Fenway Park

[bsox0407]

I like Fenway' date=' don't get me wrong, but the Sox need a new stadium. The place is too cramped, the seats aren't comfortable, and the prices are out of control. If they build a bigger and new stadium, prices will be lower because there will be a greater supply of seats, and I bet if the stadium held 42,000 people the demand would be high enough to still sell out every game.[/quote']

 

No way we should get rid of Fenway. It is a staple in Baseball history. Its like saying the Cubs should get rid of Wrigley. Its one of the last two stadiums to be built on a city block. Fenway needs to stand forever.

[schillingouttheks]

No way we should get rid of Fenway. It is a staple in Baseball history. Its like saying the Cubs should get rid of Wrigley. Its one of the last two stadiums to be built on a city block. Fenway needs to stand forever.

 

Fine, leave it standing. Move the Red Sox. I don't care what they do with the historical dump, but trying to watch a game there is a pain in the ass sometimes.

[neilpatrickharris]

People come to watch a winning product. Obviously "charm" was not enough to fill the stands in the 80's and 90's

[Tyler Durden]

Every baseball fans should go to Fenway at least once, sometimes its hard to pay attention to the game because all you want to do is look around. With that said, it's not a great place to watch a game. I could see the Red Sox try and get a new ballpark after 2012 (100 year anniversary) though have no idea where they would put it.

[bostonknuckleheadclothing]

I think this comment best sums it up

 

"There's no leg room, everything is expensive and often there's a pole right in front of your seat. But I love it."

[callandor1000]

I went once, it cost a s*** ton, but whatever. Yes, it was cramped. I felt like I had been raped after I purchased a hot dog (only its not rape because I paid for it). But damn, being outside before the game, 3 hours before the game and just the atmosphere... it was something you wanted to bottle up and take with you. I personally would like it to stay and the Sox to continue playing in it but I understand people wanting it gone.

 

But really, people, even the cheap seats aren't cheap. I'm in Cincinnati, I can go to Great American Ball Park and get great seats with a view of the river, right on top of home plate, with $1 hot dogs and drinks with in shouting distance for like $12. You can't buy a Sox ticket for even 3 times that. If you want a seat for the Sox that isn't considered a cheap ass seat you have to pay what, $150? Its outrageous.

[TheMino007]

People come to watch a winning product. Obviously "charm" was not enough to fill the stands in the 80's and 90's

 

Exactly. No one cares about the atmosphere or the history, the only reason people have packed into the stadium recently is because of the Red Sox success

[soxfan17881]

if you stop being cheap asses and buy seats in FRONT of the poles there is no problem.

 

My experience is that the tickets are rather hard to come by, especially for those of us traveling a long way and less flexible with the dates that are workable. Being a cheap ass is sometimes not something you can choose not to be. Until, of course, I can learn to print the money myself.

[soxfan17881]

Fine' date=' leave it standing. Move the Red Sox. I don't care what they do with the historical dump, but trying to watch a game there is a pain in the ass sometimes.[/quote']

 

Here's what I'd like to hear thoughts on... If Boston would would replace Fenway, would they go the Yanker route, making the playing area as close to identical to the old (as in would they recreate the Green Monster) or do they go the route like, oh, the Phillies, who's park focused on being as "good" as it could be while it abandoned everything but the Liberty Bell from old Veteran's Stadium?

[User Name]

Where could they even put a new stadium though? I don't see any possibility.

[26 to 6]

I went once years ago, the game where Bryce Florie took the liner off Ryan Thompson's bat. Fenway is baseball history at it's best, but I imagine it's not very comfortable to watch a game there. While I admire what Henry has been doing with the park since he bought the team eventually they're gonna need a new place. I just hope that with it's status as a historical landmark it can stand forever as sort of a museum and tribute to Red Sox and baseball history, and maybe even host some college and high school games. But it doesn't seem to be up to the standards of other major league parks. I think when 2012 comes and goes we'll start hearing a lot more talk of a new ballpark for the Sox.

[TheMino007]

100 years, in 2012 have the all star game there as a going out party for the Park. I'd love a new 42,000-45,000 seat stadium with all the new modern amentities that present stadiums have. I don't know if I would want a new stadium to be just like the old Fenway, the Green Monster, the Triangle, the limited foul space makes Fenway, Fenway and I don't think it would look or feel the same replicated in a new stadium. I don't think a new stadium is coming any time soon b/c the current ownership has put a lot of money into renevating and improving the park.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

I've always liked those artist renderings they did awhile ago for that new proposed stadium, looks just like old fenway but bigger:

 

http://www.ballparks.com/baseball/american/bosbpk01.jpg

[TheMino007]

why not just use the actual same Green Monster then? Anyway, I remeber that drawing, that is from the late 90's early 2000's right? Right about the time when the Sox were trying to find new owners.

[fen_faith1]

For the person who was asking about wheelchair seating, Precise Seating has a general list of which rows have wheelchair seats. It's at the bottom of the following page:

 

http://www.preciseseating.com/generalinfo.html

 

Of course, you can also select an individual wheelchair seat from the site if you know the seat number.

[SoxSport]

In a new stadium, you'd want stands all around. Lot of wasted money space beyond the LF wall.

 

I"ve wondered why they didn't expand more in the bleachers and LF in the current park. I guess they couldn't buy the properties across Landsdowne st (Willams Way) in LF. Why they can't put a 2nd tier above the bleachers I don't know. Maybe something about the water table in the Fens--it's mostly swamp.

[RedSox2737]

Fenway is all about the atmosphere, so you're uncomfortable for a few hours.......so the beer is warm and the hotdogs are cold.....I can't wait to go back............the place is packed every game, so it cant be that bad....it was even packed for the Bruins out in the freezing cold when they had their "walk-off" win, ( a little Fenway Magic at work that day..).....it's the same seats Nuf Ced McGreevy and the Royal Rooters sat in...you didn't hear them complain.....if you have a pole in your view feel lucky that all the action isn't taking place in that one spot....and feel glad that it's there holding up all the people above you........"Good times never seemed so good.." ( so good! so good! )

[Dojji]

We would quickly learn to love a new park as long as it was well built.

 

I've expressed this before -- when they eventually built a new stadium (and they will at some point) I kind of hope that they "semi-retire" Fenway. Special "Fenway Games" sprinkling the schedule and all that. Maybe even hold the playoffs at the Fens for the first few years. That way you get all the history, if you're willing to pay extra, while those of us with hips wider than a bicycle seat can enjoy a came in relative comfort.

[Keeper]

You'd want the Sox to play at Fenway and the new park? No chance of that happening.

[Dojji]

Why not? Give me one good reason why they couldn't do it that way.

[bsox0407]

Why not? Give me one good reason why they couldn't do it that way.

 

$$$$$$$$$

 

The cost of the up keep of the old stadium and the New Stadium.

[Spudboy]

$$$$$$$$$

 

The cost of the up keep of the old stadium and the New Stadium.

 

Yes, of course.

 

Moreover, the "Old" Fenway would be demolished to make room for development of prime real estate. The Sox owners would sieze this opportunity to recoup what ever monies that they could. They already own the rights to the "area" above the Pike Extension. My guess is they would look to exploit this.

 

 

The real problems would be where would the new staduim be built and who would pay for it?

 

Those that live here in eastern Massachusetts realize the challenges that any proposed sports venue faces. It's a political nightmare.

[redsoxrules]

If the old fenway is still up and standing in 2012 then they have no right to blow it up... I heard because it will be 100 years old and become a landmark

 

is this true ?

[Mr Crunchy]

I wouldnt piss on the place if it were on fire.

One of my customers had a couple of different ideas on what to do in a new stadium and he had a model of the old fenway inside his new stadium in South Boston complete with the triangle, the monster and the short porch down right field.

Overall I have nothing but good vibes from the current owners but we must come to understand that as long as this group owns Fenway then there wont ever be a new Stadium built., I wouldve loved to see a new stadium in Southie built by McCourt and the models I did see were very appealing.

Imagine not having to toss your keys to a stranger when you park? Imagine a 50,000 seat stadium with over 25000 parking spots?? All this couldve been possible under McCourts plan.

[Dojji]

If the old fenway is still up and standing in 2012 then they have no right to blow it up... I heard because it will be 100 years old and become a landmark

 

is this true ?

 

It's become a heck of a lot harder, and I think they'd have to fight an emotional battle with City Hall if they tried, not something a corporation which needs to retain the good will of the customer base really wants to be doing. That's originally WHY I thought there'd still be games played at a "semi-retired" Fenway, to defray the expense of keeping the building standing.

 

Realistically though IIRC there's a couple clauses that can be used to proclaim a building a historical landmark earlier. Something about extraordinary contributions to the character of the city or some such. If I'm right, and they go to demolish Fenway, you can count on a group of fans filing an appeal on those grounds. Heck, even if I'm wrong someone will TRY it.

[RedSox2737]

It already has landmark status.....and the owners are looking forward to Fenway's 100th birthday