3. Fenway Park – Boston

Baseball, with its slow pace and frequent games, depends on its situation and surroundings more than any other sport. When it’s done well, a great ballpark can overshadow a mediocre home team to create a great experience (Camden Yards). When it’s done poorly, a crappy stadium can cast a shadow over even the best teams.
Fenway Park is such a stadium. Yes, it’s got that old-world charm that suits the sport well, as baseball relies so heavily on nostalgia. But there comes a point where nostalgia, a unique setting, and compelling team can’t outweigh the fact that the place just isn’t comfortable.
Fenway opened 98 years ago. Judging by its seating, I’m led to believe two things: the height of the average Bostonian was about 3-foot-8 and they had asses of steel. Further, there exists at Fenway a disproportionate number of obstructed view seats. I don’t know if these seats have always had obstructed views or renovations made them that way, and I don’t really care. There’s no excuse for not having a clear view of the field from every seat in the house. If that’s not the case, then tear down the stadium and start again. It’s been a century now. Come on.
Also, Fenway is the most expensive ballpark to attend in America, which isn’t really a consideration on this list, but the fact that you can’t park a car near Fenway for less than $30 demonstrates that a new facility is probably in order to make coming and going a little easier for fans.
The final gripe about Fenway lies in the ability of fans to circulate through the park. Everything is narrow: aisles, concourses, even the gates. If these things could be renovated, there might be a reason to hang on to the past, but as it stands, Fenway has to go.

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