OT.... Fenway Park

[mean15]

Thinking of going to Fenway for a Yankee game this summer. Anybody ever been up there? Is it worth the trip? Parking, hotels, etc?
Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[Plum Street]

Been to Fenway a few times. Never for a Yankees-red sox game. I like it because I like old stadiums. Parking at hotels can be a bit pricey. Boston is a place where you will park your car when you get to the hotel and then won't see it again until you leave. Last time I was there we stayed in Cambridge- at I think the Radisson or maybe a double tree . It was a little less expensive than staying in the city and they had a shuttle to the t-train which was convienent. We gave the driver a little $$ one night and he dropped us at Fenway about 3 hours before the game.

 

[LevaosLectures]

Every baseball fan should go given the opportunity. Boston is a great city to visit as well. Try to find a hotel in the Back Bay area as it is easy to walk to the park (or take the subway). Specifically the hotels attached to the Prudential Center/ Copley Mall like the Sheraton, Marriot, and Hilton are all very comveniently located for a game/tourism combo trip. Ive gotten great deals at the Sheraton in particular ($150 or less) through priceline. Other good neighborhoods to stay are Beacon Hill or Downtown Crossing/Faneuil Hall area. The stadium itself is in Kenmore/Fenway which is also fine but a bit further from the main sites. The whole city is more or less accessible by waking or metro once you are there so consider taking the bus or train. You wont use the car. If you do drive expect to be charged 30 to 40 by your hotel for the parking per day. There are some free parking options but they require hustle and and a bit of expertise and probably not worth it for a short pleasure trip.

 

[KeithK7624]

It's a must go to. Went for the mets sox about 10 years ago and is still one of the best weekends of my life.

 

[mikebal9]

The best of my 20+ baseball stadium trips, and by quite a bit. Take the morning tour, too.

 

[LevaosLectures]

I also want to add that I lived in Boston for 5 years and attended probably close to a dozen Red Sox games including playoff games and many Yankee/Red Sox games. Despite what you might have heard if you don't act like a jacka$$ you will mostly be treated fine if you can stand some ribbing, especially if you're in decent seats (worst fans are high up in bleachers).

 

[T2Kplus10]

Thinking of going to Fenway for a Yankee game this summer. Anybody ever been up there? Is it worth the trip? Parking, hotels, etc?
Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks

If you are into the "history" of the game, it's worth the trip. If you care about watching a game in relative comfort with basic amenities, it's not worth the trip. Fenway itself is a dump and lacks most basic features of a modern day stadium.

 

[zappaa]

Stay at the Pru Center, walk thru the vegetable gardens on your way to the Stadium.
Then go to Daisy Buchanans.
As far as old stadiums, Wrigley is better.
If you've never been to Dodger Stadium, go there.

 

[zappaa]

I was with my dad when the Red Sox old timers day was dedicated to the Yankee vs Red Sox rivalry.
Dad was to old to put his uniform on, so he stood out there in street clothes and waved to the crowd we he was announced.
After the ceremony we exited with security just to left of the visitors dugout and walked thru the stands to the press box.
This hated NY Yankee was greeted by the Red Sox fans standing and cheering for him as he past each section.
I cry thinking about it

 

[SirPerceval]

Recommend sitting in the bleachers - try row 8-15 in sections 40-41-42. You'll pay $50-60 for a weekend game versus over $100 if you try to sit between 1st and 3rd. Do not get seats along the right field foul line - seats don't face home plate and its pretty uncomfortable. Bleachers sit above the largest concessions area in the park and they have a little bit of everything and big bathrooms. Get there early to enjoy the street food fair outside the park and if you're in the bleachers with kids, get to batting practice and stand behind the bullpens - players routinely throw balls to the kids.

As far as hotels, we always stay outside the city along route 95 and take the Green T line into the city. The city is extremely accessible by the subway (only 4 main lines) or by walking. Fenway, Boston Common, Quincy market and the italian North End are along the Green line. Don't try to drive to Fenway - $60 parking and very tough to get around the people on game day.

 

[RUhasarrived]

It's not the same ever since they took out the candlepin bowling alley underneath the stadium.

 

[Scarlet4Shore]

I went a few years ago, but not for a Yankee game. The town is totally walkable. I took the train from Metropark. I found the subways confusing. Walked from Faneuil Hall area to the stadium, maybe 2-3 miles. So much to see and experience on the walk. Took the stadium tour. I thought it was awful. The tour guide did not give much information about the history of the Red Sox other than how it relates to the history of the Yankees.

 

[Tango Two]

Thinking of going to Fenway for a Yankee game this summer. Anybody ever been up there? Is it worth the trip? Parking, hotels, etc?
Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks

This thread might prove helpful also:

https://rutgers.forums.rivals.com/threads/ot-visiting-fenway-park-suggestions.100205/

 

[78CollegeAve]

Stay at the Pru Center, walk thru the vegetable gardens on your way to the Stadium.
Then go to Daisy Buchanans.
As far as old stadiums, Wrigley is better.
If you've never been to Dodger Stadium, go there.

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but Daisy Buchanan's closed a couple of years ago.

 

[zappaa]

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but Daisy Buchanan's closed a couple of years ago.

Lol...

 

[RUJohnny99]

Stay at the Pru Center, walk thru the vegetable gardens on your way to the Stadium.
Then go to Daisy Buchanans.
As far as old stadiums, Wrigley is better.
If you've never been to Dodger Stadium, go there.

Agree with Dodger Stadium. It felt like a retro-50s atmosphere, but it wasn't retro. I was impressed at the make up of the crowd there too. Fathers & sons of every different ethnic background, all hanging out & enjoying themselves.

 

[FELONIOUSMONK]

Go..Don't ask any questions Just go. And eat. Again don't ask any questions just eat.

 

[Plum Street]

Also I thought the Sam Adams brewery and Kennedy museum were good . Do a tour of the freedom trail. You can do one of those hop on and off trolley's. Some people love the duck tours, but we never did one. I also liked walking the mit and Harvard campuses. I would have settled for one of those schools as a consolation if Rutgers wouldn't have me!

 

[mean15]

Thanks for the input everybody

 

[Owlfan_in_North Jersey]

I'm going to jump in if I can being I'm a Sox fan and make 4 to 6 trips to Fenway per season. Have been there for a decent amount of matchups with NY. Pavilion seats aren't bad but I tend to sit and prefer the loge or field boxes. The Sox ticket office holds between 200 to 300 gameday tickets for sale if you don't want to go on the secondary market looking for them but the line forms early and gets long very quickly. If you go the secondary route, ace tickets is your go to place. Office is right around the corner from the park. If you want to check out seats and if there is any obstructions in the way, go to www.preciseseating.com. It shows you the view from every seat in the park. I've been to weekend and weeknight games. Which you end up deciding on is personal preference. I always stay at the Marriott Copley and it's a 10-15 minute walk. That place sells out quickly so alternatives are the Hilton or Westin. Mandarin Oriental on Boylston if you want to go all out and splurge and If you want very basic lodging, there is a HoJo 1 block away on the Van Ness St (1st base side) of Fenway.

As someone mentioned, if you go up for a weeknight game, hit the Sam Adams brewery tour. 2 buck donation is your entry fee. Sam Adams is closed on the weekends but you can check out the Harpoon Brewery which is over by the waterfront. Your place to dine is Atlantic Fish company. Also on Boyleston. Their Saturday night dish is Lobster Thermadour. You can see it for yourself if you find yourself over there.

I'm biased but I love the park and I'll take it any day over any of the new bells and whistles places. The rivalry has changed among the fanbases since 2004 and as long as your respectable and not an arrogant douche, no one will give you a hard time even if you're wearing the opposing teams attire.

One other thing I forgot to mention, Boston like a previous poster said is very walkable if you decide to stay in the Back Bay Area. If you plan to move around, take the T. Piece of cake. NYC has numbers and letters to identify lines, Boston uses colors. Red is the one that takes you across the Charles to Harvard and MIT, Green takes you to Fenway, Silver takes you out to Logan. Buy a Charlie card during your stay and use that. It's Boston's version of the Metro Card.

 

[srru86]

Confirming good advice here.
Yes, definitely go.
Old stadium with lots of character.
Yes, get a charlie card and take the "T" Green line to Fenway or Kenmore. Don't call it the "Subway"
Taking Amtrak is a good option if coming from NY Metro area.
All kind of hotel options. What are you looking for? historic, luxury, trendy, it is a major city so not much cheap. Some close to the park ones are Hotel Buckminster or Hotel Commonweatlh.
As mentioned above there are a couple business class hotels in the Prudential Center which is sort of like if you pluncked the Short Hills Mall in the city and grafted on several hotels and a major office tower. The parking garage underneath charges $18 for game days.
Better parking for higher price closer to the park of course.

 

[anon_xekqhstck0ygt]

went in 2000 to Fenway for Yankees/Red Sox, best atmosphere for a baseball game ever. And the Yankees won 20-1, worst loss ever. the fans all stayed and still yelled Yankees suck all game long and heckled Paul O'Neil. Bleacher seats, awesome. Want to go back

FWIW, also did Cards/Cubs at Wrigley, did not compare imo. Especially for a rivalry game.

 

[WhiteBus]

Everyone should go there once. And that would be enough. Great old time stadium. Good atmosphere if you don't wear any Yankee stuff. Otherwise be prepared to be hassled all day both in and out of the stadium. I mean hassled badly.

Major drawbacks once youre inside is that it's hard to move around, much more narrow concourse than old Yankee Stadium. Also the seats and aisles are really small. It's not a comfortable place. People were a lot smaller when it was built. If you are 5'10 And up your knees will be touching the seat in front of you. The exception is the bleachers which are relatively newer.

 

[Scarlet16e2]

My neighbor and his grown son are big Sox fans and they like to buy standing room tickets and stake a place out near some concessions where there are high counters behind the seating. They say it's a good view of the game and the counter lets them set down their beer etc.

 

[wcicci]

I was with my dad when the Red Sox old timers day was dedicated to the Yankee vs Red Sox rivalry.
Dad was to old to put his uniform on, so he stood out there in street clothes and waved to the crowd we he was announced.
After the ceremony we exited with security just to left of the visitors dugout and walked thru the stands to the press box.
This hated NY Yankee was greeted by the Red Sox fans standing and cheering for him as he past each section.
I cry thinking about it

Zappaa thanks for your post. Your dad was a true legend. His days were more total Yankee dominance, so the rivalry was as much jealously as animosity. But think I think there was always a good level of respect, especially after their playing days. I'm a lifelong Sox fan and unfortunately too young to have seen your dad play. But my college coach played against him and I was fortunate to hear many great stories about the golden age of baseball. Your father's special place in baseball history is deserved on so many levels! As a Sox fan, I'm proud that he was honored at Fenway. God bless you and your family.