How Much!!!!


Last Tuesday my wife and I had tickets for a Red Sox baseball night game at Fenway Park. We live about 75 miles from the park and started out a few hours early. Our plan was to dine somewhere in Boston. Maybe be lucky enough to get a booth in Jerry Remy's restaurant, close to the park. 

We arrived in Boston via Storrow drive and found the parking lot we use when attending the games. I parked the car, and we walked to Fenway, about half a mile away. Earlier in the day the weather was rainy but, now as we walked to the park, it was improving. The clouds parted and the sun poked out, bright and warm. About a ten minute walk and we were there. First thing was to check out Remy's restaurant. Not good. An hour wait to get in. Plan 'B', eat once inside the park. Fenway boasts a wide variety food to please almost everyone. Hot dogs, pizza, hamburgers, sausage grinders..the list is long. This is where it got interesting. I ordered two double cheese burgers, one hot dog, an order of french fries and a bottled water. The tab was $27 dollars. To be clear, I'm not complaining about the price as much as I'm making an observation. There were only two of us, and before we reached our game seats, I had spent close to $300. $30 gas, $6 tolls, $40 parking, $27 food and $198 for two tickets. Later on, once the game was in full swing, I bought a hot chocolate. $7..this isn't a typo...hot chocolate $7. 

The night game between the Sox and the Orioles was fun. We had good seats amongst an enthusiastic crowd. That's what baseball fans expect at a ball game. What many first timers won't expect is the cost to attend a game. Granted, there are many variables. Some won't spend money on tolls or use as much gasoline to get to the park. Some may not need to pay for parking. That's understandable but, what's hard to comprehend is how some poor guy can afford to bring his wife and a couple of kids to the game. They'll all want hot dogs and a coke at least. Maybe a few souvenirs.

Again, I didn't write this as a complaint. It's just an observation of what the costs is to attend a baseball game today. Oh, and by the way, the Red Sox played the Baltimore Orioles and lost at the end. Papelbon blew the save. Final score, seven to five, Orioles....that made my observation feel even worse! I'll still attend a game now and then......I'll just have to skip a mortgage payment to have enough money to attend a game.....I am being facetious....(-;

Jake T