The Boston Red Sox and fans will return to Fenway Park on July 25 after the All-Star break and a short road trip to Chicago and Philadelphia. When they arrive, the first strike in Fenway history will be in progress.
Fenway Park concessions workers and hospitality workers at Fenway Sports Group's (FSG) MGM Music Hall will strike during the three-game Dodgers series. Fenway Park and MGM Music Hall are staffed by Aramark, a food and facilities management company, and not the Red Sox organization. The Red Sox are not part of the negotiations between the union and Aramark, although FSG leadership has not intervened to prevent the strike.
The workers are represented by UNITE HERE Local 26, and they will be picketing outside of Fenway from Friday to Sunday to have their needs met. The workers seek better wages — Boston and the greater Boston area have some of the most expensive housing in the United States — and protection from automation at the ballpark that could lead to job loss. Aramark staffs other parks and facilities around the city, like at Boston University, and UNITE HERE workers allege they are paid less for doing similar jobs, per Esteban Bustillos of GBH News.
Fenway Park is always packed with Red Sox fans, but it also draws a heavy away crowd. Dodgers fans are known to travel well, and the park workers' strike will draw more attention than usual during such a high-profile series. Home and away fans can support the striking workers by not buying any food or drink inside Fenway Park during the series (which will also save those in attendance some money).
Fenway Park concessions workers strike for first time in park's 113-year history during Red Sox-Dodgers series
Breaking: Hundreds of @Aramark workers employed @fenwaypark & @MGMMusicHallare striking for living wages, guardrails on technology, and R-E-S-P-E-C-T! @RedSox Nation, let’s stand up for our workers! pic.twitter.com/Cb0oUAR5gw
— UNITE HERE Local 26 (@UNITEHERE26) July 25, 2025
In the heart of Boston, Fenway Park is within walking distance of plenty of restaurants where fans can eat before or after the games. Per Fenway Park's security guidelines, fans are permitted to bring one 16-ounce plastic bottle of water into the park. Fans may also carry soft coolers — hard-sided ones are not allowed. Cans, bottles and glass containers are prohibited. Alcoholic beverages cannot be brought in from outside the park, but there are more than enough establishments around Fenway to get a few drinks before or after the games.
Fenway Park's antique charm is part of what makes it feel so special to its regular visitors and away fans alike. Part of the classic ballpark experience is interacting with the concessions workers and hearing shouts for beer, hot dogs and lemonade from the aisles. Fenway Park and MGM Music Hall workers deserve fair wages and equal pay to their other Boston-area Aramark-employed counterparts. Fans can help ensure the workers' needs are met by not crossing the picket line as they strike.