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Baseball

Want to Hit a Red Sox Game? Here’s What You Need to Know (Bah! Bah! Bah!)

New faces, new food, an improved ballpark, and how to land cheap tickets

Fenway Park, the oldest active ballpark in Major League Baseball, sits right in the backyard of Boston University. Some of BU’s tallest buildings, like the Duan Family Center for Computing & Data Sciences, have spectacular views of the park. Constructed in 1912, it’s been the home of the Boston Red Sox for the past 114 seasons. The Red Sox are part and parcel of the city of Boston, and attending a game there is a rite of passage for anyone spending a good amount of time in this city. 

This year, the Red Sox are celebrating their 125th home season and the 50th anniversary of their 1975 World Series with the Cincinnati Reds, considered by many the greatest World Series (the Sox lost in seven games—just Google “Carlton Fisk home run” to find out why it’s so meaningful here.) This year, the storied franchise is looking to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2021. Whether you are a diehard baseball fan or someone looking for a truly Boston experience, here’s everything you need to know about attending a game this season.

State of the team

The Red Sox added several key players during the offseason, with the aim of making them competitive for the American League East crown this season. The team appeared poised for a big jump from last season, finishing in third place in the division with an 81-81 record. So far, however, they remain middling at best, with an 18-19 record, sitting at second place in the division. Boston is just two and a half games in back of the first-place Yankees with a lot of season left.

During the offseason, the Red Sox improved their pitching rotation by trading for Cy Young candidate Garrett Crochet. The ace has lived up to his billing, with a 2.02 ERA in eight starts, ranking fifth in the American League. The Sox continued to bolster their rotation by signing former Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler. A two-time World Series champion, Buehler won four games in six starts before being placed on the 15-day injured list with bursitis in his right shoulder.

The team made big additions to the lineup with the signing of former Houston Astros infielder Alex Bregman. The third baseman has improved the team’s defense while leading every statistical batting category. Bregman has recorded a .315 average with 27 RBIs and 8 home runs. 

Overall, the team’s offense has been a major strength. On top of Bregman, Jarren Duran, Rafael Devers, and Trevor Story are all highlights of a star-studded lineup. The Sox own the seventh-best batting average in the league, with the fourth-most hits.

The bullpen is a major pain point this season with eight blown saves, a tie for the lead in the MLB. To make matters worse, the Sox are 4-9 in one-run games. 

And from bad news to worse, slugging first baseman Triston Casas’ knee injury is sidelining him for the rest of the season. But there is still hope for the team. The Sox have three top-10 prospects in the minor league pipeline right now, and all three might see Fenway Park this season. 

And it’s a long, 162-game season. A lot can change.

What’s new at Fenway Park

In a stadium as storied and historic as Fenway Park, it’s rare to see big overhaul changes. The last monumental addition were the Green Monster seats in 2003. This season the highlight has been new video boards around the ballpark to enhance the fan experience. LG Electronics installed several LED video boards, with better clarity and visibility for fans.

And come hungry to a game. Fenway Park has introduced new items to their menus around the stadium. The “Cowboy Up! Burger” is topped with brisket and onion rings, while the new street tacos include pork carnitas, mango salsa, red onion, and cilantro. And there are new Cabot Gourmet Grilled Cheese sandwiches. 

Also, there’s a new soup shack, selling New England classics, such as lobster bisque and clam chowder. For dessert, there’s a ¾-pound “Monster Cookie” and a Boston Cream Pie Trifle. 

Ticket tips

The official ticket seller for the Red Sox is MLB.Tickets.com. Tickets can start as low as $20 during weeknights, with prices spiking during weekends and for big series against major rivals. Tickets are delivered through the MLB Ballpark App, which is needed to scan into the games. 

BU students, however, can get a much cheaper deal—the Student 9s Program. All they need to do is sign-up here with their BU email address. After enrolling in the program, texts will be sent out on the day of select games with a link to $9 tickets. Do not wait. They go fast.

For other ways to get cheap tickets to Fenway Park, check out this BU Today article from a couple of years ago. 

Games to look out for

The hardest tickets to get will be for New York Yankees games. The hated rivals come to town June 13 to 15 and September 12 to 14. Additionally, catch the reigning World Series champions at Fenway Park when the Los Angeles Dodgers make their way east on July 25 to 27. (And if you really want to understand why that series is painful for Sox fans, Google “Mookie Betts.”)

If you’re looking for giveaways, the Red Sox have plenty. The first 7,500 fans will receive beach towels on June 11, replica jerseys on July 2, and a sling bag on August 16. On-field photo day for all fans will be August 17.

Fenway also has several theme nights, like Taco & Tequila Fest on May 17, Pride Night on June 9, Celtics Day on June 29, and Sesame Street Day on August 31, to name a few.

Be a real fan—like this

If you want to act like a real Sox fan (or Sawx fan), and feel like a real New Englander, here are a few tips for the ballpark. Have a Fenway Frank (no ketchup) and wash it down with either a Del’s Lemonade or a Sam Adams lager. Later, get a box of Cracker Jacks, and don’t forget a bag of peanuts so you can cover your clothes in peanut shells. And bring your loudest singing voice, because in the seventh inning you’ll stand and belt out “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” and an inning later you’ll join one of the ultimate Boston traditions by screaming out the words to Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline.” Bah! Bah! Bah!