Fenway Park Game Day Guide
Boston Red Sox · Boston, MA
Know Before You Go
- Bag policy
Bags must have one compartment and measure no more than 12 x 12 x 6 inches.
Backpacks, backpack-style purses, duffel bags, and other multi-compartment bags are prohibited, including clear backpacks. Diaper bags and bags containing essential medical equipment are excepted.
- Bag storage
A third-party locker truck stores noncompliant bags for a fee on top of the Lansdowne Garage across from Gate E.
Fenway Park itself does not store other prohibited items; surrendered items are discarded and cannot be retrieved.
- Gate opening
All Fenway Park gates open 90 minutes before the scheduled start of every game.
- Mobile tickets
Red Sox tickets must be scanned from a mobile device using the MLB Ballpark app or Apple Wallet.
Screenshots, printouts, and barcode copies shown in third-party apps are not accepted. Ticket barcodes appear 48 hours before the game.
- Re-entry
Fenway Park does not allow re-entry after a guest exits.
A guest whose service animal needs relief may exit and return through any gate.
- Prohibited items
Fenway Park prohibits firearms, ammunition, knives, tools, pepper spray, marijuana, hard-sided coolers, outside alcohol, glass containers, and noncompliant bags.
Noise-making devices, lasers, strobe lights, most cans and bottles, professional audiovisual equipment, offensive clothing, and other potential weapons are also prohibited; review the official list before arrival.
- First aid
First Aid is on the main concourse beneath Grandstand 12, Loge 101-102, and Field Box 9-17.
Additional EMT teams are behind Grandstand 17 and at the Green Monster seating entrance.
- Nursing and lactation
Private nursing and pumping rooms are on Level 5 behind the Aura Pavilion Box, behind Grandstand 18 on Level 2, and in the Big Concourse family restroom by Gate B.
The Gate B room requires a key available from the Fan Information Booth across from the family restroom. The Gate E family restroom also has an outlet and chair.
- Family restrooms
Family restrooms are near Gate E, behind Grandstand 18, beside the Kids Concourse elevator, on the Aura Pavilion Level, and on the Angry Orchard Terrace.
The Big Concourse family restroom has a universal changing table; request access at the Gate B Fan Information Booth.
- Tickets for children
Children age two and younger do not need a ticket for admission.
- Guest services
Fan Information Booths are in the Big Concourse at Gate B, at the Gate D entrance, and on the third-base concourse at Gate E.
For in-game security help, text 23215 with the word security followed by the message.
- Service animals
Guests with service animals should enter Fenway Park through Gate D.
If a service animal needs relief, the guest and animal may exit and return through any gate.
- Smoking and vaping
Smoking is prohibited throughout Fenway Park and on Jersey Street during event days.
Game Day Timeline
What the day looks like at Fenway Park, hour by hour.
Arrive in Kenmore Square
Take the Green Line to Kenmore or park in the neighborhood. The bars on Lansdowne Street and Brookline Avenue are already filling with fans in Red Sox gear.
Pregame on Lansdowne Street
Cask 'n Flagon and the Bleacher Bar are the iconic pregame spots. The Bleacher Bar has a window that looks directly into center field from street level.
Enter Fenway Park
Walk through the brick archways on Yawkey Way. Head to the concourse to see the pennant banners and retired numbers along the grandstand walls.
Watch batting practice
Head to the right field bleachers or the Monster Seats to watch BP. Fenway's small dimensions make home runs during practice a regular occurrence.
Find your seat
Navigate the narrow concourses and find your section. Some grandstand seats are quirky. Check for obstructed views and odd angles before buying.
Play ball
Nine innings of baseball in America's oldest ballpark. The Green Monster looms 37 feet above left field, turning routine fly balls into wall-ball doubles.
Sweet Caroline
The crowd sings 'Sweet Caroline' by Neil Diamond in the middle of the 8th inning, a Fenway tradition since 2002. 'BA BA BA... SO GOOD! SO GOOD! SO GOOD!'
Lansdowne Street nightlife
Spill out onto Lansdowne Street and Brookline Avenue for postgame drinks. The Cask 'n Flagon and other bars stay packed for an hour after the final out.
Tips & Fan Reports
The trees on Yawkey Way are planted in the same red dirt that is on the field. Want to touch some Fenway dirt? You don't have to trespass or buy a framed cup of it. Check out the Bleacher Bar under the bleachers for pregame.
Fenway is the oldest park in MLB (1912). The Green Monster (37 feet tall) in left field is unlike anything else in baseball.
Take the T, the Green Line to Kenmore is a 5-minute walk to the gates. Driving and parking in Fenway-Kenmore is expensive and stressful.
The Bleacher Bar on Lansdowne Street has a window looking directly into center field. A must-visit even without tickets.
The ballpark is old and quirky, some seats have obstructed views from support poles. Check your exact seat on A-View From My Seat before buying.
Standing room tickets are the budget option at Fenway. You can roam the park and find spots along the concourse.
If your bag is over the limit, the locker truck on the Lansdowne Garage is the answer rather than a walk back to the car.
Parking is scarce and paid. The club says so itself, so plan the T or book ahead.
Day-of tickets appear at Gate E 90 minutes before first pitch, and the queue can legitimately start five hours out.
There is no tailgate here. There is Lansdowne Street, which is the point of coming early.
Before the Game
Fenway Park has no parking of its own and the club says plainly that parking of all types is extremely limited around the ballpark: the lots and garages that exist sit off Brookline Avenue and Ipswich Street, all charging a fee. That makes Lansdowne Street, running behind the Green Monster and the bleachers, the actual pregame: the club's own guide describes it as packed with choices. Two practical timings: a limited number of day-of tickets go on sale at Gate E on Lansdowne Street 90 minutes before every game, first come first served, and fans may start queuing five hours ahead. A non-permitted bag can be stored for a fee at the locker truck on top of the Lansdowne Garage, across from Gate E.
Where to Go Before the Game
Lansdowne Street
Behind the Green Monster and the bleachers, and the club's own guide calls it packed with good choices. With no ballpark lots, this street is where a Fenway pregame actually happens.
Known for Behind the Green Monster · Bars and restaurants · Gate E is here
Gate E, Lansdowne Street
Where a limited number of same-day tickets are sold 90 minutes before every game, first come first served while supplies last. Fans may begin lining up five hours before game time.
Known for Day-of tickets · 90 minutes before · Queue from 5 hours out
Lots and garages off Brookline Avenue and Ipswich Street
The paid parking around the ballpark. The club warns that parking of all types is extremely limited here, so this is a book-ahead or take-the-T decision.
Known for Fee parking · Extremely limited · Off Brookline Ave and Ipswich St
The locker truck, Lansdowne Garage
On top of the Lansdowne Garage across from Gate E, where a non-permitted bag can be stored for a fee by a third-party company rather than taken back to a car you may not have.
Known for Bag storage for a fee · Across from Gate E
Pregame Rules
What Fenway Park allows before the game, and what it does not.
- Parking of all types is extremely limited around Fenway Park. Paid lots and garages sit off Brookline Avenue and off Ipswich Street.
- A limited number of tickets for that day's game are sold at Gate E on Lansdowne Street beginning 90 minutes prior to all games, first come first served while supplies last.
- Fans may assemble in line beginning five hours prior to game time.
- Fans arriving with a non-permitted bag may store it for a fee with a third-party locker company, on top of the Lansdowne Garage across from Gate E.
- Fenway Park has no parking lots of its own and publishes no tailgating policy.
Weather
Fenway Park is open air, so these are the conditions you sit in.
Across the MLB season the warmest month is July, with an average high of 85°F, and the coldest is April, when the average low is 38°F. October is the wettest month at 5.0 inches and July the driest at 3.5 inches.
That April low ranks 5th coldest of the 30 MLB venues, and October here ranks 6th wettest.
April
4.3 inchesMay
3.6 inchesJune
4.2 inchesJuly
3.5 inchesAugust
3.7 inchesSeptember
4.0 inchesOctober
5.0 inchesWhat to Bring
- Only the outside food and drink the rule allows
Guests may bring one sealed plastic water bottle of 16 ounces or less and special dietary food or beverages.
- A card or a phone wallet
Fenway Park food and beverage purchases are cashless and accept credit cards, debit cards, gift cards, and mobile contactless payments.
- A warm layer for after dark
April nights average 38°F at Fenway Park.
- Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat
July highs average 85°F at Fenway Park, with no roof over the seats.
- A rain layer
October averages 5.0 inches of rain here.
How We Checked This Page
Every section below names the source it was read from and the day it was read. Where we could not reach a published figure, the page says so rather than presenting an estimate as a checked fact.
- Game day timeline
Gate opening time checked against the venue's own gate-opening policy: All Fenway Park gates open 90 minutes before the scheduled start of every game.
- Pregame
Boston Red Sox official site: Fenway Park Policies and Procedures, Security, and Where to Park
- Weather
NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals
- Venue policies
Current Red Sox Fenway Park, accessibility, concessions, and mobile-ticket guidance reviewed for entry, family, payment, food, parking, and accessibility rules.