Explore Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox
Welcome to Fenway Park, one of the world’s most historic sporting venues. From the inviting Green Monster in left field to the quirky triangle in right-center to Pesky’s Pole in right, the home of the Red Sox has perhaps the most unique dimensions in baseball. It also has great sightlines, putting fans on top of the action as much as any ballpark. From the waft of the sausage carts outside the ballpark to the fans who crowd the surrounding area hours before the game, there is always a buzz for baseball games in Boston.
Boston Red Sox
Established: 1901
Division Name: American League East
Ballpark: Fenway Park (opened 1912, making it MLB’s oldest ballpark)
Boston has one of the richest baseball histories, and was once a two-team town. The Braves played in Boston from 1871-1952. The Red Sox are an institution, boasting a cast of icons including Babe Ruth, Williams, Yastrzemski, Martinez and Ortiz. Fenway has been as big a star as any of the players. Every summer, tourists from around the world flock to get a glimpse of, as the club touts it, “America’s most beloved ballpark.”
When you walk through Fenway Park’s gates for the first time, the plush, green grass that has been gorgeously maintained despite the age of the park, will jump out at you. So, too, will the Green Monster, which looks giant upon first viewing, and feels a lot closer than 310 feet to home plate (especially for pitchers). Beyond the Monster, you can see the Citgo sign, a historical landmark that is lit up in the night. While it looks close enough for a player to belt a home run off of it, the truth is that it is about 1,200 feet from home plate. Pesky’s Pole in right field is an attraction unto itself, with thousands of signatures penned onto it from fans and players alike.
So popular is Fenway that tours are offered from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily on a year-round basis, or up to three hours before game time, starting at the top of each hour. Tours depart from the Team Store on Jersey Street (across from Gate A). Tickets can be purchased online, at the Gate D ticket booth or the main ticket office. Children under 3 years old are free. Group and Birthday Tour Packages are available for any age and size group. For more information, please visit redsox.com/tours or call 617-226-6660. All tours are handicap accessible.
Fenway is part of Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood, which is a great walking area to many of the city’s top tourist attractions.
Fenway Park
Fenway Park location (via Google Maps)
Red Sox schedule
Red Sox roster
4 Jersey Street
Boston, MA 02215
Capacity: 37,775
Dimensions: Left field, 310 feet; deep left-center, 379 feet; center field, 389 feet; right-center triangle, 420 feet; right-center, 380 feet; right field, 302 feet
Park factors (2024)
100 = league average
Runs: 114 | Homers: 98 | Hits: 109
The quaintness of Fenway Park is exemplified by the fact that red bricks serve as part of the foundation to be seen by anyone walking outside the ballpark. Fenway is the definition of a ballpark, not a stadium. The light towers jump out at you because the rest of the outdoor backdrop is so modest. The ballpark can be seen in all its glory from anyone driving nearby on the Massachusetts Turnpike.
Once inside the park, there are a lot of ideal vantagepoints to take in the game. Perhaps none has been more popular in recent years than the Monster Seats, that were installed above the 37-foot wall in 2003. Before that, home runs would land in a net or go over everything and onto Lansdowne Street. Now, many of them are caught by fans. Red Sox World Series hero Jonny Gomes, serving as a spectator in 2022, caught a grand slam by Trevor Story from his seat.
The box seats in the lower seating bowl from line to line present a close view of the action, thanks in large part to Fenway’s lack of foul territory. The wooden grandstand seats in the infield are also a strong sightline, and have a roof overhead that keep fans seated in that area from rain.
Fans who are more social when they go the game should get tickets on the Sam Deck on the roof in right field. You can mingle around the bar with friends and family or watch the game from picnic tables. Many fans in that area stand and watch the action.
The bleachers are another festive place to take in the action, as fans jockey for position on home runs, and also tap beach balls around during the game. The atmosphere in the bleachers is always alive, and generally has a younger demographic given all of the colleges in the area. Fans seated near the bullpen also get a great view of pitchers warming up.
While Fenway has undergone massive renovations since 2003, giving it a more modern feel, one of the things that keeps the old-timey feel alive is the presence of organist Josh Kantor, who plays Take Me Out to the Ballgame during every seventh inning stretch. Kantor has many other songs on his playlist, and is a nice complement to the rock ‘n roll songs that play throughout the game on the ballpark’s sound system.
Anyone who has been to Fenway Park in the last two decades knows what the bottom of the eighth inning means. That is when Neil Diamond’s song, Sweet Caroline, is played, and fans sing along loudly, punctuated by the “So good, so good, so good.”
Concessions
There is something for everyone. While the Fenway Frank has been a staple for decades, variety and volume of places to get food in drink in the ballpark has increased big-time in recent years.
Before entering the park, you can take in the pre-game vibe with the various concessions and entertainment on Jersey Street (live music, person walking around on stilts, etc.) which is open to ticketed fans only.
In the bleachers, there is the Big Concourse, a spacious area that is welcomed by fans who remember what it was like to always be crammed walking around Fenway in the ‘80s and ‘90s.
For those who want to feel like they are living the full Boston experience, you can get a lobster roll on Jersey Street, the Right Field Concourse and the Sam Deck. Clam chowder -- or chowdahhhh as the natives call it -- can be purchased at the Home Plate concourse, Jersey Street or the Right Field Concourse.
Sal’s Pizza is another favorite of Fenway spectators, and has stands throughout the park.
A Kids Meal (Peanut Butter & Jelly or Hot Dog, Animal Crackers, juice box) is at the Gate E Concourse.
There is a vegan stand on Jersey Street and the Sam Deck, and veggie burgers and dogs on Jersey Street and the Gate A Concourse.
The beer offerings are plentiful, from the domestic offerings to IPA’s. Wine can be purchased by the glass or bottle.
Outside the ballpark
There are a plethora of eateries and bars in the area surrounding Fenway. Tasty Burger does, in fact, have tasty burgers, as well as your choice of fries, onion rings and tots, all to be washed down by a milk shake. Wahlburgers -- owned by chef Paul Wahlberg and his famous brothers from the entertainment industry, Donnie and Mark -- is another short walk from Fenway. If you want something fancier, try Citizen’s Public House & Oyster Bar, where you can get anything from oysters to a pig roast. You can find cuisines of just about any ethnicity within blocks of Fenway.
Lansdowne Street -- located behind the Green Monster and the bleachers -- is packed with good choices for post-game entertainment.
Mascots
Wally The Green Monster is a big hit among the kids. Wally roams around the ballpark and is available upon request. To have Wally visit your seat during your next trip to Fenway Park or attend a private event, please call 617-226-6916 or email Wally (wally@redsox.com). Tessie is Wally's youngest sister who made her way up from Fort Myers to join him at Fenway! She's available for in-seat visits and can be found on the Big Concourse by Gate B around the 3rd and 4th innings each game.
Wheelchair access
All gates around Fenway Park are handicap-accessible. Gate D has three elevators and Gates B and E have one elevator each available to fans who require them. Grandstand wheelchair ticket holders should enter through Gates D or E. Wheelchair escorts are also available at the Gate D Fan Information booth. Wheelchairs belonging to fans may be stored at any Fan Information booth. (Gates D, B and E).
Transportation
Parking at or around Fenway Park is limited and pricey. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) provides numerous convenient ways for Red Sox fans to get to Fenway Park using public transportation. The Red Sox strongly encourage all fans to take public transportation to the game.
Where to stay
There are two hotels that are a five-minute walk or less from the gates of Fenway -- The Residence Inn Boston Back Bay/Fenway and the Hotel Commonwealth, the latter of which is located in Kenmore Square. There are many other hotels within a mile or so of the ballpark.