Next month I will be traveling with my parents, older brother, and younger sister to watch our Milwaukee Brewers take on your beloved Red Sox in the greatest ballpark in the country. This will be our first trip to Fenway and I was just wondering what to expect. Now, I feel that I must explain that when it comes to AL baseball in our household, the Red Sox are #1. We all own Red Sox apparel, and will be sporting a mix of Brewers and Boston clothing when we attend the game on Saturday May 17. As of right now, we have the option of either bleacher seats or outfield grandstand seats, we would prefer to sit in the bleachers, but are aware that the bleachers at every ballpark tend to get a little rowdy. So, I suppose that my big question is, how will Brewers fans be treated in the outfield bleachers? Please keep in mind that we will not be obnoxious, we will root for the Red Sox, cheer for the Brewers, but mainly be there for the history and splendor of a little trip to Fenway. I thank you for any and all help you can give us.
With the Brewers you should be fine. It would be a lot different if you were going out there in Yankees gear.
At every game you're going to get your drunken idiots and you never know on any given night who you'll be sitting near. You probably won't have any problems, and you're going to love Fenway. I've only been to a couple of other parks, but there is nothing like the first time you head through the tunnel and see the Monster... wow. The seats are pretty tiny, I'm a decent sized guy (6'1'' 200lbs) and I get a little cramped.
Definitely make sure you come back after your trip and let us know how it went!
You will be fine even in the belachers. Fenway is a great visit, but it is a tough game to sit through especially if you have sat in any other ballpark. Fenway is a fun visit but you will realize how luckey you are to have a new park to go to any time you go to a game.
"Back in my day" the Brewers were regular visitors to Fenway, as I recall, so it'll be good to see them back.
I think the crowds are especially cool during Interleague play, as most Red Sox fans don't have any animosity toward most of the NL (aside from the Mets and possibly the Braves, everybody NL is pretty cool!) You should have a great time. If you by chance mix your Sox and Brewers gear, a lot of the Fenway Faithful will treat you like a long-lost brother! (NESN will probably put you on TV too)
While you are here, make sure you all get schrod (it is a Boston fish dish), and maybe try some steamers (soft shell clams). Jasper White's Summer Shack, Legal Seafoods, Naked Fish, Durgin Park are all good places to get your fish on.
The seats? Easiest way to prepare for those is to cut one side off a milk case, and sit in that for 2 hours... (I think it explains why the Wave is popular at Fenway, people wanting to give their cramped butts a break) I don't understand, I guess everybody in 1912 was malnourished or something...
SI did a little poll of the #1 ballpark in America. There were various catagories from affordibility to food to fan intelligence. Fenway was #27 out of 30 in fan hospitality. (BTW Yankees were 28th and the Brewers were #8.) Here is a sample of answers from Red Sox fans vis a vis Fenway Park from the question...
What is the worst incident you've witnessed against an opposing fan or yourself?
"My 77-year-old mother got beer spilled on her by a drunk fan -- but he sobered up fast and apologized profusely."
"It's Fenway Park, There's usually heckling of other fans, especially people stupid enough to wear Yankees gear. One kid got punched and had his Yankees hat burned."
"A middle class family of four having to drop a week's salary to go to the game."
"Can't repeat what happens when someone wears their Yankees gear to Fenway."
"I saw a visiting fan walking down a row in Section 3 one time and he was so thrilled with his first time at Fenway until he sat down and was directly behind one of the green steel support beams. He couldn't see a thing -- I thought he was gonna cry! Gotta know those old parks!"
"Haven't personally seen an incident. Fenway is good about escorting rowdy/drunk fans OUT of the ballpark. I think the fans are much nicer to a visiting team's fans than they are to a visiting team's players. Not so nice to the players, especially the Yankees. I would assume that some Yankees fans probably are given a lot of grief as well. But at least you don't take your life in your hands going to Fenway dressed in the opponent's paraphernalia, which is not true of Yankee Stadium. That's downright dangerous."
Here's the whole article. I found it very interesting.
I agree that you shouldn't feel at all unwelcome, in Brewer gear; but each person in your group has to pick between Boston and Milwaukee clothing. I hope you guys own an '80s Brewer cap or two -- one of my favorite, all-time logos.
The ballpark rankings were interesting. Most Fenway category rankings seem to be right-on. But, the actual buzzing atmosphere is much better than 21st -- fans did rate it 2nd, behind Wrigley. Yes, the seats are built for a 19th Century, 5'5'', 130-pounder, but that could even be taken as part of the charm.
And, in fairness, Fenway doesn't deserve the "tradition" nod over Wrigley or Yankee Stadium -- there should be a 3-way tie, until the Yanks move.
