I wanted to post this one without comment
Sports Illustrated Fan Value Index (Baseball edition)
I was ready to get all up-in-arms about Fenway being ranked 28th, and then I saw RFK is ranked last. Yeah, $3 seats -- what a ripoff.
Now, I've only been to the Fens twice in the last six years or so (once around Passover with Christine, and once on the day after Ted Williams died with Paul, Marty, and Rich), but allow me to explain why Fenway isn't overpriced, even at three billion a seat: knowledge. Everywhere else I've been (save the Vet, actually), people go to the games to get an Ichi-roll and wait for the between innings Y-M-C-A. At Fenway, they go to watch the game. In recent years, it's pretty clear that Sweet Caroline (Whoa-w'-whoa!) has become Fenway's own little version (only bigger and better) than Y-M-C-A, but I've very been anywhere (other than the Vet) that people knew what the heck was going on on the field.
Wait, that's not entirely true -- I've been fairly impressed by the RFK fans. There's just not enough of them. But it's NOT because the stadium's a bad value. The sausage (which they really ought to know how to butterfly, and don't) is a good meal, as is the fried-chicken-and-fries thingy. Beer? Look, if you're complaining about beer prices at a ballpark, you might as well complain about the cost of popcorn at a movie theater. These are the prices. Don't like it? Drink at home.
I was ready to get all up-in-arms about Fenway being ranked 28th, and then I saw RFK is ranked last. Yeah, $3 seats -- what a ripoff.
Now, I've only been to the Fens twice in the last six years or so (once around Passover with Christine, and once on the day after Ted Williams died with Paul, Marty, and Rich), but allow me to explain why Fenway isn't overpriced, even at three billion a seat: knowledge. Everywhere else I've been (save the Vet, actually), people go to the games to get an Ichi-roll and wait for the between innings Y-M-C-A. At Fenway, they go to watch the game. In recent years, it's pretty clear that Sweet Caroline (Whoa-w'-whoa!) has become Fenway's own little version (only bigger and better) than Y-M-C-A, but I've very been anywhere (other than the Vet) that people knew what the heck was going on on the field.
Wait, that's not entirely true -- I've been fairly impressed by the RFK fans. There's just not enough of them. But it's NOT because the stadium's a bad value. The sausage (which they really ought to know how to butterfly, and don't) is a good meal, as is the fried-chicken-and-fries thingy. Beer? Look, if you're complaining about beer prices at a ballpark, you might as well complain about the cost of popcorn at a movie theater. These are the prices. Don't like it? Drink at home.
posted by Josh at
Monday, September 18, 2006
7 Comments:
I couldn't let this comment go (under "Neighborhood"):
"Do not walk out of the stadium into the neighborhood at night. Ever."
Must have been some lame suburbanite writing that. Oh, wait -- I'm a lame suburbanite. And even I walk to Union Station after the game. East Capital Street is perfectly perfectly perfectly safe after the games. And it's probably safe other times, too, but when am I east of Eastern Market except on game days?
By
Josh, at 9:24 PM
You definitely haven't been to Fenway in a while. Last time I went was Game 3 of the 2005 ALDS. We were the only people on the right-field roof remotely interested in the game. Other than Doug Flutie. Well, nom, there were two other "real" fans, but they didn't have tickets, so security tossed them.
By
Anonymous, at 9:00 AM
These surveys exist for the sole purpose of riling people up. "Hey, my favorite ballpark is low in the rankings! That's bull!" The sad part is, it still works.
I refuse to believe that Shea Stadium, which is arguably louder than a Space Shuttle launch during the playoffs, and populated by extremely knowledgeable fans (remember, all the airhead celebs are at that dump in the Bronx), is the 2nd worst place to watch a baseball game. Yeah, the food sucks, I know. Big deal. 20 years from now, are you (the general, all-encompassing "you", not "you, Josh" or "you, inane SI writer") going to remember a mediocre hot dog, or 55,000 blue and orange clad whack-jobs going bonkers when David Wright steps to the plate in a tie game in the bottom of the ninth?
By
Unknown, at 10:53 AM
I hate this debate -- every city has knowledgeable fans. In fact, small crowds can be among the most knowledgable, since they are usually the most "hard-core" followers of the team.
And no matter how "knowledgeable" the crowd is, they still boo calls that go against their team.
Meanwhile, I'm on board with Phunwin on Shea Stadium.
By
Anonymous, at 4:44 PM
Needless to say, I heartily agree with your opinion of knowledgable fans at the Vet. After all, those fans weren't there for the nostalgic atmosphere or cozy amenities (unless you consider half-functioning urinals an amenity). I do believe that those fans have transplanted themselves in Citizens Bank Park, with the addition of a few cell-phone chattering morons.
Fans at Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park, in my experience are equally into the game. Cheering and booing every nuance. This is what makes seeing a live game such a thrill. This is unlike Camden Yards (the most beautiful and boring place to see a game) where they have to instruct fans via the scoreboard not only when to root, but what to root for.
By
Instant E*Thos, at 9:26 PM
I dunno, what are the odds on getting killed by a police officer after a game outside Fenway vs. RFK?
But hey, at least Fenway is the second most expensive property on the new Monopoly board.
By
Anonymous, at 9:37 PM
In defense of the places where fans seem to rely on the scoreboard for rooting instructions:
a) Face it, that describes pretty much everywhere in baseball.
b) As condescending as it seems, it is actually become somewhat necessary. The scoreboard & speakers don't shut up with useless distractions all game long, so occasionally they need to remind fans of something actually happening in the game in front of them.
By
Anonymous, at 9:52 AM
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