Red Sox: On the road in American League East
The Boston Red Sox are one of five in the American League East. Now a look at the others and not the team, but the ballparks.
The season has finally started and the best of the best just may be located in the American League East. For the Boston Red Sox fan, a trip to Toronto (bring your passport), New York and Baltimore is relatively easy providing I-95 is fairly stable. The Tampa trip is naturally a more expansive travel.
The beauty of a Red Sox road trip is when you go to other parks you are not isolated. In Baltimore and Tampa, there will likely be more Red Sox fans than fans of the Rays or O’s. My price point comparisons are to Boston and New York, where a ballpark visit is a high end pricey, but even in Boston and New York, you can get a ticket under $20, but those are usually lower tier games.
I’ll try to avoid making this into a travelogue since there is enough to keep anyone busy in the areas I am profiling. Each has its points of interest and I’ll toss in a few that stick in my mind. My ratings are based solely on the ballpark – seating prices, food prices, food variety, the park itself and the most significant factor – the aesthetics.
NEW YORK
New York City has its advantages such as easy access from Boston. Drive to the hinterland in Connecticut and take the train in or just take Amtrak. Advanced fares are cheap and you can actually make it a day trip with judicious planning. I will leave the bus option on the table, but would avoid it – been there and suffered that.
Yankee Stadium is monstrous and so are the prices of the ballgame. This is similar to Fenway Park so a good seat will cost a fortune and a bad seat will cost – yes, you guessed it – a fortune. The cheaper seats in the upper decks actually have a good view. I’ve enjoyed them in the past and they will be reasonably priced. Sorry for the contradiction, but, like Boston, most prices are quite high.
Yankee fans have – for those I have spoken with – shown little appreciation for the new replica ballpark. There is something about “mystique” that existed at the old Stadium and was simply not transferable. From my perspective, Citi Field is a nicer venue and does blend it some of the architectural segments of the old parks that call New York home.
Travel Tip: This is New York City! Anything you want is available.
RATING – B
BALTIMORE
Another place that is easy to get to via cheap airfares or driving. I have always found a room downtown for under $125 a night. The city is easy to navigate and public transportation is surprisingly efficient. Baltimore has a similar feel to it as Boston does being an old eastern seaboard city. A great city.
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Camden Yards is still one of the best ballparks in existence. A part of the downtown renaissance and this is the major league’s footprint for Retro parks. A good view is everywhere and after spending many a game in old Memorial Stadium that is an understatement. The ticket prices are reasonable and the food is unique to the area. Just an exhilarating baseball experience.
Camden has some real food favorites for me so it gives one the opportunity to try some regional variety – both inside and outside the park. Nice to just walk around during the game or to watch batting practice to see if any close to warehouse shots take place.
Seeing the Red Sox is similar to having a home game in Boston as Red Sox fans will travel to take advantage of a mini vacation and seats that do not require selling an internal organ to purchase.
The real treat is to extend your trip. Fly into (or take the train) to Baltimore, enjoy the series and take the shuttle train to Washington, D.C. Then after a visit to D.C. fly home from Reagan.
Travel Tip: Babe Ruth Museum, Lexington Market, Civil/Revolutionary/1812 war history, the Power Plant.
RATING – A
TAMPA
If you are into the driving version of waterboarding then be my guest and go I-95. Otherwise, any sane or reasonably sane person would fly and there are many options for that. I have flown into Orlando and driven to Tampa/St. Petersburg. As one would expect this is Florida and the area has plenty of tourist options. Rooms can be found extremely cheap and they are not roach motels.
Tropicana Field is number 29 on my list of ballparks that need to find a large sink hole. Tops is Oakland, but Tropicana is a disgrace. There was a movement to replace Tropicana, but the lack of public support placed that in limbo. The interior of the Trop is difficult to describe, but I grew up near Weymouth Naval Air Station where they housed blimps. The park reminded me of that – a blimp hanger. And those catwalks!
There are actually expensive seats at The Trop, but they are behind home plate and have as much human occupation as the surface of Mars. Otherwise, the park can get cheap for seating. Real cheap. What kills is the aesthetics. I found the food at Tropicana exceptional and priced cheaper than any park I have visited. And they have Blue Bell Ice Cream.
Red Sox fans may joke about our numbers that show up at The Trop, but be aware that Rays fans have passion and game knowledge – there are just not many of them.
Next: Expect bullpen meltdowns to be the norm
Travel Tip: You have the game as part of an overall visit. A family vacation where one day is set aside for the ballpark.
RATING – C-