http://www.gloucestertimes.com/sports/x564244747/Fenway-Park-is-no-shrine
April 10, 2011
Fenway Park is no shrine
On Baseball Nick Curcuru The Gloucester Daily Times Sun Apr 10, 2011, 11:28 PM EDT
Watching the Red Sox Opening Day festivities got me thinking just how insufferable the whole process is. I don't know if it's the extra frauds in an Opening Day crowd or the fact that the team's head video coordinator, masseuse and team laundry boy get an introduction but I was just put off by all the theatrics, I just wanted to see the two biggest rivals in sports (Red Sox and Yankees) start another chapter in their epic rivalry.
With all that said, the tiresome introductions and robotic crowd weren't the worst thing about Red Sox Opening Day and neither was the fact that they entered the game 0-6. By far the toughest thing to sit through when it came to Opening Day pre-game ceremonies, the game itself was actually quite good even if poorly pitched, was all this talk about the Fenway Park preservation committee and making sure Fenway Park is never torn down. It still baffles me that Boston fans want to keep that hunk of scrap metal passing off as a professional sports stadium up and running for literally an eternity.
Growing up I thought of Fenway Park as a shrine, it's America's most beloved ballpark and it's like no other. As I grew older, I realized that it sure is like no other ballpark, not because it's so beloved but because it's such a dump. In fact, I have now grown jealous of other teams with nice new stadiums to boast such as the Mets, Cardinals and yes even the Yankees.
For starters, the concession areas and all areas underneath the stands at Fenway are just an eye sore, damp and outdated are the first adjectives that comes to mind.
And how about those seats, the most uncomfortable and crammed in the business. Let's also forget the fact that if you do not spend $150 on a ticket there is about a 75% chance that a gigantic pole will be blocking your view. I once attended a game at Fenway where I had to look at one side of a pole during the pitcher's wind-up and then lean over to the other side if I wanted to see the batter swing, such a lovable place I know.
It's also nearly impossible to get a ticket at Fenway Park. That's because the most beloved ballpark in all of sports with arguably the most passionate and rabid fan base around where one of the richest teams in all of sports plays is also the smallest ballpark in major league baseball holding just over 37,000 seats. Imagine how much easier it would be to see the most popular team in town if only our "crown jewel" ballpark could hold more people then a small-time college football stadium.
I feel like I'm all alone but I'm not about to apologize for wanting to actually get tickets to a Red Sox game and watch a game in Boston in at least moderately comfortable seats without a pole in my view; but that's apparently just too much to ask. It's too much to ask if I want to see the Red Sox. At least I can get all of those things with a trip to the TD Garden or Gillette Stadium to see any other Boston sports team play, but I know those arenas and stadiums are too much like any other, not unique like Fenway.
Those are a whole lot of negatives but what about the positives? Well to be honest with you I can't find any positives in Fenway Park. I always hear from Red Sox yahoos that the park has so much "history" and it's so "nostalgic." Yeah nostalgic in a bad way because it's in such bad shape, although I must admit I do enjoy the quirky dimensions of the field.
And history? Really? Up until 2004 the only history involved in Fenway Park was losing. In 99 years of games being played in the ballpark I can think of two significant moments, Carlton Fisk's home run in game 6 of the 1975 World Series although that play was made famous more from Fisks wave then the ballpark and Dave Roberts' stolen base in 2004, a play that was the start of history. History that was completed in Yankee Stadium.
I always thought championship moments were what made a ballpark so great but Boston team's have celebrated just three World Series titles at Fenway in 1912, 1914 and 1918, and in 1914 it was the Boston Braves not even our beloved Red Sox.
And don't even get me started on the Green Monster. That may be my least favorite thing about Fenway because if it weren't for the 37-foot high green wall we would be on our second new stadium with 10,000 more seats and no poles in our way.
The Red Sox owners are in the business to make money and I can't even fathom how much more they would make in a new state of the art stadium with 10,000 more fans packing the stands each night, that's 8.1 million more tickets available each year.
Call me delusional but while I'm at least dreaming of a nice new stadium everybody else seems to be satisfied to pay their own money to sit in a band box that was made during the era that the Ford Model T was thriving. They apparently enjoy obstructed views and discomfort as well.
April 10, 2011
Fenway Park is no shrine
On Baseball Nick Curcuru The Gloucester Daily Times Sun Apr 10, 2011, 11:28 PM EDT
Watching the Red Sox Opening Day festivities got me thinking just how insufferable the whole process is. I don't know if it's the extra frauds in an Opening Day crowd or the fact that the team's head video coordinator, masseuse and team laundry boy get an introduction but I was just put off by all the theatrics, I just wanted to see the two biggest rivals in sports (Red Sox and Yankees) start another chapter in their epic rivalry.
With all that said, the tiresome introductions and robotic crowd weren't the worst thing about Red Sox Opening Day and neither was the fact that they entered the game 0-6. By far the toughest thing to sit through when it came to Opening Day pre-game ceremonies, the game itself was actually quite good even if poorly pitched, was all this talk about the Fenway Park preservation committee and making sure Fenway Park is never torn down. It still baffles me that Boston fans want to keep that hunk of scrap metal passing off as a professional sports stadium up and running for literally an eternity.
Growing up I thought of Fenway Park as a shrine, it's America's most beloved ballpark and it's like no other. As I grew older, I realized that it sure is like no other ballpark, not because it's so beloved but because it's such a dump. In fact, I have now grown jealous of other teams with nice new stadiums to boast such as the Mets, Cardinals and yes even the Yankees.
For starters, the concession areas and all areas underneath the stands at Fenway are just an eye sore, damp and outdated are the first adjectives that comes to mind.
And how about those seats, the most uncomfortable and crammed in the business. Let's also forget the fact that if you do not spend $150 on a ticket there is about a 75% chance that a gigantic pole will be blocking your view. I once attended a game at Fenway where I had to look at one side of a pole during the pitcher's wind-up and then lean over to the other side if I wanted to see the batter swing, such a lovable place I know.
It's also nearly impossible to get a ticket at Fenway Park. That's because the most beloved ballpark in all of sports with arguably the most passionate and rabid fan base around where one of the richest teams in all of sports plays is also the smallest ballpark in major league baseball holding just over 37,000 seats. Imagine how much easier it would be to see the most popular team in town if only our "crown jewel" ballpark could hold more people then a small-time college football stadium.
I feel like I'm all alone but I'm not about to apologize for wanting to actually get tickets to a Red Sox game and watch a game in Boston in at least moderately comfortable seats without a pole in my view; but that's apparently just too much to ask. It's too much to ask if I want to see the Red Sox. At least I can get all of those things with a trip to the TD Garden or Gillette Stadium to see any other Boston sports team play, but I know those arenas and stadiums are too much like any other, not unique like Fenway.
Those are a whole lot of negatives but what about the positives? Well to be honest with you I can't find any positives in Fenway Park. I always hear from Red Sox yahoos that the park has so much "history" and it's so "nostalgic." Yeah nostalgic in a bad way because it's in such bad shape, although I must admit I do enjoy the quirky dimensions of the field.
And history? Really? Up until 2004 the only history involved in Fenway Park was losing. In 99 years of games being played in the ballpark I can think of two significant moments, Carlton Fisk's home run in game 6 of the 1975 World Series although that play was made famous more from Fisks wave then the ballpark and Dave Roberts' stolen base in 2004, a play that was the start of history. History that was completed in Yankee Stadium.
I always thought championship moments were what made a ballpark so great but Boston team's have celebrated just three World Series titles at Fenway in 1912, 1914 and 1918, and in 1914 it was the Boston Braves not even our beloved Red Sox.
And don't even get me started on the Green Monster. That may be my least favorite thing about Fenway because if it weren't for the 37-foot high green wall we would be on our second new stadium with 10,000 more seats and no poles in our way.
The Red Sox owners are in the business to make money and I can't even fathom how much more they would make in a new state of the art stadium with 10,000 more fans packing the stands each night, that's 8.1 million more tickets available each year.
Call me delusional but while I'm at least dreaming of a nice new stadium everybody else seems to be satisfied to pay their own money to sit in a band box that was made during the era that the Ford Model T was thriving. They apparently enjoy obstructed views and discomfort as well.
If you can tear down Yankee Stadium, where a true winning history existed, then you can tear down Fenway.
Part of the reason I love the new stadium is because they incorporated the style and feel of the old stadium. First time I saw a game there I knew it was new but at the same time there was something strangely familiar about the place.
Part of the reason I love the new stadium is because they incorporated the style and feel of the old stadium. First time I saw a game there I knew it was new but at the same time there was something strangely familiar about the place.
++++++++1PatsFanatic said:
You make it sound like people in Fenway do?? It has been the hottest "Date Night" destination in Boston for the last few years. There are more pink hats in there than blue ones (and don't get me started on the stupid alternate caps).vikings611 said:
It's funny because the New Yankee Stadium was the first non-Fenway Park that I saw a game. I was instantly jealous.carl spackler said:
Exacto-mundo.
I tell people this all the time.Even the old Yankee stadium was great, better than Fenway.Camden yards is terrific.Fenway is the most overrated stadium in sports.Fuckin shithole has been a jinx and has acutually worked against them (Sox) over the years.The Red Sox could have had a stadium like they have in San Fran or even better.They've priced me out I haven't been to a game in over ten years.Just ain't worth the hassle to go and get inconvinced by the pink hats. Bring back the 15,000 attendence crowds and the walk up 2$ bleacher seats for a midweek afternoon game and you might see me there.Baseball was a lot more fun it was just something to do rather than this phoney over marketed event thing.
