Fenway Park - Boston
And so my 17 stadium tour of the East Coast ends, at one of the most famous of arena in world sport. A trip that started at the self proclaimed 'ballpark that changed baseball' ends with a true giant of US sports, a working museum and a reminder of all that has passed in Baseball over the last century.
Without doubt the highlight of my trip and one of the most memorable sporting arenas I have or ever will visit.
To put it’s longevity into perspective, the list of major league baseball arenas currently in use that were built more than 50 years ago reads:
Wrigley Field – Opened in 1914
Fenway Park – Opened in 1912
And that is it. The next oldest stadium is Dodgers Stadium opened in 1962. In fact only 7 existing ball parks are older than the SkyDome in Toronto (opened 1989), two of them have been renovated beyond recognition and another one is being vacated this year.
Built in 1912 at a cost of $650k, this timeless wonder is as quirky as it is famous. It is true to say that it has changed since it’s opening, particularly in right field, and the Red Sox constantly strive to find more creative ways to add seats (most recently on top of the Green Monster), but the basic structure remains untouched. In all $285m has been spent on renovation.
Relocation has been proposed in the past, most recently as 2000, but there is no real appetite and owners now plan to stay ‘indefinitely’.
And Baseball is the better for it. The Green Monster (the 11m high wall in left field preventing cheap home runs) and CITGO sign are as much a part of Baseball as bats and balls, the irregular outfield keeps visiting outfielders “honest” and the atmosphere is truly what an overseas fan imagines all baseball parks to be.
Easily reached by metro, the ground is located in the Kenmore district of the city. Behind the ‘Monstah’ is Lansdowne Street lined with bars for pre and post match entertainment.
But Fenway also serves as a reminder as to why a lot of sports clubs continue to choose progress over history. It is incredibly cramped. Outside the stadium and inside on the concourses and gangways (it takes a while to clear the stands). The seats were built when Amercians were, shall we put this politely, generally smaller than they are now. Pillars and posts mean that many seats have restricted views, and they don’t tell you this. A gentlemen 3 seats down from me had no view at all of home plate. And also a word of warning; the constant addition of seats had led to the singularly most confusing tickets in sports. This is not the world of block, row, seat. Allow time to find your seat and don’t rely on the locals as many are confused as you are. To be honest, some of the many many people employed to help spectators find seats are not much better.
But this is truly a must visit. I haven’t been to Wrigley, but until I do and maybe change my mind, if you have the chance to visit one US stadium, this is it.
Red Sox 4-3 Indians 03/08/11
Red Sox 3-7 Indians 04/08/11
Without doubt the highlight of my trip and one of the most memorable sporting arenas I have or ever will visit.
To put it’s longevity into perspective, the list of major league baseball arenas currently in use that were built more than 50 years ago reads:
Wrigley Field – Opened in 1914
Fenway Park – Opened in 1912
And that is it. The next oldest stadium is Dodgers Stadium opened in 1962. In fact only 7 existing ball parks are older than the SkyDome in Toronto (opened 1989), two of them have been renovated beyond recognition and another one is being vacated this year.
Built in 1912 at a cost of $650k, this timeless wonder is as quirky as it is famous. It is true to say that it has changed since it’s opening, particularly in right field, and the Red Sox constantly strive to find more creative ways to add seats (most recently on top of the Green Monster), but the basic structure remains untouched. In all $285m has been spent on renovation.
Relocation has been proposed in the past, most recently as 2000, but there is no real appetite and owners now plan to stay ‘indefinitely’.
And Baseball is the better for it. The Green Monster (the 11m high wall in left field preventing cheap home runs) and CITGO sign are as much a part of Baseball as bats and balls, the irregular outfield keeps visiting outfielders “honest” and the atmosphere is truly what an overseas fan imagines all baseball parks to be.
Easily reached by metro, the ground is located in the Kenmore district of the city. Behind the ‘Monstah’ is Lansdowne Street lined with bars for pre and post match entertainment.
But Fenway also serves as a reminder as to why a lot of sports clubs continue to choose progress over history. It is incredibly cramped. Outside the stadium and inside on the concourses and gangways (it takes a while to clear the stands). The seats were built when Amercians were, shall we put this politely, generally smaller than they are now. Pillars and posts mean that many seats have restricted views, and they don’t tell you this. A gentlemen 3 seats down from me had no view at all of home plate. And also a word of warning; the constant addition of seats had led to the singularly most confusing tickets in sports. This is not the world of block, row, seat. Allow time to find your seat and don’t rely on the locals as many are confused as you are. To be honest, some of the many many people employed to help spectators find seats are not much better.
But this is truly a must visit. I haven’t been to Wrigley, but until I do and maybe change my mind, if you have the chance to visit one US stadium, this is it.
Red Sox 4-3 Indians 03/08/11
Red Sox 3-7 Indians 04/08/11