I took my son to the game yesterday where the Red Sox lost to the Orioles. OK, losses are going to happen so no big deal.

I was surprised how easy it was to get into Gate "E" with no lines, then again when I was able to get food/drinks with next to no wait. Bathrooms, no waiting except at the end of the game when 38,000 or whatever the attendance was were all leaving at once. Still, everyone moved along.

My complaint has been and still is, those darned seats. My God, I'm 6'02, 240 lbs. My weight is pretty much the gerth around my gut. I only wish it would spread some to my butt and hips so it wouldn't look so bad. I could hardly fit into that seat. It was like trying to fit an adult into a child's high chair.

My knees (I have injure legs) were pinned up against the back of the seat in front of me. My 15 yr old son to my right is still skinny so even though he's 6'01", that was no problem.

Thank God, the seat to my left was occupied by a little boy, I'm guessing 3 yrs old. He was so freakin cute as he kept chanting "Let's go Red Sox" on his own. I tried to keep from laughing as his father had to keep telling him not to put his arm around me. Nope, I never met the kid or dad before.

Then there's the 'ol "Obstructed View". Gotta love it when you can't see the third base, or maybe the pitcher, maybe the batter depending on where you are sitting. "Obstructed View at $90 per seat.





So the Sox lossed and I was really tired of being squeezed into my seat. But in the end, I had a great time because it was the first time I had taken my younger son to a Sox game at Fenway. (I had taken him to a Yankees vs Marlins game down in Miami years back...soooo much more room in those seats!)

So what better way to turn that frown upside-down? (Not that Kevin and I didn't have a good time)

On the way home we hit HOOTERS for wings, raw oysters, etc!


All in all, a great a memorible day.

I still wish they'd build a new Fenway. Yankees built a new stadium, I would think the Sox could.

Oh yeah, the parking...excuse me...the "paaakin" wasn't hard to find either. That was a pleasant surprise. It was the nightmare of trying to get out of there.... Guess I should have taken the "T".

Don

Oh ya, a couple of things that really impressed me;

1) the section I was in "32", I guess was some kind of designated family section so no beer was aloud. I remember having some drunk Sox fan behind me in Tropincana Field one game making life miserable for all of us. He got tossed from the stands at least by security.

2) Even with the Sox down 6-2 in the bottom of the 9th, no one was leaving. They weren't just sitting there either. Everyone was clapping and chanting trying to get a 9th inning rally going. I guess we all remembered the "Mother's Day Miracle" comeback which just happened to be against Baltimore.

One out...no one left.

Two outs...a few got up but not many.

Three outs....oh well, life goes on.

Don

Fenway Park! The country's largest gay bar! Go Yankees!

quote:

Originally posted by ROBWESTDC:
Fenway Park! The country's largest gay bar! Go Yankees!

E-7's must be getting younger and younger these days.

Don

Don I am glad you enjoyed the game even at those inflated Boston prices. Looks like my kind of choice for wings afterward!

Just playing. I would love to see Fenway before it goes away. I'm still heart broken over Yankees stadium. I'm up here in Michigan and the Tigers put together a nice stadium. Sounds like you had a blast.

And yes, I'm only 36 but I am retiring next year. Take care.

Rob West

The first time I took my oldest son to Fenway he was freakin out. It was cloudy and supposed to rain. The start was delayed for a bit. This 12 year old kid was so restless, I didn't think he'd make it through the game.

He's a diehard Cardinal fan, but this was first time he'd be anywhere but Busch Stadium, the one that was built in '67, so it didn't have the history of Fenway. He kept naming off the players that had played there as if he could see each one.

Finally, the weather broke and the first pitch was thrown. He relaxed, looked at me and said, "I don't care what happens now, I saw one pitch at Fenway."

quote:

Originally posted by PSimon572:
The first time I took my oldest son to Fenway he was freakin out. It was cloudy and supposed to rain. The start was delayed for a bit. This 12 year old kid was so restless, I didn't think he'd make it through the game.

He's a diehard Cardinal fan, but this was first time he'd be anywhere but Busch Stadium, the one that was built in '67, so it didn't have the history of Fenway. He kept naming off the players that had played there as if he could see each one.

Finally, the weather broke and the first pitch was thrown. He relaxed, looked at me and said, "I don't care what happens now, I saw one pitch at Fenway."

That is fantastic!!!

Being a die hard Red Sox fan, there is nowhere in the world quite like Fenway Park. I remember when my wife and I were dating, I brought her to her first Red Sox game and just to make her experience that much better, I brought her up the tunnel right behind home plate. I don't think I will ever forget the look on her face.

quote:

Originally posted by ROBWESTDC:
Just playing. I would love to see Fenway before it goes away. I'm still heart broken over Yankees stadium.

See, that's where I am different from Shua_B, if I remember from another discussion, he said he wants the old Fenway to stay. Me? I'm ready for a new one. If the Yankees can leave all the history of their old stadium, the Red Sox and their fans can survive a change as well.

Sure, it is cool as heck to take my son there and think about all the greats, both Red Sox or players from other teams who have stood right there on the field in front of you....heck Babe Ruth for example. Still, my butt, knees and back aren't as impressed.

By the way, I sure wish I was 36 again (45 now). I'd still be playing in softball leagues which I loved to do. Too many injuries now.

Don

quote:

Originally posted by 21yrsUSCGUSCS:
See, that's where I am different from Shua_B, if I remember from another discussion, he said he wants the old Fenway to stay.

You got me, Don. I would love for the old Fenway to remain a part of Boston for the rest of my lifetime, at least. I can absolutely see the need for change and improvements. If the Sox ownership ever decides to rebuild, I hope they do it in a new location and keep the original Fenway for the state high school championships, college kids, and a part of baseball history.

quote:

Me? I'm ready for a new one. If the Yankees can leave all the history of their old stadium, the Red Sox and their fans can survive a change as well.

Sure, it is cool as heck to take my son there and think about all the greats, both Red Sox or players from other teams who have stood right there on the field in front of you....heck Babe Ruth for example. Still, my butt, knees and back aren't as impressed.

I might change my tune after Wednesday night. I am sitting in the right field grandstands. From what I remember, those seats are on top of each other and not comfortable at all.

If anyone gets the chance, you should sit on the Budweiser roof deck in Fenway. The seats are very pricey, but well worth it. You get wait staff to bring your food, a full menu, a $100 voucher for food/drinks, and the best seats I have ever sat in at Fenway!

Too much of the history and traditions go away with new stadiums. I went to games in old Sportsman Park but I was too young to appreciate the history. When I was a little older and went to Wrigley, I loved sitting there thinking about Musial's 3000th hit; the greats who played there. That history was lost to St. Louis when Sportsman Park was torn down.

Lots of people whined here when the "new" new stadium project came up. They talked about tradition, but it was only 40 years...less than my life time, less than earliest memories. Sure, some of the all time greats spent time on that field, most of them are still around and you don't need to imagine them there.

The "new" new Busch Stadium is a great facility to watch a game and hopefully in the future some grandfather can sit in the bleachers and tell his grandson how he watched Albert "El Hombre" Pujols on this field. But, the truth is, it will probably be replaced by then and no one will be able look at the spot where Albert busted the I in the Big Mac land.

What an awesome thread!!!!

T

If they were asking me...and don't worry, they're not...I would build a new Fenway with pretty much the exact dimensions of field including a new "Green Monsta".

About the only thing I might change would be to add about another 5-10 feet on the foul line areas down each outfield. That way, Drew or Bay could go after fair balls on the line a whole lot more aggressively without having to worry about ending up looking like a bug on the windshield of my truck. Remember Baldelli's crash in the right wall?

Another reason would be because I can't stand it when some fan reaches out and snags a fair ball.

Everything inside the playingfield wall would otherwise look the same. Now on the outside of that wall, larger seats with some freakin leg room, maybe wrap around the upper decks so they could seat up to 50,000 or so.

And here's a thought....how about some parking garages?

I guess one huge issue would be finding a location within Boston to build such a place.
Having a "T" train station nearby would be nice, much like they do now. That way fans who live in Boston won't have to drive and fans who live outside of Boston can still have the option of parking outside of the city and taking a train.

Don

I was just at the game Thursday afternoon against the A's. What a great game! What a great park! So much history and just good old fashioned.

I for one would love to see them change out those horrible seats as well. They are tough for 3 hours or more but just think of all the history in each and every one.

I would like to see them build a new "stadium" as well but the questions that I could see would be:

1. Where would you put it? Nowhere in that city is there a spot that would work.

2. What to do with Fenway? It is a historic site and just a great spot.

I agree that the parking situation sucks as well. We drove in and one of the places we saw was charging $60.00. We ended up by the Prudential building and it was $15.00. 2 blocks to walk but worth it.

There is not enough leg room for me at Fenway. Last game I went to caused me too much pain to ever attend another game at that antiquated park again. Until there's a seat with legroom, I am staying away.

TJ,

I can't get my wide butt in and out of the seats. i usually ruin a pair of pants jumping up to cheer a play I catch the pocket or pockets on the arm rest.

I would rather sit at home and drink good beer, eat good food and watch the game on my 65" HD TV. Speaking of which, I will be doing just that in about an hour.

TJ,

Are you able to stand for that long? If so, the standing room section down the 1st base/right field line is decent (even has a bar to set your beer on).

Respectfully,
Surface Force

S/F, nope, knees won't let me stand for very long at all. I must move my knees around or they seize up on me. So, till that time, I give my ticket (when I score them) to the kids and they go. My oldest is a MAJOR Red Sox fan!

quote:

And yes, I'm only 36 but I am retiring next year. Take care.

Stay for 30 and get that 50% increase in your retirement check!

TJ,

My daughter is a major Red Sox fan as well and lives 2 blocks from the park.