Massachusetts: Is Fenway Park Or Gillette Stadium Better For Concerts?

The homes of the Red Sox and Patriots also host some epic concerts. This year, some of the biggest artists in the world have opted for the stadium experience. But is Fenway Park or Gillette Stadium a better concert experience?

I've broken down the criteria into a few pertinent categories. Location, sound, lineup, and general atmosphere. Both Fenway Park and Gillette Stadium are hosting concert events in 2023. The land of the Green Monster has already the likes of P!NK and Dead and Company (to name a few). They still have legendary acts like Guns n' Roses still to come. This week we see three nights of Morgan Wallen take center field.

As for Foxboro, back in May there was a three-night weekend stretch of arguably the hardest ticket in town. No, I'm not talking about Monster Jam. As you well-know, people are still raving about Taylor Swift's Eras Tour. Still to come at Patriot Place this year is two nights of Bruce Springsteen. Next summer, Bill Belichick will be raising the horns for two night of Metallica in the round.

As for my experience, in full disclosure, I have been to about a dozen rock concert nights at Fenway Park (including Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foo Fighters), and six shows at Gillette Stadium (including a festival).

With all due respect, this is a no-brainer for me. I live 20 miles outside the city and Fenway Park is still twice as convenient for me to get to. Furthermore, there are numerous mass transportation options available that give the option of car-less experience. Any concert venue where the time it takes to get out of the parking lot after the show is longer than the actual concert itself, is a red flag. One point goes to Fenway here.

I am not picky here. Although we are comparing 35,000 capacity to 65,000 capacity, we are dealing with stadium-sized PA systems all the same. Given the bowl shape of Gillette and the open air, as compared to the walls and congestion of the city, I will give a slight edge to Gillette here.

As I mentioned, the biggest names in music are coming to both of these venues. Fenway Park is a landmark. It's really all about personal preference. Fenway has consistently billed a nice mix of rock bands who have never played there, as well as acts that have made it a tradition (like Zac Brown). I'm buying the Fenway ticket here.

Lansdowne Street bar crawls vs. acres of open parking lot tailgate space. I simply prefer options. Although there are a great number of bars in Patriot Place to get your pre-game on, the Fenway area has done a remarkable job of accenting the park with everything you can imagine. In fact, there's even the MGM Fenway Music hall right up against right field. I recall looking up at the sky as Red Hot Chili Peppers rocked "Dani California" last September and being in awe of how the city skyline was blanketing the overall experience. I stood three-free from second base as Eddie Vedder teared up about how the teenage kid in him never would have guessed he would be singing from center field at Fenway. Sure, there are better sounding rooms in many New England places, but to me, on the right night, there's a magic to a concert at Fenway Park.

Three to one, Fenway Park is my champion, edging out Gillette Stadium as the better place to catch a concert of your choice. While I am for (evermore) in awe of what Taylor Swift brought to Foxboro, Jeff's version is simply captivated by the Folklore of Fenway.

Major League Baseball has a deep respect for their game's rich history. Attending a ballgame can be a great experience that allows fans to marvel at baseball culture. Furthermore, most MLB parks have designed stadium attractions that make them unique amongst the 30 venues in the league.

From museums to bodies of water to fan-zone fun, the MLB stadiums across the country each have something that is representative of their character. Often you will find baseball enthusiasts track how many ballparks they have been to. In addition, it is common for fans to build trips to other cities to have a new MLB park experience.

MLB is the only professional sport in the country where each team has its own dedicated stadium. For example, in the NFL, the Jets and Giants share Metlife Stadium. Many NBA team share their home arena with the NHL team in their city. In professional baseball, each of the 30 teams has their own home field that is theirs alone. This enables the organization to build more character specific to the club.

The interior of an MLB ballpark is all about the players. Though there is a mysterious aura about the clubhouse, given that they are underground. The common thread in modern-day construction is centered around the ballclub. The intent is to make each clubhouse comfortable, hi-tech, and private for the players and coaches. The rest of the stadium is all about the fan experience.

Here, we will look at some of the most unique MLB stadium attractions. Each is representative of their city and team history. They provide character to the ballpark. In many cases, these features make the park a landmark in their home state.

If you want to take in an MLB game in a ballpark you have not visited yet, here are some attractions to consider.

Behind the outfield wall at Chase Field, there's a pool area. From here, you can see the entire game. At the home of the Arizona Diamondbacks, you can take in a National League West game while going for a swim. The area accommodates 35 people.

You surely know all about the infamous Green Monster left field wall at Fenway Park, but did you know you can sit on top of it? There are 269 seats available for Red Sox ticket purchase. This area is a common spot for lucky fans to catch a home run ball.

Hundreds of signed baseballs by Yankee greats, plagues, and statues are just some of the incredible monuments in the museum at Yankee Stadium. Some of the exhibits rotate, but "Yankees by the numbers" jerseys, World Series rings, and trophies are always on display.

If you want to kayak up against the outfield wall of a picturesque stadium, McCovey Cove in San Francisco is your spot. While its common to see boats overshadowing right field, this is also a common spot for those looking to catch a memorable home run ball.

"There's magic in the ivy and the old scoreboard," Eddie Vedder sings in his Cubs tribute song "All The Way." The legendary ivy covering the outfield walls at Wrigley might arguably be the most iconic ballpark look of all.

Technically it's called Gallagher Square, but the Park at Petco Park is located outside the outfield walls but inside the gates of the stadium. You need a ticket on gameday to access this space, which has mini fields and a statue of the late Padres great Tony Gwynn.

A tank containing real live stingrays rests within the outfield of the stadium. This is a 35 foot, 10,000 gallon exhibit that is in partnership with the Florida Aquarium.

15-foot-high and 56-foot-long replica of an 1862 steam locomotive goes for a ride each time the Astros hit a home run. Sitting 90 feet above the field, you will hear this train go for a 40 second ride back and forth. This area of the park used to be Union Station, which is why the train was brought in as an attraction in 2000. It is driven by Bobby Dynamite.

Along the main concourse in center field, there's the Bobblehead Museum at loanDepot Park in Miami. This is the home of over 500 bobbleheads that are enclosed behind glass. While many of these are MLB and minor league players, a section includes entertainers and special giveaways the Marlins have done.

When the Brewers hit a home run, their mascot Bernie slides down a giant yellow slide out of his outfield treehouse. Fans can take a ride down as well. Tickets are available for purchase for some pre-game fun ($150-$175).

The city fountains are well represented at the home of the Royals. The fountains in outfield are 322 feet wide. They can change colors and offer a magnificent display. Select 200 level seats near the fountains can be purchased. There are eight programmed fountain shows, where 600 nozzles can launch into 150 combinations of effects.

You can sit high above centerfield in Colorado. The Rockpile offers $4 select tickets. It's a bleacher style seating, giving you a true Rocky Mountain feel.