Inside Fenway Park – Arty 84 Baseball Park Reviews
Stadium Name: Fenway Park
Team: Boston Red Sox
League: MLB – American League East Years Visited: 1988 – Present time Opposing Team: More I have seen than haven’t Date Opened: 1912 Date Closed: NA Overall Rating: (1-10) 9
Beer Price Rank (2016): 1st highest in the MLB
Ticket Price Rank (2016): 1st highest in the MLB
Baseball, Bars & Bedlam Rank: 2 out of 33
Baseball, Bars & Bedlam Visit Order: 1 out of 33 Notable Award: The stadium is currently the oldest ball park in all the major leagues.
Review:
Growing up 10 miles north of Boston makes me a little bias for this review but the Red Sox will always be my number team. I remember being a kid and getting all excited walking into the stadium. The stadium is just part of the experience. The green line train ride there, grabbing some food before the game and walking around the stadium before, checking out the sites is what makes Fenway, Fenway. I remember being a young guy and hearing all talk about ripping down Fenway and building a new stadium and as a kid that made me sad. I seen the Boston Garden come and go and it was like a piece of my childhood was gone forever. I remember going to the game with my dad back in October of 1993. The Sox were out of the playoff run and we must of just got tickets for free. We took the train in and I remember just walking up the ramp and seeing the green monster and green grass. When you 8 years old, that means everything to you.
My first game was when I was 4 years old. I was with my mom, aunt and grandfather. We sat 3 rows back behind the owners box. It was a rainy night, the ushers kept kicking people out from the unused owners seats in front of me. Every time an umbrella was opened, the usher where on it. I don’t know how i remember this at my age but the image is clear as day. I remember every time I had been to that stadium and we are talking over 100 times in the last 25+ years. It is a great place and I have great memories there. It will always be number 1 for favorite stadiums for me.
The Fenway area of Boston is a great place to go before, after and when games are not even going on. Over the years such places as Cask, Beer Works and Ball Park Tavern have been hangouts in the Neighborhood. With several colleges surround Fenway, the crowds are usually younger, but don’t be surprised if you see some grandmothers banging back shots at the bar before the game.
Getting to the game is fairly easy, jump on the Green Line, any train but the E train and get off at Kenmore. DONE. But if you do end up on the E line, get off at Northeastern and its about a 20 minute walk through the Fens Park, but just don’t do it at night, unless you want to hang out with the large amount of homeless people living in the park or criminals looking to cause trouble or your occasional drunk college kid passed out on the path on his way back to his dorm.
If you have never been there, GO! its a great place to watch your favorite team play. Its part of American history. The Green monster, manual score board, the 420 triangle or the Fenway frank (the original was better) are things that make this stadium unique. See it before the Sox don’t play there anymore and if you need any advice feel free to reach out to me.
According to Statista, the Red Sox are #1 for highest ticket prices in 2016, see link for all MLB teams prices. They are also the 1st highest in beer prices according to business insider, see link for all MLB teams prices. If you are in Boston, take in a game. Arty tip: Drink before you go to the game at a dive bar somewhere. Beers and food will cost you a leg. Also wait to last minute and get your tickets on Stubhub or Ace Tickets. Don’t buy from the box office because you can find tickets cheaper elsewhere.
Inside Progressive Field– Arty 84 Baseball Park Reviews
Stadium Name: Progressive Field
Team: Cleveland Indians
League: MLB – American League Central Years Visited: 2010 & 2015 Opposing Team: Cincinnati Reds & Chicago White Sox
Date Opened: 1994 Date Closed: NA Overall Rating: (1-10) 8
Beer Price Rank (2016): 29th highest in the MLB
Ticket Price Rank (2016): 22nd highest in the MLB
Baseball, Bars & Bedlam Rank: 10 out of 33
Baseball, Bars & Bedlam Visit Order: 18 out of 33 Notable Award: In 2008, Sports Illustrated named Progressive Field the Best stadium in the MLB
Review:
This field is one of the new era baseball fields. In the early 90’s, new stadiums were popping up in the majors. Teams were getting away from the multi use stadiums that were largely built in the 60’s and 70’s and moving forward to give baseball teams their own unique homes. Soon after Camden Yards was built, Jacobs Field or the Jake, as it was known before naming rights, was born.
The forever struggling city of Cleveland needed an uplift. For years the Indians would share Municipal Stadium with the NFL Browns. The stadium was falling apart and desperately needed help. Finally in the early 90’s a plan to redesign downtown Cleveland came about and part of the plan was a new arena and baseball field. The new era of baseball fields came with a more old school design with nooks and crannies making each field unique. The old “concrete donuts” multi use stadiums lacked any architecture and special feel to it, but these new stadiums all brought great character to the majors.
The first time I went to Progressive Field was in 2010 during a small long weekend road trip. The city of Cleveland, a tad dull on a Friday night, did bring in some fans for the night baseball game vs the inter-league Reds. Not as jammed pack as the stadium once was in the 90’s with the attendance record breaking days, but a fan base was seen there.
I liked the grand entrance out in left field to bring you into the park. I liked the home plate entrance that was very architecturally done well to welcome you to the Jake. The concourse was well designed and very easy to flow. Gift shops and beer stands were easy to get to. Much detail was done all the way down to the Indian’s symbols on the seats.
I went back years later for a day game on a wonderful Sunday afternoon in July. The sun was shining and the park was packed. Although the city of Cleveland gets a bad rap, the baseball stadium is one of the best in the the MLB. If your team is in town, check out the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and take in a Indians game, and don’t go to a Cavs game because Lebron Sucks.
According to Statista, the Indians are #22 for highest ticket prices in 2016, see link for all MLB teams prices. They are also the 29th highest in beer prices according to business insider, see link for all MLB teams prices. If you are in the Cleveland area, take in a game. Arty tip: Go to Stubhub for a better deal on tickets and grab some beers, its one of the cheapest in the majors.
League: MLB – National League West Years Visited: 2011 Opposing Team: Atlanta Braves Date Opened: 2004 Date Closed: NA Overall Rating: (1-10) 9
Beer Price Rank (2016): 25th highest in the MLB
Ticket Price Rank (2016): 25th highest in the MLB
Baseball, Bars & Bedlam Rank: 5 out of 33
Baseball, Bars & Bedlam Visit Order: 23 out of 33 Notable Award: The historical landmark Western Metal Supply Co. building was renovated and included in the stadium design in an example of adaptive reuse. Building is a portion of the left field seating.
Review:
I went to Petco on my first west coast road trip back in 2011. When I started my tour, this was one of the parks I really wanted to see the most. The city of San Diego is a great place. Perfect weather all year round and plenty to do. This first time I went to San Diego, I couldn’t get a hotel downtown, so I stayed in an awesome beach town of La Jolla. Since I enjoy to drink a few drinks, I decided that public transportation would be the best bet to the game. Well if you are going to do this, expect it to take over an house to go 10 miles and the last train leaves around 11PM, so no time for post game fun. I had to take a combination of buses and light rail to get there.
The Park was great. My favorite feature is the use of the historical landmark Western Metal Supply Co. building hat was renovated and included in the stadium design. Easy to navigate through the park. A little baseball diamond is out in the outfield grass area for the kids. Building is a portion of the left field seating. In right field, there is a giant lawn area to sit and watch the game. You can see the park from all the buildings around it and it is a stones throw from the Gas Lamp District.
I didn’t really see anything about the stadium I didn’t like other than a few blind spots. Odd think is they seemed to take the away teams bullpen an move it to the right field foul space in stead of where I think it should be to the right of center field. Instead that space is a beach pit. Speaking of the beach It’s so close to the ocean you can smell it and from the upper deck see the seaport. The Naval ships and large bridges are a great site and if your in town for a convention, the convention center is right across the street. Nice use of the ivory throughout the park on the walls and walking bridges.
Odd think is they seemed to take the away teams bullpen an move it to the right field foul space in stead of where I think it should be to the right of center field. Instead that space is a beach pit.
According to Statista, the Padres are #25 for highest ticket prices in 2016, see link for all MLB teams prices. They are also the 25th highest in beer prices according to business insider, see link for all MLB teams prices. If you are in the San Diego area, this stadium is a must see. Arty tip: Ticket prices are cheap, so the box office could be your best bet for good seats. Also the stadium is a stones throw to the Gas Lamp District full of places to eat and drink. Basic pizza and bar def was a great place to eat.
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