Ranking Fenway Park Fairly: Why It’s Nowhere Near Top 5

Baseball season is back, folks.

That means it’s time to break out the peanuts and Cracker Jacks and enjoy a nice day at the ballpark.

It also means it’s that time of year when articles start ranking all the stadiums. And there is always one ballpark that never sits right with me. These sites consistently overvalue Fenway Park.

The folks over at The Big Lead did exactly that. The publication took aim at all 30 stadiums and produced a Top 10 based on rankings from the site Ranker. This basically means it’s peer-review-driven, so there’s arguably no better way to get an accurate opinion than from the fine folks who actually attend these games.

What is the Best Baseball Stadium in America?

I must say, the opinion is a solid one. I agree with much of the list, especially the top spot going to Oracle Park in San Francisco. It’s an incredible ballpark. While I’ve never been, the images on television make it look truly special, especially with its location right on the water.

But we aren’t here to discuss Oracle Park. We’re here to talk about the overrated disaster that can be found in the heart of Boston.

I’m sure you’re all wondering where our beloved Fenway Park landed. For some reason, it comes in at number five overall. That’s pure insanity.

To claim Fenway Park is the fifth-best ballpark in America is laughable. Is it a historic landmark? Sure. With over 100 years of history, it’s practically a museum. But who in their right mind wants to spend four hours in a cramped, uncomfortable museum?

Here’s some real talk: Fenway Park is just okay. It’s fine. Outside of the history, it’s just an old, run-down ballpark.

Let’s take a closer look at its issues.

What Makes Fenway Park Overrated?

Parking: Horrendous. If you decide to build a stadium in the city, you’re bound to face criticism for failing to account for modern urban development. Parking is awful. There’s nothing worse than parking in a different town and having to take a train in.

Gates: They’re too tight, too few, and strangely not in alphabetical order. It makes zero sense.

Concourse: Tragically bad. Do you enjoy feeling like a sardine? Well, Fenway is for you. My favorite feature is when you’re walking and suddenly run into a section of seats that blocks your way to the next part of the park. What a brilliant design.

Seats: Hahahaha (deep breath) hahahaha. Unless you’re paying hundreds of dollars for a prime seat, you’ll need a physical therapist by the seventh inning. The seats are incredibly uncomfortable. I’m pretty sure some of them are still from the 1920s. On top of that, there are basically zero seats that actually line up correctly with the field. It’s quite astonishing.

Obstructed View: It’s 2026, and you can still buy a seat at Fenway where you have to watch the game on a monitor. “It’s all part of the experience!” Not for $80 a pop, buddy.

Bathrooms: Listen, they could be worse—I’ll give them that. However, one time I went to a concert and numerous bathrooms weren’t even open. Someone should have been arrested for a war crime for that decision.

Field Dimensions: You know what? I dig them. The Green Monster is wonderful. The unique center field and short right-field pole are great. I fully admit that the field dimensions are outstanding—easily the best part of this park.

While there are some bright spots, it’s clear that the negatives heavily outweigh the positives. I’m sorry, but Fenway has no business being ranked this high.

What Baseball Stadiums are Better Than Fenway Park?

After compiling these points, I’d place Fenway around the middle of the pack. I think that’s fair. It’s clearly not the worst, but there’s no real reason it should be anywhere near the top.

What this really comes down to is that Fenway is a dinosaur. It will always have a unique history, but it also has limitations—and maybe it should be extinct.

Red Sox fans deserve better amenities, comfort, and accessibility. Heck, you could even use the same dimensions in a new park and bring the Green Monster along, too. Until that happens, though, the only folks who will continue to truly enjoy Fenway are Boston-area physical therapists.