Fenway Park. Photo courtesy of Jason Tench via Shutterstock.
The oldest professional sports venue in the United States, Fenway Park in Boston is an iconic attraction. The baseball field, which can hold 34,218 people, has served as the home of the Boston Red Sox since April 20, 1912. This is why it features odd asymmetrical dimensions, created in response to the asymmetrical city block where it was built. Other unusual features of the field include The Triangle, the region of center field where the walls form a triangle 420 feet (128 meters) from home plate (the shortest outfield distance in Major League Baseball); Pesky Pole, the right field foul pole residing only 302 feet (92 meters) from home plate; the Green Monster, a a 37-foot (11-meter) wall extending straight from left field to center field; one of the last hand-operated scoreboards in Major League baseball; and original wooden seats. With that background in place, here a few tips for seeing a baseball game at Fenway Park this season.
Seeing a home game is a popular thing to do in Boston, so tickets tend to sell out quick. Because of this, it’s a good idea to purchase your tickets early. The smaller-than-average venue allows for a truly immersive baseball experience, as you’re really close to the game and the players. Additionally, be prepared to come in contact with many die-hard Red Sox fans. If you don’t have a ticket, you can still watch the game from Bleacher Bar on Lansdowne Street. It’s built beneath the bleachers in center field, a few feet from the Lone Red Seat where Ted Williams hit Fenway Park‘s longest home run (502 feet or 153 meters) on June 9, 1946. This bar allows you a view of the game as long as you continue to drink the entire time.
Before a game at Fenway you may want to stop by Autograph Alley, located in the Yawkey Way Team Store, where former Boston Red Sox players and coaches sign autographs free-of-charge. You may also want to visit the Red Sox Hall of Fame — located in the EMC Club hallway — which recognizes outstanding careers of former Red Sox players, managers, front office members and broadcasters. For the full experience, visitors can opt to take a daily tour of Fenway Park from 11am to 5pm each hour and on game days from 11am until three hours before the game. Call 617-226-6666 to confirm times before attending, as this frequently changes.
Another fun pre-game activity is spending some time on Yawkey Way, an extension of the Fenway Park concourse running from Brookline Avenue at Gate A to Van Ness Street at Gate D. Here you’ll find street food, live music, entertainment the NESN pregame show, Autograph Alley and the official Red Sox Team Store.
Tips for Seeing a Baseball Game at Fenway Park from Boston Things to Do