Future of Fenway

[Ogden]

That's not how I remember the New Yankee Stadium. It is on the edge of a crappy part of the city, and is still mostly about baseball -- there aren't exactly boutiques or big scale retail. Maybe I spend too much time in the bleachers, but no one in Fenway is ever paying attention to the games.

 

 

The edge of a crappy part? The surrounding area of the Bronx has been blighted for 70-80 years. It's safe during game times, but I wouldn't stroll around at any other time. I haven't been to the new Steinbrenner Palace, but I tend to agree with you that the old Stadium was more about baseball than today's Fenway. People go to Fenway to say they have experienced the atmosphere that they've read about in magazines. It's the thing to do in Boston. It's like the old days where going to the theater to see a hit show was the cool thing to do. The monster seats, the tables up on the roof in RF, the luxury suites, all the little niceties added by Henry, Werner, Luchino distract people from the reason they are at the game. I guess the added revenue makes it possible to help pay for a quality team, but I'll sit at home and enjoy it more.

[sk7326]

The sox are making money hand over fist currently, so as long as fans pack the park, this is an exercise in futility.

 

True - although limitations in high-roller seating, corporate boxes - could be an issue, and if they see more money possible from that set, a new ballpark could make sense. You can only keep developing on that foundation so much. They have a more or less unlimited ability to gouge regular folks - but the luxury suites might have some limits.

[cp176]

True - although limitations in high-roller seating, corporate boxes - could be an issue, and if they see more money possible from that set, a new ballpark could make sense. You can only keep developing on that foundation so much. They have a more or less unlimited ability to gouge regular folks - but the luxury suites might have some limits.

 

It is an amazing thing that is happening today. The "regular" fan is being squeezed out and I feel sorry for them. My brother-in-law was at the Super Bowl. He had a great time but just didn't see enough real football fans.

[mvp 78]

It is an amazing thing that is happening today. The "regular" fan is being squeezed out and I feel sorry for them. My brother-in-law was at the Super Bowl. He had a great time but just didn't see enough real football fans.

 

The SB has been a corporate event for the past 20 years or so. It's not known as a good fan event.

[sk7326]

It is an amazing thing that is happening today. The "regular" fan is being squeezed out and I feel sorry for them. My brother-in-law was at the Super Bowl. He had a great time but just didn't see enough real football fans.

 

SB is ever thus - the conference title games I have heard are really the best fan day in the sport.

[seabeachfred]

It is an amazing thing that is happening today. The "regular" fan is being squeezed out and I feel sorry for them. My brother-in-law was at the Super Bowl. He had a great time but just didn't see enough real football fans.

 

CP--OTOH, you could be living out here in LA and be a Dodger fan and sit in an old stadium that they say is still modern and isn't and pay $20.00 just to park. Of course you could stay home and watch that team on TV.....NOT. 70% of the fans out here can't get the Bums' super station because the other cable outlets don't want to pay holdup prices to get the outlet. Time Warner and those Dodger owners are a pack of greedy bastards and the Dodger fans are a pack of fools for still going to the ballpark and getting screwed. At least in Boston you can get the games on TV and I can get them too out here on my computer. Fenway may not be as comfortable as some of our friends here might want but it's a nice park, good fans, and at least an ownership that tries to get as many people interested in the team as possible. They make the money, they might ever be greedy but the fans aren't getting screwed from watching our team on TV.

[sk7326]

CP--OTOH, you could be living out here in LA and be a Dodger fan and sit in an old stadium that they say is still modern and isn't and pay $20.00 just to park. Of course you could stay home and watch that team on TV.....NOT. 70% of the fans out here can't get the Bums' super station because the other cable outlets don't want to pay holdup prices to get the outlet. Time Warner and those Dodger owners are a pack of greedy bastards and the Dodger fans are a pack of fools for still going to the ballpark and getting screwed. At least in Boston you can get the games on TV and I can get them too out here on my computer. Fenway may not be as comfortable as some of our friends here might want but it's a nice park, good fans, and at least an ownership that tries to get as many people interested in the team as possible. They make the money, they might ever be greedy but the fans aren't getting screwed from watching our team on TV.

 

$20 sounds like a steal - especially considering how captive the driving audience is.

[mvp 78]

Or you could pay $50 to park near Fenway. Getting to and from Dodger Stadium is easier than Fenway, unless you're a tourist walking from a nearby hotel.

[cp176]

CP--OTOH, you could be living out here in LA and be a Dodger fan and sit in an old stadium that they say is still modern and isn't and pay $20.00 just to park. Of course you could stay home and watch that team on TV.....NOT. 70% of the fans out here can't get the Bums' super station because the other cable outlets don't want to pay holdup prices to get the outlet. Time Warner and those Dodger owners are a pack of greedy bastards and the Dodger fans are a pack of fools for still going to the ballpark and getting screwed. At least in Boston you can get the games on TV and I can get them too out here on my computer. Fenway may not be as comfortable as some of our friends here might want but it's a nice park, good fans, and at least an ownership that tries to get as many people interested in the team as possible. They make the money, they might ever be greedy but the fans aren't getting screwed from watching our team on TV.

 

Oh I agree. I just wanted to gripe about something. I won't personally go to Fenway again. I do understand why people want to go and why they love it so. I have not gotten bigger over the years but those seats sure feel smaller. Actually the best experiences I had were on hot summer days listening to the Sox on the radio. days gone by that were pretty good. I was able to live with the losing. I just loved and still love the game. It is the only thing that I wanted to do as a kid- play ball. It took me until college to realize that just being able to field the ball wasn't quite enough. All glove - no bat. heres to Curt Gowdy!

[sk7326]

My Fenway moment - aside from being at a random game where Kevin Romine hit a walk-off, or seeing Roger's 15 K grand return as a Blue Jay ... was probably in 1999. Was at home when one of my parents friends (a season ticket holder) called and said one of their seats got freed up and whether I was up for going - this was about 90 minutes before first pitch ... of Game 4 of the ALDS. Bartolo Colon on 3-days rest trying to close out the Sox ... Red Sox won 22-8 to set up Pedro's heroics the next night in Cleveland. And it all came together by accident.

[Bellhorn04]

I've had some very good times at Fenway. My first visit was in 1974. My best visit was in 1986. I saw 6 games against the O's and the Yankees in beautiful summer weather with 4 thirsty buddies. It was as good as it gets.

 

The thing I always loved about Fenway was there would almost always be somebody sitting close to you with a perfect Boston accent who was more than willing to talk Sox with you.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

Lol @ paying for parking. Taking the subway and getting off Kenmore saves you money and time in traffic.

[Palodios]

Lol @ paying for parking. Taking the subway and getting off Kenmore saves you money and time in traffic.

 

Don't those lots all charge you for parking too? Only $8 or so, but then you're paying $5 a person for the train.

[mvp 78]

Lol @ paying for parking. Taking the subway and getting off Kenmore saves you money and time in traffic.

 

Please tell me more resident of FL! Tell me all about the easiest way to get to Fenway from my house please!

[mvp 78]

Don't those lots all charge you for parking too? Only $8 or so, but then you're paying $5 a person for the train.

 

And if the game runs late, you have to leave to catch the train.

[User Name]

^I'm surprised that took so long.

[mvp 78]

I've seen 2 Ortiz walkoffs (one was the Brett Myers game), Jim Rice's last game, and a bunch of great Pedro starts from 1998-2003.

[mvp 78]

If you're visiting from out of town, it's not a pain in the ass to go to Fenway. When it's your hometown team, it's a real bear to go to as many games as you'd really want to.

[mvp 78]

When I lived in LA, it was far easier to commute from El Segundo to see a Dodgers game than it is for me to go to Fenway and the distance to/from is about the same. Fred just likes bitching about that stadium for some unknown reason. Also, if you can't watch the Dodgers on tv, just turn on the radio to hear Scully you goober.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

Don't those lots all charge you for parking too? Only $8 or so, but then you're paying $5 a person for the train.

 

Nope. Definitely certain spots you could park your car for free and just walk to the metro. IIRC, there was a parking lot that Spudboy dropped me off and you didn't have to pay for parking. I don't remember the station, i just know ot was a drive from north attleboro. Even if you do pay for parking at the subway+ subway ride, still less than paying for overpriced parking at Fenway.

 

Please tell me more resident of FL! Tell me all about the easiest way to get to Fenway from my house please!

 

I wasn't telling you it was the easiest way to get to Fenway from your house lol. I was just saying, I think it's better to take the subway instead of paying crazy high prices in parking. Of course that's just an opinion, but it doesn't change the fact it's cheaper.

Edited February 19, 2015 by RedSoxfanforlife305

[Palodios]

And if the game runs late, you have to leave to catch the train.

 

Getting on the D line back is a nightmare. I have left in the 7th or 8th innings before (in my various games where Beckett/Dicek gave up 7-8 runs early) and it is actually futile. No D lines run between the 7th and 8th inning -- they hold all trains until the game is over, so you can be waiting 30 minutes until a train arrives, at which point it is packed.

 

The people who go to games once-a-year are too in awe to realize what a challenge it is to go to games. That being said, I am glad to be only a 5 minute walk now.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

No, I definitely get that it's a bitch to go to a lot of games. I'm just saying I would rather take the subway than drive to Fenway if I was in your situation.

[Spudboy]

Nope. Definitely certain spots you could park your car for free and just walk to the metro. IIRC, there was a parking lot that Spudboy dropped me off and you didn't have to pay for parking. I don't remember the station, i just know ot was a drive from north attleboro. Even if you do pay for parking at the subway+ subway ride, still less than paying for overpriced parking at Fenway.

 

 

 

I wasn't telling you it was the easiest way to get to Fenway from your house lol. I was just saying, I think it's better to take the subway instead of paying crazy high prices in parking. Of course that's just an opinion, but it doesn't change the fact it's cheaper.

 

That was Riverside Station and the terminus of the Green line.

 

No, I did not have to pay to park when shuttling you to the game. But if you need to park there all day you have to pay.

 

Getting to Fenway is very easy if you approach from the west in a car. If you don't mind walking about 1.5-2.0 miles each way, there are free and available parking spaces near Beacon St. and Park drive. That has always been my little secret!!

[mvp 78]

No, I definitely get that it's a bitch to go to a lot of games. I'm just saying I would rather take the subway than drive to Fenway if I was in your situation.

 

I see. I'd rather drive to the nearby neighborhood I used to live in, grab food and walk to Fenway. That's my protip!

 

Living in walking distance was great. I'd always take my dog down to Fenway on weekend games and just walk around. He loved getting sausages from the carts then chilling in the Fens. Sometimes we'd walk down to the Charles and he'd jump in for a drink and swim.

[mvp 78]

My real beef though is with Fred on this.

 

Dodger Stadium >>>> Fenway Park

[Ogden]

Or you could pay $50 to park near Fenway. Getting to and from Dodger Stadium is easier than Fenway, unless you're a tourist walking from a nearby hotel.

 

 

Eventually I learned to park behind the Pru at an underground garage on Huntington Ave across from the Colonnade. It's not that long a walk and easy to get out of.

[a700hitter]

Eventually I learned to park behind the Pru at an underground garage on Huntington Ave across from the Colonnade. It's not that long a walk and easy to get out of.

You know all the tricks. On Sundays, I park on the street by one of the Northeastern dorms on Forsyth street. You don't have to feed the meters on Sunday.

 

I have been reading your posts with great interest. You mention going to Shea Stadium and the Polo Grounds. Are you from NY? We must be pretty close in age. I wish that I had seen Ebbets Field.

[seabeachfred]

My real beef though is with Fred on this.

 

Dodger Stadium >>>> Fenway Park

 

A beef? How about just a difference of opinion. To get to Fenway Park, you can walk if you live nearby, or you can take the "T" and get off a block and a half from the ballpark. To get to your Dodger Stadium you have to battle the freeway(s), pay $20.00 for parking and get a seat in the nosebleed section of a ballpark that is highly overrated and couldn't touch AT&T for ambience or even Angels Stadium for convenience and comfort. And that is only half the story. Try getting out of that damn place after a game. You either have to leave in the seventh or eighth (and half the fans usually do that out of boredom or habit) or run your ass off as the game ends and hope you can get out of that damn parking lot before you get in traffic jam. Of course getting back on the Freeway is a real bed of roses. I've been to that place only once since 2008 and that was only because of a rumor we might trade for Adrian Gonzales and I wanted to see him play. Haven't been there since and don't think I'll ever step foot in there again unless the Red Sox are playing those s*** heelers in the WS.

[seabeachfred]

Getting on the D line back is a nightmare. I have left in the 7th or 8th innings before (in my various games where Beckett/Dicek gave up 7-8 runs early) and it is actually futile. No D lines run between the 7th and 8th inning -- they hold all trains until the game is over, so you can be waiting 30 minutes until a train arrives, at which point it is packed.

 

The people who go to games once-a-year are too in awe to realize what a challenge it is to go to games. That being said, I am glad to be only a 5 minute walk now.

 

It's true that when I go to Fenway it is as a tourist staying in a nice hotel about a mile plus from the ballpark and it is nice walk to Fenway to burn some calories and build up an appetite, but when I stayed in Cambridge during the ALCS and WS in '13, I had no trouble getting the "T" and making it to the ballpark in plenty of time. Perhaps if I lived in Boston I might get passed off like mvp with the hassle, but I've never had anything but a great time going to games there. I also think there is something to be said for public transportation that can put right at the park or very near it.......like at YS, Mets Park, Wrigley, AT&T and Fenway. Just my opinion.

[seabeachfred]

I've had some very good times at Fenway. My first visit was in 1974. My best visit was in 1986. I saw 6 games against the O's and the Yankees in beautiful summer weather with 4 thirsty buddies. It was as good as it gets.

 

The thing I always loved about Fenway was there would almost always be somebody sitting close to you with a perfect Boston accent who was more than willing to talk Sox with you.

 

Except for last year's Home Opening Series when I froze my ass off sitting up by that damn Coke bottle and watch our team get swept by the Brewers, I've always loved going to Fenway. It seems where I sat everyone was a real baseball fan and knew the game---no pink hats that I came in contact with--/ That was a key. The Red Sox fans knew the game the way they could never do out here in pink hat country. My most significant day was that August, 2000, afternoon when I was converted on the spot, but my biggest thrills was watching the Red Sox take care of the Yankees in that three game sweep in June of 2009, and above all, being there that sixth game of the 2013 ALCS when we won the pennant over Detroit on Shane granny.