On the Field at Fenway: Our Exclusive 8am Tour Experience
Listing iconic sports venues around the world, Fenway Park in Boston would have to be at or near the top of the list. That is especially true if you are a Boston Red Sox fan like we are, so an opportunity to take a Fenway Park tour and go behind the scenes was an exciting adventure for us.
There are several Fenway Park tours you can choose if you’re visiting Boston. Their limited edition 8am tour that includes Fenway Park field access offered more than their normal tours, plus started early enough in the day to provide you with plenty of time to enjoy all that Beantown has to offer.
History of Fenway Park
Nicknamed “America’s Most Beloved Ballpark” for good reason, Fenway Park is also baseball’s oldest Major League stadium still in use. Fenway has been thrilling and disappointing Red Sox fans since April 20, 1912. That was just five days after the sinking of the Titanic — it’s that old.
A Fenway Park tour is a tour that encompasses the history of America’s Pastime. Our tour guide did a great job of telling the stories of Red Sox successes and failures along with some of the biggest names in baseball’s past. Telling the story of Fenway Park would be incomplete without hearing about the likes of Babe Ruth and Ted Williams.
The Curse of the Bambino plays a major role in the history of Fenway Park. You will learn details about the early success of the Red Sox and how that shaped the building of Fenway Park itself. You’ll also learn about the Bambino, Babe Ruth, and his career as a Red Sox player before his departure to arch rival New York after the 1919 season. Then Red Sox owner Harry Frazee sold Ruth to the Yankees for $100,000 to finance a Broadway musical, setting up an 86-year championship drought. During those nearly nine decades, the Red Sox had astounding bad luck, and the curse was firmly in place.
What Is the Fenway Park Tour?
The Red Sox offer a number of tours year round, including on game days. We chose the Fenway Park early morning tour with hopes of getting on the field and as up close and personal with the Green Monster as possible. The Green Monster is the 37-foot tall wall in left field and the most identifiable feature of the ballpark.
Our Boston Red Sox tour did get us on the field as advertised. Our exclusive access put us right onto the warning track — Fenway baseball history was literally beneath our feet. We were a little disappointed that the field access was limited to the warning track area in right field, near Pesky’s Pole, rather than getting all the way to the Green Monster. But there was still plenty to see, and standing on the field and soaking in the beauty of Fenway was very special.
How We Got Early Morning Field Access
The Fenway Park early access tour is only available for a limited time. Tickets are only available online and were $75 per person. The 8am tour is scheduled for 75 minutes, but in our case it ran a little longer thanks to a guide who was genuinely happy to answer questions.
The Red Sox offer several other standard tour options. If the $75 price tag is too much, they have a quick 15-minute overview for only $20. If you have a little more time, a 60-minute tour covering the history of the team and ballpark starts at just $30 per person.
We attended a game one evening during our stay in Boston and did the tour on a different day. There is also an option to tour on a game day. The Pregame Tour gets you early access to the stadium three hours before first pitch, with access to the warning track, the oldest seats in the ballpark, and the famous Monster seats atop the Green Monster. This tour is currently $55 per person. Tickets for all tours are available online and at the official Boston Red Sox Team Store at 19 Jersey Street, across the street from Gate D.
On the Field at Fenway Park
Our tour went up the ramp on the first base side and we were quickly on the field near the Red Sox dugout. We were immediately drawn to Pesky’s Pole, just 302 feet from home plate. The views of the Green Monster and toward home plate from that spot are fantastic.
The Fenway Park tour tells the history of the stadium and the Red Sox, but for us it was even more than that. Having watched hundreds of Red Sox games on TV, being on the field at Fenway was magical. We’ve witnessed heartache and triumph between the lines of this building, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Fenway Park also has a rich pop culture history. Going up the ramp for the first time was a reminder of the movie Field of Dreams, as you’re steps away from where Kevin Costner brought James Earl Jones to a game. Up in the press box, a stop included in the 8am field level tour, you’ll be at the exact spot of a pivotal scene from the movie Moneyball starring Brad Pitt. Fenway Park has made cameos in at least 13 major films since 1989.
Green Monster and Ballpark Highlights
There is plenty to see on the Fenway Park tour beyond the field. After your time on the warning track, you gather around the oldest seats still in use in Major League Baseball. The blue folding grandstand seats date back to the early 1930s and are as uncomfortable as you might imagine.
The tour then moves from the most uncomfortable seats to the most in-demand seats as you ascend to the Monster seats. Installed prior to the 2003 season, these seats give lucky ticket holders a unique perspective of the game from high atop the 37-foot wall. This is a must for photos.
While you’re on the Monster, you also get a close-up view of Fisk’s Pole. The left field foul pole is named in honor of Red Sox legend Carlton Fisk and his dramatic home run off the pole in extra innings to win Game 6 of the 1975 World Series. Many people consider that the greatest World Series of all time, and we agree.
The tour also goes behind the scenes. There is a brief stop at Fenway Farms, a rooftop garden where 20% of the produce served at Red Sox home games is grown right there at the ballpark.
Fenway Park is a venue for much more than baseball. The tour takes you to exhibits detailing the Fenway Concert Series. Recent concerts have included Paul McCartney, Zac Brown, and Jimmy Buffett. Concerts at Fenway actually date back to 1920 and John Philip Sousa. Other sporting events have taken center stage at Fenway too, including golf, ski jumping, boxing, professional and college football, and high school, college, and professional hockey.
Our Fenway Park tour ended in the Royal Rooters Club. Named after a group of devoted fans from the Red Sox’s early days, the club is home to the Nation’s Archives, with impressive exhibits on past World Series championships, Red Sox Hall of Famers, and more. Even if you’re a fan of a different team, this exhibit has something to hold your attention. They have a display case featuring signed balls from every World Series champion since 1920.
Fenway Park Tour Tips
If your budget allows, splurge for the 8am field access tour. You will see more of the stadium and likely be in a smaller group than the standard tours.
Boston traffic can be difficult. Our tour started promptly at 8am so there is no margin for error if you get stuck in traffic. Get there early, and consider public transportation to avoid the gridlock. If you’re driving, we recommend prepaying for parking through one of the parking apps — it ensures you have a spot and can save you a few dollars.
You will be walking all around the stadium, including up and down stairs. Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared for the weather, as much of your time will be spent outside.
Tickets for the field access tour are electronic only. You will need a smartphone and the MLB Ballpark app — the same platform used for actual game tickets.
You will meet out front of Gate D and the Boston Red Sox Team Store. Leave yourself some time to shop. The Team Store has the largest selection of Red Sox gear around, including some game-used items for sale.
Also allow a few minutes to walk around the outside of the stadium. If you’re a fan of Red Sox legends like Ted Williams or Carl Yastrzemski, you’ll want to find the statues honoring these baseball icons.
Is Fenway Park Tour Worth It?
We are baseball fans and specifically Red Sox fans, so we had a great time. Even if you’re not a Red Sox fan, seeing this iconic stadium up close is very enjoyable and we recommend it.
We were a little disappointed in the level of field access compared to other stadium tours we’ve done. At Dodger Stadium, the behind-the-scenes access went deeper. At Fenway you will not get near the Green Monster on the field, and you don’t get a chance to sit in the famous single red seat in right field where Ted Williams hit the longest home run in Fenway history, traveling approximately 502 feet.
Despite those shortcomings, the special 8am field access tour of Fenway Park was a trip highlight. Getting on the field, sitting atop the Green Monster, and hearing the history and lore of Fenway made it well worth the price of admission.
If you’re a baseball fan like us, we’ve explored some of the greatest stadiums and most unique ballparks across the country. Check out our Baseball Tourism Guide for more ideas, and visit our post on Fort Wayne, the birthplace of Major League Baseball for one of our favorite hidden gems in the sport.
