Idiots Write About Sports

Long-time readers may remember my post from a month ago where I dangled the possibility of my attending a game at Fenway Park and asked for your advice on obtaining tickets. The voice of the people rang out loud and clear: StubHub! Use StubHub! C’mon, idiot — use StubHub!

So I’ll be using StubHub.

Which brings me to the next thorny issue of attending a baseball game in a park that opened the same week the Titanic sunk: the existence of view-obstructed seats and the chances of me inadvertently paying top dollar to sit in one.

I’ve sat in view-obstructed seats before — way back in 1995, I went to a San Diego Chargers game at the Stadium Formerly Known as Jack Murphy and paid $32 for a prime view of the Cleveland Browns’ backsides. On the bright side, this afforded me the best seat in the house for watching Tom Tupa practice his punts; on the downside, I wound up watching most the action on the stadium scoreboard, which seems to defeat the purpose of attending a live event.

Hence, my concern about buying tickets to Fenway sight unseen: a view-obstructed seat isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker, but if I’m going to pony up a minimum of $59 to get in the building, I’d like to make sure I won’t be spending nine innings examining the ironwork of early 20th century ballparks.

So anyone know anything about Fenway? If I buy something in the Infield Grandstand 14 section, what are the odds I wind up blissfully pole-free. Is the Right Field Box 90 a better bet? My hopelessly out-of-date edition of the USA Today Four-Sport Stadium Guide — what do you mean the Colorado Rockes no longer play at Mile High Stadium? Los Angeles has two football teams? — is very little help in this matter.

I took in a game from the Right Field Box 93 once. It was not the best. Apparently in 1912, it didn't occur to anyone that people seated in Right Field might want to see what was happening at the plate, so the seats all face right field. Great view of the right fielder (Ichiro!, when I went), but to see the plate you have to hope no one's leaning forward in their seat.

Also, the sun sets behind the press box, so you have to do what I've heard called the Fenway Salute, head cranked to the left, hand over eyes to block the sun until it finally sets.

Fine enough place to sit and I was glad to just be there, but don't pay a premium for it. I can't speak for section 90 specifically, though.

Phil, we just bought tickets for a Cubs game at Wrigley through StubHub. Convenient, but count on an additional $20-$30 for tax and "shipping" -- the only shipping option we were offered was $15 FedEx.

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