area, along with a public park (Back Bay Fens), it is the sports bars that define this tightly clustered neighborhood. Surrounding Fenway Park are several really good ones, including Cask ‘n Flagon and Boston Beer Works, both of which we visited. Tons of beers are on tap and the atmosphere there before Sox games is awesome. Adding to the festive atmosphere is the closing off of Yawkey Way, a road that runs along the park. Vendors and people fill the street and it is a really great place beforehand. This area also includes a massive team store in a separate building and the whole street stays open to ticket-holders during the game.
Location Ranking: 10 out of 10
Accessibility / Parking
Boston may be the most difficult city to drive in due to a number of factors, all of which are displayed while trying to get to Fenway. Though the park is nearly a long home run away from the Mass Pike (I-90), there is no exit taking you anywhere close to the Stadium. Thus, local roads are needed which can be confusing thanks in part to odd intersections (exemplified in Kenmore Square). Traffic and idiot drivers also can infuriate out-of-towners. Parking is another issue as though there are lots and garages within walking distance, the limited number of them fill up quickly. I highly recommend not driving and instead using mass transit. Boston’s subway system is known as the T and the Kenmore Station is just a 5-minute walk away and there are several lines from all over Boston making it accessible. The B, C and D trains on the Green Line arrive at Kenmore, while another option is to use the slightly further Fenway stop on the D train. Expect big crowds and likely a wait to get a train after the game. Plus, park-n-ride stations aren’t all that convenient. We were fortunate enough to just walk to the ballpark as our friend lives in the dorms at nearby BU. Otherwise, plotting how to get here would have been awful.
Accessibility / Parking Ranking: 2 out of 8
Exterior
Fenway is a mix of green siding/beams and dark brick, with the brick nicely matching many of the surrounding buildings. I am big on impressive opening front façades for ballparks (like at Wrigley), but there really isn’t one here. Instead the ballpark takes on different forms, at times resembling an old warehouse or an apartment complex. Lettered gates A thru E lead fans into the ballpark, though uniquely, these gates are mostly green garage doors that open when it is time to enter. There is various ballpark name signage, with the most historic coming above Yawkey Way, where the carved “Fenway Park” on top of the building is an original. Another cool spot to check out is on Lansdowne Street, where the back of the Green Monster is visible and the Monster Seats actually extend over the sidewalk.
Exterior Ranking: 6.5 out of 10
Concourse
Concourses run underneath the seating bowl and as one would expect for a near 100-year old stadium, they are cramped. Just like the outside, you’ll see plenty of brick walls and green support beams. There are some additional spaces for food, bathroom, etc. in the grandstand, but I didn’t get up there since it is mostly a club level. Recent renovations have led to the “Big Concourse” out in right field, where there is more room, food stands and even picnic tables. In spite of character in the main concourse, it is crowded with long lines and a general drab feel (along with the hard-worn concrete under your feet). Signs for concessions are done in old-school font.
Concourse Ranking: 2 out of 5
Food
There was a great ballpark food aroma wafting throughout and adding to the familiar ballpark smell are traditional New England specialties. This includes things like Clam Chowder and Lobster Rolls. A decent array of other options exists, while the signature item is the Fenway Frank. The boiled hot dog in a white bread sandwich roll is classic and pretty good as well. In addition to the food offerings inside, there are several smaller side restaurants on ground-level, open to the street, along with vendor stands.
Food Ranking: 6.5 out of 8
Interior
Fenway is hard to define because its remarkable charm is cancelled out by several significant downfalls: Tight seats, obstructed views and many horrible sightlines. Most of the red and blue seats are located in the lower and main level, which extend back at a gentle slope and are very tightly packed with each other. Foul territory is at a minimum, so you are at least very close to play. Half of the seats in the infield are covered by a roof and while the cover is nice, it is too large as it causes significant obstruction issues for the back 2/3rds of the bowl. Those folks will have difficulty watching fly balls. It is also here where you get a true historic feel as support beams are situated in the middle and old, uncomfortable wooden chairs remain. The beams support a much higher-level pavilion level, only a few rows deep and mixed between club and regular seating. This area also contains luxury suites, the press box and the .406 Club, the main upscale section which is enclosed in glass.
Heading into the outfield is of course Fenway’s defining feature, the Green Monster. Because the ballpark had to fit within the city streets, the wall was built since Lansdowne Street was so close and the 37-foot wall helped to defend the short left field. In 2003, the netting on top was replaced with “Monster Seats”, three rows of counter-top seating making for the most unique (and popular) section in baseball. Heading to the right of the Monster are the centerfield seats which slowly increase in height, forming what looks like a triangular section (be ware that these are not pointed to home plate). There are more seats in right field, with a party deck perched a level above. An interesting part of the seating in right is that the right field foul pole (Pesky’s Pole) actually runs parallel with the seats for some 80 feet before hitting the outfield wall. For a short home run, the ball has to wrap around the pole or it will fall as a double or triple. This is all part of a very complex and interesting outfield that keep fielders on their toes. This also sets up some truly terrible seating angles down the line as the chairs face 90 degrees in the wrong direction (pointed towards the center field scoreboard).
Most of Fenway is enclosed, however seats on the third base side have a nice look at two of Boston’s biggest skyscrapers, the Prudential building and the John Hancock building. Others in the infield seats also can see the famous Citgo sign that sits in Kenmore. New features have acted to enhance this old park as the modernization of Fenway makes this a place that will last well into the future. Still, it’s important to note that older buildings of yesteryear can have both charm and great functionality. That is not the case in many areas of Fenway and yet, I wouldn’t trade it for something new.
Interior Ranking: 7 out of 14
Scoreboard
Possibly the most famous scoreboard in sports can be found at the bottom of the Green Monster. The manual board is hand-operated, with the only electronics being the lights that are used for the batter number and pitch count. Many folks love to peak behind the scenes to watch the operator put up each number on the box score. In addition, there is an out-of-town scoreboard and a newly created AL East standings board. All of it fits wonderfully on the wall. A more modern display is above the center field seats and it is off-center from home plate, just like the seats below. The screen is split in two with graphics on the right and video on the left. Above the scoreboard is the lettering for the John Hancock Company, which has become a staple ad.
Scoreboard Ranking: 3 out of 4
Displays
Boston does well to add to the festive outside atmosphere by decorating the streets and ballpark with various Red Sox banners. On the main hangout, Yawkey Way, Fenway Park has side red and blue banners on the exterior displaying each World Championship. Also visible from the outside, this time on the other side at Van Ness and Ipswitch, are the more traditional team banners that hang inside near the concourse. This is the area where six numbers are located on the brick ballpark, signifying those who have been retired by the team (plus Jackie Robinson). Included are Ted Williams, Carlton Fisk and Carl Yastrzemski. Similar team and individual displays are seen inside the park, where the numbers are in the upper deck of right field and the championships (including division and league) are seen in pennant form on the press box/suite level. A big omission is something on team history, which a franchise like this should have some sort of detailed displays for visitors. Back outside near Gate B, perhaps the most famous Red Sox, Ted Williams has a relatively new statue of him in uniform with a bat in one hand, while placing a hat with the other hand on a cancer-stricken child.
Displays Ranking: 3 out of 6
Cost
Everything is expensive for a Red Sox game and it starts with the highest ticket prices in the league. Unfortunately, they get away with it since the park is always sold out. Cheapest seats are in the outfield, but anywhere in the infield, expect to pay quite a bit with many seats over $50. If you try driving to the game, costly parking garages run anywhere between $25 and $50. Using the T helps save money, but even to park at one of their lots and ride, the T station parking can cost $4 – $7. Concessions aren’t cheap either with a beer and hot dog costing nearly $13. In 2005, Boston by far had the highest Fan Cost Index.
Cost Ranking: 3 out of 8
Fan Support
The Red Sox have a fan base so large and passionate that wherever you are bound to go in the summer, the team likely is brought up in conversation. And that doesn’t just go for Eastern Massachusetts, but for all of New England as the passion lies deep in surrounding states like Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Rhode Island. Throughout Beantown we saw Red Sox apparel everywhere and experienced the fan passion at the sports bars during a game the night before. The championship last year may have taken a little edge off and added some bandwagoners, but this is a team with amazing fans. It shows in the ballpark too, where every night is packed and Boston is perennially at the top of the league for attendance based on percentage of capacity. Our game was a true sellout and it was hard to find an empty seat.
Fan Support Ranking: 8 out of 8
Atmosphere
Inside Fenway, the atmosphere is terrific with fans fixated on the field. They know the team inside and out and are fully engaged. Yes, some of them are “Massholes” and that accent can annoy people (like the idiot seated next to me who said “Oh you’ah from Rochestah, it must suck being a Bills fan”). The non-laid-back approach usually associated with baseball games is an interesting change of pace. The great atmosphere I witnessed included standing ovations for nice plays, along with attempting to rally the team. I never saw a big play, but from games on TV, this place can really go nuts. The highlight of the festive atmosphere for me was the singing of “Sweet Caroline” during the middle of the 8th inning.
Atmosphere Ranking: 14 out of 14
Other Stuff
Fenway Park opened on April 20, 1912, just a few days after the Titanic sank…..Initially, Boston’s baseball team was known as the Americans before becoming the Red Sox in 1908……To put it simply, Red Sox fans hate the Yankees and their fans. Hate. These two make for an intense rivalry both on and off the field, where just the sight of the NY logo is quick to make Boston loathe…..The game we attended was on Memorial Day and the Sox had a stirring tribute before the game, which included covering the Green Monster with an American Flag…..In the right-field bleachers is one lone red seat. The different coloring signifies the location of the longest home run in Fenway history, hit 502 feet by Ted Williams on June 9, 1946.
Game
Baltimore continued their surprising start to the season as they dominated Boston in this game. Bronson Arroyo for the Red Sox did not have his best stuff and was hit hard in a short stint. Baltimore scored a pair of runs in the first two innings, despite both Trot Nixon and Manny Ramirez throwing out runners at home plate. With the bases loaded in the 3rd, David Newhan hit a grand slam on a full count to put the O’s up 7-0. From there, Rodrigo Lopez pitched beautifully going 8 innings and giving up 6 hits and 1 run. Johnny Damon went 2 for 2 for Boston.
Stadium and Arena Visits 
