For any sports fanatic, and even if you aren’t a fanatic but love traveling, it may be on your radar to attend to a Red Sox Game. Whether you’re going to store your luggage and visit Boston just for the game, or you’re traveling to the city for a few days or more, what should you know about your first Red Sox game?
The Boston Red Sox are based in Boston, and they are in the MLB. The team’s won nine World Series Championships and they’ve played in 14. That puts them as being tied for the third-most of any team in the MLB. The home of the Red Sox has been Boston’s Fenway Park since 1912.
The following are things to know not just about going to a Red Sox game but visiting Fenway Park in general.
Where to Stay
Fenway Park is around three miles southwest of Boston’s downtown, and there are some hotels within walking distance of the ballpark. If your primary reason for going to Boston is to see the Red Sox, it makes sense to stay nearby.
These hotels range from chain options like the Residence Inn by Marriott Fenway Boston to the unique Verb Hotel Boston. There are also higher-end options such as the Eliot Hotel Boston or the Four Seasons One Dalton Street Boston.
If you aren’t staying within walking distance of the stadium, you can easily use public transportation. For example, you can take the T, which is Boston’s subway system and go to Kenmore Square. You can do this using the B, C or D routes on the Green Line.
If you have a car, don’t take it to Fenway, there’s limited parking, and you’ll get stuck in traffic on the way out.
Mar 11, 2020; Port Charlotte, Florida, USA; Boston Red Sox first baseman Michael Chavis (23) is congratulated in the dugout as he scores a run during the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Charlotte Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Tickets
The Red Sox have had a fair amount of success in recent years, and there is a high demand for tickets, for the most part. However, you can still usually find tickets relatively easily.
You can buy your tickets online ahead of time through the Red Sox. You can also buy them through the Fenway Park box office and how much you pay depends on who they’re going to play when you’re there.
There are five different price point tiers, and some tickets are as cheap as $10 if you go to a “Sox Saver Game” and sit in the upper bleachers.
If you book ahead by a few months, you can find great seats through the primary outlets.
Fenway Park is old and with that can come the feeling that it’s outdated, so be aware that your legroom is going to be fairly limited in many of the seats. If you sit in the outfield Grandstand, you’ll have obstructed views because of the poles that hold up the roof.
If you’re thinking about using Stubhub or something similar, you’ll likely see a limited inventory because the Red Sox have worked to discourage these secondary ticket outlets from selling theirs.
Mar 11, 2020; Port Charlotte, Florida, USA; Boston Red Sox first baseman Michael Chavis (23) singles during the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Charlotte Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Before and After the Game
Half the fun of going to your first Red Sox game is what you do before and after. Fenway Park is pretty much in the middle of Boston, and Boston is already a compact, walkable city.
There are a plethora of sports bars and places to get food and drinks around the stadium.
Game On is one of the most popular because it’s on the same block as Fenway, but it’ll be crowded around game time.
There’s Cask ‘n Flagon across the street, and also Boston Beer Works nearby.
Bleacher Bar is below the bleachers of Fenway, and you can enter from Landsdowne Street. From here, you can look into the park via the outfield wall.
If you want to wait and eat while you’re at the game, get a Fenway Frank or Italian sausage.
The gates will open around 90 minutes before the game, and you should plan on getting there early. You can do some souvenir shopping, grab your hot dog and a brass band plays.
If you’re taking your kids, there is entertainment for them like a balloon artist and face painter.
Finally, there are some things you shouldn’t try to bring into Fenway. There are the more obvious things like weapons, but you can’t bring any alcohol, costumes or masks, a professional camera or related equipment or hard-sided coolers, to name a few.
You also can’t bring laser pointers, noisemakers or wear offensive clothing, and bottles, cans, glass containers, and metal water bottles are all prohibited.