First time going to Fenway - any advice?

Poncier

mpedone said:

Merkin Baller said:

mpedone said:

Ew276016 said:

PureandEasy said:

Went to Fenway show in 2016 and parking was $60 back then, if you can, avoid driving and having to park.  Even if it means paying extra for hotel, trust me, avoiding the traffic and parking nightmare will be worth it.  Get there early as it was a mad house.  And definitely at least do the walk around the underground concourse, a lot of cool Red Sox stuff to see, even if you're not a BoSox fan.  It's history, oldest ballpark park in the country.   Went to my first baseball game there as a young girl, fell in love with the game there.  Holds a very special place in my heart.

I am very much looking forward to seeing and feeling the history of Fenway! So I have a question about 2016 shows. Do you or anyone else remember how early the line ups were for merchandise outside the venue? Also, did they have show specific T shirts for each night? Just curious if there will be for a need to line up for both shows to get a shirt?

Definitely go the day between the shows, especially if your car/hotel isn't nearby. We did this in 2016 and 2018, and it is sooo much less stress. In 2018, the stands opened at 8:00. We got there around 7:00 (maybe a bit earlier) grabbed some coffee with our fellow weirdos, got our merch, then went and had breakfast. I don't think they did unique shirts for each night either time. I know they did for Toronto in 2016 (I am STILL jealous of the hockey jerseys (and Binaural)), but the Fenway shows have been the same merch each night. If they did do day-specific shirts, I wouldn't be surprised if they were both available the day between the shows.

In 2016 & 2018 they did have show specific shirts, posters (obvi), hats, pins, fuggin' socks, pregnancy tests, suppositories, etc etc 

But not for each night. They have multiple posters, but they had both dates. Same with the shirts.

They also had setlist shirts for each show available the day after the show.

LC

Unfortunately no more Baseball Tavern for pre-game.  I think I spent somewhere between 16-20 hours total before the previous 4 combined Fenway shows on the BT roof.

YourDirtisMyfood

No more Copperfields either. I went to a bar by the garage called Butaski’s or something like that before Dropkick Murphys St Patrick’s Day show and it was fine. I called it Bukakies and the wife wasn’t happy with me.

BF25394

Also, the Boston Braves left after 1952, for those who were planning on catching a game.

Merkin Baller

YourDirtisMyfood said:

No more Copperfields either. I went to a bar by the garage called Butaski’s or something like that before Dropkick Murphys St Patrick’s Day show and it was fine. I called it Bukakies and the wife wasn’t happy with me.

One of my proudest moments in my limited experience gigging out w/ my buddies was the night we played Copperfields in ‘02. (I never entertained ideas of making it as a musician, so I was pretty psyched just playing next door to Fenway) 

YourDirtisMyfood

Merkin Baller said:

YourDirtisMyfood said:

No more Copperfields either. I went to a bar by the garage called Butaski’s or something like that before Dropkick Murphys St Patrick’s Day show and it was fine. I called it Bukakies and the wife wasn’t happy with me.

One of my proudest moments in my limited experience gigging out w/ my buddies was the night we played Copperfields in ‘02. (I never entertained ideas of making it as a musician, so I was pretty psyched just playing next door to Fenway) 

What was the name of your band?

Merkin Baller

YourDirtisMyfood said:

Merkin Baller said:

YourDirtisMyfood said:

No more Copperfields either. I went to a bar by the garage called Butaski’s or something like that before Dropkick Murphys St Patrick’s Day show and it was fine. I called it Bukakies and the wife wasn’t happy with me.

One of my proudest moments in my limited experience gigging out w/ my buddies was the night we played Copperfields in ‘02. (I never entertained ideas of making it as a musician, so I was pretty psyched just playing next door to Fenway) 

What was the name of your band?

It was so vulgar I won't be posting it here.   

YourDirtisMyfood

Lol got it!

Poncier

Good old Coppa Feels, many nights spent there in my single days.

Itsmillertyme

Poncier said:

mpedone said:

Merkin Baller said:

mpedone said:

Ew276016 said:

PureandEasy said:

Went to Fenway show in 2016 and parking was $60 back then, if you can, avoid driving and having to park.  Even if it means paying extra for hotel, trust me, avoiding the traffic and parking nightmare will be worth it.  Get there early as it was a mad house.  And definitely at least do the walk around the underground concourse, a lot of cool Red Sox stuff to see, even if you're not a BoSox fan.  It's history, oldest ballpark park in the country.   Went to my first baseball game there as a young girl, fell in love with the game there.  Holds a very special place in my heart.

I am very much looking forward to seeing and feeling the history of Fenway! So I have a question about 2016 shows. Do you or anyone else remember how early the line ups were for merchandise outside the venue? Also, did they have show specific T shirts for each night? Just curious if there will be for a need to line up for both shows to get a shirt?

Definitely go the day between the shows, especially if your car/hotel isn't nearby. We did this in 2016 and 2018, and it is sooo much less stress. In 2018, the stands opened at 8:00. We got there around 7:00 (maybe a bit earlier) grabbed some coffee with our fellow weirdos, got our merch, then went and had breakfast. I don't think they did unique shirts for each night either time. I know they did for Toronto in 2016 (I am STILL jealous of the hockey jerseys (and Binaural)), but the Fenway shows have been the same merch each night. If they did do day-specific shirts, I wouldn't be surprised if they were both available the day between the shows.

In 2016 & 2018 they did have show specific shirts, posters (obvi), hats, pins, fuggin' socks, pregnancy tests, suppositories, etc etc 

But not for each night. They have multiple posters, but they had both dates. Same with the shirts.

They also had setlist shirts for each show available the day after the show.

the setlist shirts were available right after the show by the exits

Poncier

Itsmillertyme said:

Poncier said:

mpedone said:

Merkin Baller said:

mpedone said:

Ew276016 said:

PureandEasy said:

Went to Fenway show in 2016 and parking was $60 back then, if you can, avoid driving and having to park.  Even if it means paying extra for hotel, trust me, avoiding the traffic and parking nightmare will be worth it.  Get there early as it was a mad house.  And definitely at least do the walk around the underground concourse, a lot of cool Red Sox stuff to see, even if you're not a BoSox fan.  It's history, oldest ballpark park in the country.   Went to my first baseball game there as a young girl, fell in love with the game there.  Holds a very special place in my heart.

I am very much looking forward to seeing and feeling the history of Fenway! So I have a question about 2016 shows. Do you or anyone else remember how early the line ups were for merchandise outside the venue? Also, did they have show specific T shirts for each night? Just curious if there will be for a need to line up for both shows to get a shirt?

Definitely go the day between the shows, especially if your car/hotel isn't nearby. We did this in 2016 and 2018, and it is sooo much less stress. In 2018, the stands opened at 8:00. We got there around 7:00 (maybe a bit earlier) grabbed some coffee with our fellow weirdos, got our merch, then went and had breakfast. I don't think they did unique shirts for each night either time. I know they did for Toronto in 2016 (I am STILL jealous of the hockey jerseys (and Binaural)), but the Fenway shows have been the same merch each night. If they did do day-specific shirts, I wouldn't be surprised if they were both available the day between the shows.

In 2016 & 2018 they did have show specific shirts, posters (obvi), hats, pins, fuggin' socks, pregnancy tests, suppositories, etc etc 

But not for each night. They have multiple posters, but they had both dates. Same with the shirts.

They also had setlist shirts for each show available the day after the show.

the setlist shirts were available right after the show by the exits

I didn't see them there, got mine the following day.

OfThePearl

Poncier said:

Itsmillertyme said:

Poncier said:

mpedone said:

Merkin Baller said:

mpedone said:

Ew276016 said:

PureandEasy said:

Went to Fenway show in 2016 and parking was $60 back then, if you can, avoid driving and having to park.  Even if it means paying extra for hotel, trust me, avoiding the traffic and parking nightmare will be worth it.  Get there early as it was a mad house.  And definitely at least do the walk around the underground concourse, a lot of cool Red Sox stuff to see, even if you're not a BoSox fan.  It's history, oldest ballpark park in the country.   Went to my first baseball game there as a young girl, fell in love with the game there.  Holds a very special place in my heart.

I am very much looking forward to seeing and feeling the history of Fenway! So I have a question about 2016 shows. Do you or anyone else remember how early the line ups were for merchandise outside the venue? Also, did they have show specific T shirts for each night? Just curious if there will be for a need to line up for both shows to get a shirt?

Definitely go the day between the shows, especially if your car/hotel isn't nearby. We did this in 2016 and 2018, and it is sooo much less stress. In 2018, the stands opened at 8:00. We got there around 7:00 (maybe a bit earlier) grabbed some coffee with our fellow weirdos, got our merch, then went and had breakfast. I don't think they did unique shirts for each night either time. I know they did for Toronto in 2016 (I am STILL jealous of the hockey jerseys (and Binaural)), but the Fenway shows have been the same merch each night. If they did do day-specific shirts, I wouldn't be surprised if they were both available the day between the shows.

In 2016 & 2018 they did have show specific shirts, posters (obvi), hats, pins, fuggin' socks, pregnancy tests, suppositories, etc etc 

But not for each night. They have multiple posters, but they had both dates. Same with the shirts.

They also had setlist shirts for each show available the day after the show.

the setlist shirts were available right after the show by the exits

I didn't see them there, got mine the following day.

+1

mpedone

Poncier said:

Itsmillertyme said:

Poncier said:

mpedone said:

Merkin Baller said:

mpedone said:

Ew276016 said:

PureandEasy said:

Went to Fenway show in 2016 and parking was $60 back then, if you can, avoid driving and having to park.  Even if it means paying extra for hotel, trust me, avoiding the traffic and parking nightmare will be worth it.  Get there early as it was a mad house.  And definitely at least do the walk around the underground concourse, a lot of cool Red Sox stuff to see, even if you're not a BoSox fan.  It's history, oldest ballpark park in the country.   Went to my first baseball game there as a young girl, fell in love with the game there.  Holds a very special place in my heart.

I am very much looking forward to seeing and feeling the history of Fenway! So I have a question about 2016 shows. Do you or anyone else remember how early the line ups were for merchandise outside the venue? Also, did they have show specific T shirts for each night? Just curious if there will be for a need to line up for both shows to get a shirt?

Definitely go the day between the shows, especially if your car/hotel isn't nearby. We did this in 2016 and 2018, and it is sooo much less stress. In 2018, the stands opened at 8:00. We got there around 7:00 (maybe a bit earlier) grabbed some coffee with our fellow weirdos, got our merch, then went and had breakfast. I don't think they did unique shirts for each night either time. I know they did for Toronto in 2016 (I am STILL jealous of the hockey jerseys (and Binaural)), but the Fenway shows have been the same merch each night. If they did do day-specific shirts, I wouldn't be surprised if they were both available the day between the shows.

In 2016 & 2018 they did have show specific shirts, posters (obvi), hats, pins, fuggin' socks, pregnancy tests, suppositories, etc etc 

But not for each night. They have multiple posters, but they had both dates. Same with the shirts.

They also had setlist shirts for each show available the day after the show.

the setlist shirts were available right after the show by the exits

I didn't see them there, got mine the following day.

I'm not a huge fan of the setlist shirts, but my partner likes them. In 2016 she went down to Boston to get one. In 2018, we spent the night in Boston, and swung by Fenway on the way home.

Jadler

Ew276016 said:

Perfect, so really only need to do the merch line once. One stop shopping is ideal. 

For one of the nights I was there in ‘16 I was sitting in the State Street Pavillon section and they had a separate merch section up there. Snagged “The Catch” poster and there were plenty left at the time. Got into the park maybe an hour before they went on, and literally walked up to the booth with no line at all. Depending on where your seats are probably worth taking a look around your section! Or keep your eye out while exploring the ballpark beforehand. 

YourDirtisMyfood

speaking of nostalgia and pre-gaming at bars, Mad Dog 20/20 is now trending LOL.  A staple for college kids in the 1990s.

https://twitter.com/ChefAnthonyDC/status/1773698931806880180

PJINFLA

Stayed at Residence Inn Boston Back Bay / Fenway for both 2016 & 2018 shows.
Very close to Fenway and merch storefront.
Also nice rooftop bar area which was great for listening to the band soundchecks.
Probably not available at this point and the post covid rates are absurd but worth looking into. 

Ew276016

So to clarify. There was a setlist shirt for each night? Anyone have a picture(s) to post of this shirt or shirts?  Also, this storefront mentioned is just a pop up trailer or an actual store? 

Loujoe

Big line for setlist shirt day after 2016 show. Storefront. No trailer. Yet I seem to remember a few spots around the outside of venue in 2018. Hit 1 show each time.

I always got excited and wait for posters +. Then years later most stuff avail close to cost. Unless there is a killer Emek or Sperry. Those tend to increase in value.
End of uneducated lesson.
Have fun!!

Itsmillertyme

Ew276016 said:

So to clarify. There was a setlist shirt for each night? Anyone have a picture(s) to post of this shirt or shirts?  Also, this storefront mentioned is just a pop up trailer or an actual store? 

in 2018 there as an actual storefront opened that sold everything starting about noon day of first show and all thru out the three days. I'll have to dig out photos of my setlist shirts but they were available about a half hour after show and all the next day

docsredarmy99

YourDirtisMyfood said:

No more Copperfields either. I went to a bar by the garage called Butaski’s or something like that before Dropkick Murphys St Patrick’s Day show and it was fine. I called it Bukakies and the wife wasn’t happy with me.

Wouldn't be Bukowski's Tavern by chance? We had a few in here before walking to Fenway in 2018 & it was a decent spot. A proper pub as we Irish would say, or what you guys call a 'dive' bar?