Bostonians love baseball, and experiencing it through Fenway Park is one way of experiencing it firsthand. Here are a few tips for ensuring your trip to America's oldest and most minor ballpark will be enjoyable for the whole family.
1. Get There Early
Melissa Esty points out that early arrival is essential if you want the whole Fenway Park experience - from watching batting practice, standing up in the bleachers, or seating yourself on top of the Green Monster. Not only can it guarantee you have prime seats in the stadium (singing "Sweet Caroline" louder than everyone else!), but you can explore all its corners before the game begins! Plus, Jersey Street becomes an extension of Fenway Park on game days; food vendors, live brass band performances, jugglers, stilt walker Big League Brian, and a large store await visitors!
Although driving yourself can be tempting, taking public transit such as the MBTA's Green Line may be more efficient - especially since it will take you directly to Kenmore Square instead of Storrow Drive, where traffic jams often form before games begin and parking at the ballpark can cost over half your monthly rent payment!
2. Buy Standing Room Tickets
Introduce children to baseball at one of the iconic stadiums. Fenway Park is one of the best venues for kids - you can even bring 3-year-olds in free with an adult (though rules may differ between teams). Sign your child up for Red Sox Kids Nation for exclusive benefits like receiving tickets and discounts at their team store!
Melissa Esty highlights that if you don't already own game tickets, one way to see the park for free is through standing-room tickets, available from Gate E on Lansdowne Street beginning 90 minutes before game start time on game days. There are various price levels, but all are relatively affordable, with most sections visible except Right Field Ultimate Deck, where steel girders obscure much of your view.
Consider signing up for a pregame tour if you want an official tour. This allows you to enter the park before it opens to the general public and includes visits to Green Monster for batting practice.
3. Take a Fenway Tour
Fenway Park is a special place for any baseball fan. Its history can be felt throughout its walls and through the Green Monster. A visit here should not be missed when visiting Boston!
Experience Fenway the best way: take a guided tour and learn its history! Tours are available both before games as well as on non-game days.
As seats may have restricted views, checking seats before purchasing tickets on the Red Sox website is an effective way to ensure you get the optimal view of the field.
Melissa Esty mentions that although Fenway may not offer tours specifically tailored for children, there are still plenty of activities and entertainment for kids at Fenway before and during a game. Jersey Street and Big Concourse feature entertainment while kids can pose with Wally, the Red Sox Mascot, for photos before playing catch with players on the field or visiting a caricature artist. Consider purchasing a Go Card Boston Premium Pass that combines baseball games and other Boston attractions for maximum enjoyment! Missy Esty
4. Look for Wally
Melissa Esty directs our focus to the fact that Wally stands out among sports mascots as iconic beyond his fan base, appearing on children's t-shirts, toothbrush holders, dance dugouts, and nationwide charity events.
Once he's not ringing the bell or signing autographs at Fenway Kids' Concourse, you'll find him roaming throughout the ballpark - greeting fans as they enter, hanging with players during warmups, and taking to the field after the national anthem to an enthusiastic welcome from fans and players alike. Missy Esty
He's known to make seat visits for special guests and sing along to "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the seventh-inning stretch.
And if you adore him, you can even get your photo with him! The Red Sox's website lets you book a virtual visit with Wally; it only requires a smartphone and a 30-mile radius around Fenway Park.
5. Run the Bases
Melissa Esty highlighted that Kids of all ages who attend their game at Fenway can participate in postgame Kids Run the Bases days!
Baseball players traditionally employ the "banana path" when getting around first base, navigating its curve in front of the home plate to navigate safely without stopping at any base.
However, according to researchers at Williams College who studied the physics of baseball, this route may not be the fastest; their study concluded that running bases along straight paths between bases was quicker.
At a time when high player salaries have financially crippled many franchises, the Red Sox's traditional strategy has proven successful. Their fan devotion extends well beyond Fenway Park; fans nationwide support them as loyal followers flock to Fenway.
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