Red Sox/Fenway beta?

**peterslovo** · 04-30-2008, 08:40 AM

I'd like to my wife to a Red Sox game on May 22 (day game vs. the Royals), but all tix directly from Fenway are sold out. Anyone know the best place to get tickets at a reasonable price at this point?

Also, I've never been to a game. I did see Springsteen at Fenway a couple years ago, but have never seen a sporting event there. I've heard the best place to sit is in the sections along the 1st base/right field side lines, and the crazy section is bleachers in outer right field (for this game, we want to avoid that). Also, please pass on any "must do's" for going to Fenway - eats, drinks, etc. We'll be taking the Downeaster from Portland for the day. Thanks.

**Brock Landers** · 04-30-2008, 09:03 AM

craigslist is good for getting tickets. you can always scalp tix there and get decent prices. ace tickets is easiest but almost the most expensive (stubhub is the most expensive). Ace and stubhub are the easiest, and you can use credit card, but they are pricey. Personally...if its just you and the wife, haggling with the scalpers is always fun.

Tickets will probably be above face, even for a Royals game during the week. Shouldnt be too much above face though- look up seating on redsox.com and see what youd like to spend. Pavilion SRO IMO is the best deal unless your wife is short. If you wait to buy tix, and its nice out, bleacher seats kick some ass.

As for what to do, its all about what you like. Eastern Standard is real nice and a bit expensive, but its right outside the Kenmore T station. Food and drinks...pretty nice. Across the street (Comm Ave) is Bertucci's and UBurger, which I have recently discovered...and kicks some serious serious ass. Up Brookline Ave a bit further is Cask N Flagon and Game On, both are pretty cool. Boston Beer Works blows. If you want to sit down to a nice meal but not pay Eastern Standard prices, (and the bar food at Cask/Game On isnt appealing) try Burton's Grill, its on Boylston past the park at the corner of Kilmarnock and Boylston.

Of course the vendors kick ass too. Bleachers shouldnt be too crazy though...its mid week and the Royals.

PM me if you have any specifics, if its supposed to be nice out I might play hookie and head over to the game too.

**Bandy1080** · 04-30-2008, 09:26 AM

Check for tickets a day or two before the actual game. I just snagged State Street pavilion seats to tonights game at face value. If that doesn't work then just scalp them from someone by Fenway. The walk from Kenmore T stop to fenway will present you with plenty of ticket purchasing opportunities.

Also be sure to go to the game a little early and check out the scene on Yawkey, they open to the street to only ticket holders and it is a great atmosphere before the game.

**Jackie Treehorn** · 04-30-2008, 09:26 AM

As far as tickets go, try craigslist or maybe even ebay. You should also be able to get tickets from a scalper at a decent price since it's a weekday day game against the Royals. For seating, try to avoid the grandstands in the right field corner (grandstands section 1-10). These are some of the worst seats in all of baseball. The left field grandstands are much better, although be aware that one of the sections (32 I think) is alcohol-free. Bleachers might actually be your best bet. They really aren't too rowdy. Any really good seat will cost you $$$, there just aren't many great seats in that old crappy park.

For food/drink, I'd recommend La Verdad (next to Jillian's on Landsdowne). The guy who runs it recently won on Iron Chef America. Awesome Mexican food.

**Tuckerman** · 04-30-2008, 09:30 AM

Maybe we should organize a group buy. Maggot day at Fenway, I have been wanting to take my kid to a game.

**Sirshredalot** · 04-30-2008, 09:33 AM

The Sox often hold tickets back until the day of the game or first game of the series and then dump them on the web site. I think that what Bandy's referring to. I would suggest watching for that like a hawk and if it doesn't work out go scalper-haggling.

**Benny Profane** · 04-30-2008, 09:38 AM

StubHub

http://www.stubhub.com/boston-red-so...2-2008-511010/

**peterslovo** · 04-30-2008, 09:43 AM

Good stuff, all, thanks. Man, I never expected I'd be paying $180 for two tickets for right field box seats to a ball game! I'll take my chances with the website having some tix a couple days before, or at last resort, some scalpers. How the hell do families afford it?

edit: or maybe I'm just cheap and used to Phillies pricing.

**BigDaddy** · 04-30-2008, 09:43 AM

Brock Landers says it well. A day game is easy to get scapled seats. Bleachers are not too bad, though. I'd try to get something behind first base as the sun may be hot on the third baseline. As Jackie T says, don't get the right field grandstands beyond Pesky Pole. They suck. For a decent meal and atmosphere, Eastern Standard is great. I also recommend a sausage from a vender outside the park. Also, if you eat at Eastern Standard, they valet your car and parking ends up $35 (vs. $50 plus) and you don't have to drive around looking for a spot.

Sounds like you're having a "day-date", but it would be fun to have a maggot day at the park. I have a good connection and could possibly score some prime seats, but he is out of the country for a couple weeks... stay tuned.

**schuss** · 04-30-2008, 09:48 AM

friends or they don't go. The demand is so large for tickets, and the supply so small, that red sox tix are for special occasions unless you've got hookups (compared to pretty much any other ballpark). It's unfortunate but true. For family times, check out the summer league on the cape or one of the minor league teams (Lowell Spinners, Portland Seadogs, PawSox etc.)

**Benny Profane** · 04-30-2008, 09:49 AM

Originally Posted by peterslovo

How the hell do families afford it?

It's not a family thing anymore in Boston or New York. The new Yankee Stadium will basically be a corporate entertainment palace, with the "families" watching from home.

I guess that's why I like Camden Yards more. Easier to get tickets, less hassle overall. But the Orioles are playing well....uh oh....

**criscam** · 04-30-2008, 09:51 AM

pm doremite. he usually has some leads on tix.

**Brock Landers** · 04-30-2008, 10:37 AM

Second La Verdad if youre into Mexican

I wouldnt count on the website having tickets though- I know theyre supposed to sell more the day before the game...but Ive never heard of anyone getting them. If you dont see the prices you want and the scalpers suck, theres an Ace Ticket store right on Brookline Ave across from Copperfield's bar (past the park on the right hand side). I'd check craigslist the night before a game- people usually try and unload tix theyre not using the next day for cheap(er).

Defintely down for a mag Fenway gathering...Ive got an apt across from the Regal movie theater and can host a booze-friendly event beforehand.

**peterslovo** · 04-30-2008, 10:43 AM

I might just suck it up and buy my tickets online and pay the $$ to make sure we've got them (and I've been hosed by scalpers before for fake tickets). It's for a special occasion after all. So is right field/1st base side the way to go? Avoid grandstand? I was going to shoot for the right field box area...

And I'd be down for a Fenway get together at some point if we could pull it off.

**Brock Landers** · 04-30-2008, 10:59 AM

Infield grandstand is fine. Right field box is fine, right field grandstand sucks (sections 1-9ish).

BTW...I sat in the Conigliaro Corner seats last week...worst seats in the park by far.

**BigDaddy** · 04-30-2008, 11:06 AM

Check out the seat map at Fenway:

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/bos/tic...ng_pricing.jsp

Avoid the seats in the right field grandstand (pink and especially gray areas). Otherwise, get as close as your budget allows... (I often sit under the Dunkin Donuts sign in the bleachers for $12...) Seriously, you'll probably have to pay about $100 per ticket for something decent.

**Steven S. Dallas** · 04-30-2008, 11:09 AM

La Verdad? Please. If you're going anywhere other than El Pelon for pregame Mexican, you're cheating yourself.

**Gman** · 04-30-2008, 11:56 AM

I though el pelon burned down or something? who wants to pick a time for a boston mag get-together.

**Bandy1080** · 04-30-2008, 12:35 PM

FYI - tickets are available right now at redsox.com to this weekend's series.

**Doremite** · 04-30-2008, 02:23 PM

Yo Slovo:

Check your PMs. I can help you on the ticket front. Sent you some brew & grub suggestions as well. That criscam is wise beyond his years.

Edit: El Pelon = $$$$ (but no beer) and, yes, it had a fire but its back in business. Willy Witt's wife also owns (runs?) Boca Grande in Kenmore. Also sick burritos. Over burritos even, I go for kind brew. Lower Depths in Kenmore is your huckleberry. $1 dogs = gravy.

**Natedogg** · 04-30-2008, 02:57 PM

Originally Posted by Doremite

Willy Witt's wife also owns (runs?) Boca Grande in Kenmore.

Aha, that explains it. That bum never let me in on that secret!

I'd be up for a Fenway gathering. Would love to have a beer with ya, Pete. Pick your brain on ME coastal geology jobs.

I've also had good luck with scalpers, FWIW.

**peterslovo** · 05-01-2008, 05:46 AM

Originally Posted by Doremite

Yo Slovo:

Check your PMs. I can help you on the ticket front. Sent you some brew & grub suggestions as well. That criscam is wise beyond his years.

Edit: El Pelon = $$$$ (but no beer) and, yes, it had a fire but its back in business. Willy Witt's wife also owns (runs?) Boca Grande in Kenmore. Also sick burritos. Over burritos even, I go for kind brew. Lower Depths in Kenmore is your huckleberry. $1 dogs = gravy.

Thanks Dave. PM sent!

**peterslovo** · 05-01-2008, 05:50 AM

Originally Posted by Natedogg

I'd be up for a Fenway gathering. Would love to have a beer with ya, Pete. Pick your brain on ME coastal geology jobs.

Nate, for sure.

On another note, when would we think of doing said gathering at Fenway? A June or July game?

**Brock Landers** · 05-01-2008, 07:07 AM

Late June Or July? Not sure how we could get a group of tix at this point. If we can get 20 people to committ, maybe contact group sales?

**Doremite** · 05-01-2008, 08:02 AM

Originally Posted by Brock Landers

Late June Or July? Not sure how we could get a group of tix at this point. If we can get 20 people to committ, maybe contact group sales?

Pretty sure group sales sell out pre-season but could be wrong. Worst case a Fenway gathering to rip brews and watch the game locally not a bad Plan B. Perhaps with buying power we can get a reasonable group of bleachers. Usually some rat in a southie tuxedo with a stack of bleacher tickets in his hand somewhere. Perhaps if we take 10-20 out of his grimy mit, we could work a discount.