Advice on tickets

rrandom · 01-29-2008, 11:25 AM

Hi all. I am going to be in Boston for work in mid-April. As a lifelong baseball fan, the opportunity to see a game in Fenway is almost like a pilgrimage to me. The only problem is that the only day that I could possibly make a game is for the April 13th game against the Yankees. Obviously, they are already sold out. Does anyone have any advice on how I can get a single ticket without having to pay several hundred dollars to a scalper?

Also, what are the best brew pubs to check out while I am in town?

Thanks for the help.

Zen653 · 01-31-2008, 02:38 AM

My first recommendation would be to register immediately for the ticket drawing at redsox.com that will be held for Yankees tickets. If you get selected, you'll be able to purchase tickets anywhere in the ballpark at face value. If that doesn't work, there are five other options:

1. Scour eBay for poorly advertised Red Sox/Yankees tickets. Every now and then someone leaves off the date, the team, or some other important indicator in the auction title, and a ticket sells for below face value. Even if you don't find an auction like that, sometimes you'll be able to find someone selling just 1 ticket for about 2-3 times the face value (~$150 for a decent seat in the rightfield grandstand, for example.) This is a much better deal than buying from a scalper on game day.

2. Check aceticket.com, stubhub.com, craigslist.org and other online re-sellers. If you're willing to pay a hundred dollars for standing room or a bleachers seat, you should be fine with this route. Also try calling this place: Mr. Music Guitar Center Fender, Gibson, Bass, Amps- Allston, Massachusetts. They sometimes have good deals on Red Sox tickets at a 50% markup.

3. Go to Fenway the day of the game and hang out by the uniformed Red Sox personnel outside Gate E, about 2 hours before game time. People with extra tickets can go there to legally re-sell their tickets for face value to Red Sox staffers who then try to re-sell the tickets again (at face value) to anyone waiting in line. This is risky, especially for a Yankees game, so if you want to be 100% sure of getting in, I don't recommend this option. I've tried it 4 times (never for a Yankees game) and it worked for me only once.

4. Go to Fenway the day of the game and wait outside Gate C several hours before the game (probably 4+ hours for a Yankees game.) Anywhere between 1,000-2,000 tickets are available at face value for day of game sales and these are sold on a first come, first serve basis. The Gate doesn't open until 2 hours before the game but people line up much earlier than that and enter immediately after buying tickets (per Red Sox rules to avoid subsequent scalping.) I tried this once for a Friday night Red Sox-Yankees game. While I ended up with great seats, I had to wait 3 hours in line, then another 2 hours for the game to start. It wasn't an enjoyable experience and I won't be doing it again, at least not for a Yankees game. Against other teams, the wait might be shorter.

5. About an hour before game time, search for befuddled tourists and/or non-professional scalpers with extra tickets to sell. They don't know the ropes and will sell their extra tickets at face value. I've never tried this for a Yankees game, but this strategy works for me about 20% of the time.

Given that you're coming from out of town and understandably do not want to waste a lot of time around the ballpark looking for a ticket that may never come, I'd suggest one of the first two options, which are sure things and not as expensive as buying from a scalper before the game.

As for breweries, there's:

Harpoon Brewery - Brewers of Harpoon IPA and UFO Hefeweizen

and right next to Fenway Park, there's:

Welcome to BEER WORKS - BEER WORKS © 2008 (beware, very crowded and rowdy on game day)

and it's sister brewery in another part of Boston:

--BEER WORKS-- LOCATIONS

For another beer experience, you could take the Samuel Adams Brewery Tour in nearby Jamaica Plain (accessible from Boston via the red line.)

rrandom · 01-31-2008, 08:06 PM

Great advice, thanks a lot zen.

I am going to be a little limited since I don't get in to Boston until 3:00 on the day of the game. By the time I get to my hotel, check in, and get to Fenway, it is going to be pretty close to game time. I am going to have to arrange something in advance. Since I am looking for just one seat I am hoping to have a little more seat availability.

I looked at some seats on stubhub and was surprised by the 300-400% markup over face value. I guess that is normal. When I lived in Atlanta, I could walk down to the stadium an hour or so before the game and get a ticket for close to face value from any scalper. Looks like I will be ponying up some big bucks, but it is worth it since this very well be my only time to see a game at Fenway.

I am going to be staying at the Marriott Renaissance Boston Waterfront. I'm not going to have much free time in the evenings, but I would love to check out some good dining and/or brewpubs when I get out of my conference. Any advice for places near that area?

Also, so I don't take this thread too far away from baseball talk, maybe a personal message would be more appropriate.

Thanks a lot for your advice.

bedir than average · 01-31-2008, 10:40 PM

rrandom, I don't recall your personal background, but I now that when I was a National Guardsman I was able to get a standing room only ticket for 6$. I don't know what organizations besides the military they give these deals for, but you may qualify for something.

rrandom · 02-05-2008, 12:37 PM

Unless they give discounts to middle-aged dorks with a bad shoulder, I don't think that is an option.

I will probably try to get something through stubhub just so I have something definitely in hand before I ever get there. I'm curious though, if I were to go to Fenway an hour before game time, how much over face value would I have to pay for a decent seat?

castevens · 02-21-2008, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zen653

Anywhere between 1,000-2,000 tickets are available at face value for day of game sales and these are sold on a first come, first serve basis.

I am an experienced waiter in this line (I've done it over two dozen times in the 6 years I've lived here, 14 times just last year) and I can tell you from conversations I've had with employees, experience, and actually counting the number of people in front/behind me that it's 300-500 tickets. Not that it really makes a difference.

Rule of thumb, if you get there and the line is packed tight (not a loose line with 10 people every 10 feet) and you're behind the second tree after the sidewalk juts out into the street, you might not want to waste your time. Anywhere closer you're virtually guaranteed a ticket.

adeel · 02-28-2008, 01:23 AM

I'm hoping to go to the April 20 game against the Rangers. What's the expected wait like for a normal home game?

Zen653 · 03-06-2008, 11:55 PM

April 20th is a weekend game, so that means a longer line, especially if you're dealing with good weather. I've never tried to wait in line for a weekend game. My guess would be at least 2 hours.

It might be easier to get in the next day for the 11am start on the local Monday holiday (which coincides with the running of the Boston Marathon.) Show up at 8am, wait in line for an hour, then go in at 9 and wait another 2 hours for the game. If it's cold and rainy, even better for your chances of a short wait. Although it's a local holiday, only state employees and students take it off for the most part.

rrandom · 03-10-2008, 08:06 PM

I have been looking and, at my price point, there are not too many options. Could you tell me what you think is a better seat: outfield grandstand 7, row 2 OR outfield grandstand 1, row 9 OR Infield grandstand 13, row 12, OR bleacher 3 row 21.

Thanks for the input!

adeel · 03-10-2008, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zen653

It might be easier to get in the next day for the 11am start on the local Monday holiday (which coincides with the running of the Boston Marathon.) Show up at 8am, wait in line for an hour, then go in at 9 and wait another 2 hours for the game. If it's cold and rainy, even better for your chances of a short wait. Although it's a local holiday, only state employees and students take it off for the most part.

That's a very good point Zen, but why do you think I'd go to Boston on that weekend in the first place?

I'm running the marathon Monday. I'll see if one of us can stand in line on Sunday, I want to see the women's Olympic marathon trials. Thanks for the info.

Zen653 · 03-11-2008, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rrandom

I have been looking and, at my price point, there are not too many options. Could you tell me what you think is a better seat: outfield grandstand 7, row 2 OR outfield grandstand 1, row 9 OR Infield grandstand 13, row 12, OR bleacher 3 row 21.

The bleachers are the seats colored in orange. You'd get a great view of CF, RF and the bullpen action. You'd also possibly catch a homerun (David Ortiz loves to hit to that part of the ballpark.) I've never sat in the bleachers, so I'm not sure about the view of the infield from there. However, I do know that one of the advantages to a bleachers seat is that you don't have to shift your body uncomfortably to watch the game. The seats are situated in such a way that you just look straight ahead.

Between the two outfield grandstand sections, I'd definitely go with Section 7 over Section 1. Section 7 is closer to the infield and you'll get a better view of it from there than from Section 1 (which is basically an upper bleachers seat.) The problem with Section 7 is that you have to crane your neck about 90 degrees in order to see the infield.

You should make sure that the Section 7 ticket is not marked "obstructed view." In an obstructed view seat, you'll have a structural beam blocking your view of either the pitcher's mound or home plate.

I think the best deal is anything in the first 10 rows of Sections 9 or 10 (if you can find it), which are also outfield grandstand. You get a pretty good look at the infield from there without paying infield prices. Seats in Sections 9 and 10 cost the same as seats in Sections 1 and 7 (at least by face value.)

Quote:

I'm running the marathon Monday. I'll see if one of us can stand in line on Sunday, I want to see the women's Olympic marathon trials. Thanks for the info.

Good luck in the Marathon. What are you aiming for time-wise for finishing it?

As for having one person wait in line, you have to be careful about that - the Red Sox claim that only people waiting in line the whole time will be able to purchase tickets. Ticket salespeople periodically check the line to see if there are any newcomers cutting people (even just to join friends.) At some point they also pass out numbered slips of paper, and if you don't have one, you can't buy a ticket (this is the mechanism for ensuring that people wait in line the whole time instead of having just one person wait for a large group.) Once you have that slip of paper, though, it's not difficult for some of the people in your group to wander out of line for a little bit.

adeel · 03-21-2008, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zen653

Good luck in the Marathon. What are you aiming for time-wise for finishing it?

As for having one person wait in line, you have to be careful about that - the Red Sox claim that only people waiting in line the whole time will be able to purchase tickets. Ticket salespeople periodically check the line to see if there are any newcomers cutting people (even just to join friends.) At some point they also pass out numbered slips of paper, and if you don't have one, you can't buy a ticket (this is the mechanism for ensuring that people wait in line the whole time instead of having just one person wait for a large group.) Once you have that slip of paper, though, it's not difficult for some of the people in your group to wander out of line for a little bit.

That sounds agonizing. Thanks for the information. We'll have to work something out, thanks. It's a lot simpler to watch games here...

I'm hoping to finish between 2:50-2:55 depending on the weather and how difficult the course actually is. Come on out and watch!

rrandom · 03-23-2008, 06:27 PM

Well, it's not ideal, but I got my ticket. I will be sitting in Bleacher 38, row 25. It is actually a lot harder to find a single ticket than I thought it would be. Almost all of the tickets are sold in twos, so a single was not easy. Still, this is my first opportunity to see Fenway and it is even better that it will be against the Yanks. I am looking forward to seeing an historic site and getting a good luck at Oregon's own Jacoby Ellsbury.

Are there any good places to get a meal and a beer before the game?

01-29-2008, 11:25 AM	#1 (permalink)
rrandom Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 65	Advice on tickets Hi all. I am going to be in Boston for work in mid-April. As a lifelong baseball fan, the opportunity to see a game in Fenway is almost like a pilgrimage to me. The only problem is that the only day that I could possibly make a game is for the April 13th game against the Yankees. Obviously, they are already sold out. Does anyone have any advice on how I can get a single ticket without having to pay several hundred dollars to a scalper? Also, what are the best brew pubs to check out while I am in town? Thanks for the help.

01-31-2008, 02:38 AM	#2 (permalink)
Zen653 Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 6,194	My first recommendation would be to register immediately for the ticket drawing at redsox.com that will be held for Yankees tickets. If you get selected, you'll be able to purchase tickets anywhere in the ballpark at face value. If that doesn't work, there are five other options: 1. Scour eBay for poorly advertised Red Sox/Yankees tickets. Every now and then someone leaves off the date, the team, or some other important indicator in the auction title, and a ticket sells for below face value. Even if you don't find an auction like that, sometimes you'll be able to find someone selling just 1 ticket for about 2-3 times the face value (~$150 for a decent seat in the rightfield grandstand, for example.) This is a much better deal than buying from a scalper on game day. 2. Check aceticket.com, stubhub.com, craigslist.org and other online re-sellers. If you're willing to pay a hundred dollars for standing room or a bleachers seat, you should be fine with this route. Also try calling this place: Mr. Music Guitar Center Fender, Gibson, Bass, Amps- Allston, Massachusetts. They sometimes have good deals on Red Sox tickets at a 50% markup. 3. Go to Fenway the day of the game and hang out by the uniformed Red Sox personnel outside Gate E, about 2 hours before game time. People with extra tickets can go there to legally re-sell their tickets for face value to Red Sox staffers who then try to re-sell the tickets again (at face value) to anyone waiting in line. This is risky, especially for a Yankees game, so if you want to be 100% sure of getting in, I don't recommend this option. I've tried it 4 times (never for a Yankees game) and it worked for me only once. 4. Go to Fenway the day of the game and wait outside Gate C several hours before the game (probably 4+ hours for a Yankees game.) Anywhere between 1,000-2,000 tickets are available at face value for day of game sales and these are sold on a first come, first serve basis. The Gate doesn't open until 2 hours before the game but people line up much earlier than that and enter immediately after buying tickets (per Red Sox rules to avoid subsequent scalping.) I tried this once for a Friday night Red Sox-Yankees game. While I ended up with great seats, I had to wait 3 hours in line, then another 2 hours for the game to start. It wasn't an enjoyable experience and I won't be doing it again, at least not for a Yankees game. Against other teams, the wait might be shorter. 5. About an hour before game time, search for befuddled tourists and/or non-professional scalpers with extra tickets to sell. They don't know the ropes and will sell their extra tickets at face value. I've never tried this for a Yankees game, but this strategy works for me about 20% of the time. Given that you're coming from out of town and understandably do not want to waste a lot of time around the ballpark looking for a ticket that may never come, I'd suggest one of the first two options, which are sure things and not as expensive as buying from a scalper before the game. As for breweries, there's: Harpoon Brewery - Brewers of Harpoon IPA and UFO Hefeweizen and right next to Fenway Park, there's: Welcome to BEER WORKS - BEER WORKS © 2008 (beware, very crowded and rowdy on game day) and it's sister brewery in another part of Boston: --BEER WORKS-- LOCATIONS For another beer experience, you could take the Samuel Adams Brewery Tour in nearby Jamaica Plain (accessible from Boston via the red line.) Last edited by Zen653; 02-22-2008 at 02:02 AM.

01-31-2008, 10:40 PM	#4 (permalink)
bedir than average Administrator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Starbucks Posts: 8,256	rrandom, I don't recall your personal background, but I now that when I was a National Guardsman I was able to get a standing room only ticket for 6$. I don't know what organizations besides the military they give these deals for, but you may qualify for something. __________________ US Men's National Team World Cup Qualifying \| Democracy in Sports Meets My First Campaign "You're only so sure you're right because they're so sure you're wrong." Orson Scott Card in Xenocide

01-31-2008, 08:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
rrandom Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 65	Great advice, thanks a lot zen. I am going to be a little limited since I don't get in to Boston until 3:00 on the day of the game. By the time I get to my hotel, check in, and get to Fenway, it is going to be pretty close to game time. I am going to have to arrange something in advance. Since I am looking for just one seat I am hoping to have a little more seat availability. I looked at some seats on stubhub and was surprised by the 300-400% markup over face value. I guess that is normal. When I lived in Atlanta, I could walk down to the stadium an hour or so before the game and get a ticket for close to face value from any scalper. Looks like I will be ponying up some big bucks, but it is worth it since this very well be my only time to see a game at Fenway. I am going to be staying at the Marriott Renaissance Boston Waterfront. I'm not going to have much free time in the evenings, but I would love to check out some good dining and/or brewpubs when I get out of my conference. Any advice for places near that area? Also, so I don't take this thread too far away from baseball talk, maybe a personal message would be more appropriate. Thanks a lot for your advice.

02-05-2008, 12:37 PM	#5 (permalink)
rrandom Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 65	Unless they give discounts to middle-aged dorks with a bad shoulder, I don't think that is an option. I will probably try to get something through stubhub just so I have something definitely in hand before I ever get there. I'm curious though, if I were to go to Fenway an hour before game time, how much over face value would I have to pay for a decent seat?

02-28-2008, 01:23 AM	#7 (permalink)
adeel Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 767	I'm hoping to go to the April 20 game against the Rangers. What's the expected wait like for a normal home game?

03-06-2008, 11:55 PM	#8 (permalink)
Zen653 Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 6,194	April 20th is a weekend game, so that means a longer line, especially if you're dealing with good weather. I've never tried to wait in line for a weekend game. My guess would be at least 2 hours. It might be easier to get in the next day for the 11am start on the local Monday holiday (which coincides with the running of the Boston Marathon.) Show up at 8am, wait in line for an hour, then go in at 9 and wait another 2 hours for the game. If it's cold and rainy, even better for your chances of a short wait. Although it's a local holiday, only state employees and students take it off for the most part.

03-10-2008, 08:06 PM	#9 (permalink)
rrandom Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 65	I have been looking and, at my price point, there are not too many options. Could you tell me what you think is a better seat: outfield grandstand 7, row 2 OR outfield grandstand 1, row 9 OR Infield grandstand 13, row 12, OR bleacher 3 row 21. Thanks for the input!

03-23-2008, 06:27 PM	#13 (permalink)
rrandom Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 65	Well, it's not ideal, but I got my ticket. I will be sitting in Bleacher 38, row 25. It is actually a lot harder to find a single ticket than I thought it would be. Almost all of the tickets are sold in twos, so a single was not easy. Still, this is my first opportunity to see Fenway and it is even better that it will be against the Yanks. I am looking forward to seeing an historic site and getting a good luck at Oregon's own Jacoby Ellsbury. Are there any good places to get a meal and a beer before the game?