Take Me Out To The Ball Game
Right before the kids and I took off for our road trip, I got an email that said “Boston Red Sox Invite You to a Game at Fenway Park” in the subject line. I almost, almost deleted it, since obviously it must be spam. I am so very glad I didn’t.
I have no idea how I ended up on a list of “thought leaders” in New England, but because they stumbled over my blog somehow the marketing department for the Red Sox invited me and my family up to the park for a tour, a game and a focus group to talk about what would make us more likely to come back.
The whole thing was so professional, I almost cringe at the fact I even there. I wore flip flops and brought my four year old. No one else had their kid there (I asked! They said beforehand it was OK!) and he was kind of…a four year old. There was an agenda and a white board and notepads. It was a small group. There was a seat marked with my name and blog name on a printed and branded place marker. They had individual bottles of Perrier for us while we chatted about family events at Fenway and their Kid Nation program. Perrier is way above my class level. It was 90 degrees and my Spanx were the only thing keeping me from literally melting into a puddle on the floor, but there I was, unable to shut up. I ramble when I’m nervous (shocking, I’m sure) and in the moment my brain seemed to think all my ideas were BRILLIANT. Gah. Gaaaaaaaaah.
Luckily I must not have totally embarrassed myself, since they sent a follow up email and invited us back to the Futures at Fenway event coming up in July. At the focus group we discussed in detail what sort of things we’d like to see at a family day event…and then POOF! Turns out that event is ALREADY SCHEDULED. And has been for the past eight years. I probably should have known about that already. Oops?
The real best part of the whole thing was the ballpark tour. I’m not the world’s greatest Red Sox fan (and if you are, feel free to hate me for being invited to this thing when you weren’t), but I am a huge nut about history and Fenway is all about history. Getting to walk around the park when it was empty, visit all the fancy and private levels, see the framed jerseys going all the way back to the very first one with actual red socks printed on it…it was amazing. Especially because I got to bring E and Evan. I choked up a little just editing my photos from the day – they don’t get to spend a lot of time together doing father-son stuff, but what can be a better memory than Evan’s first trip to Fenway? Magical, for real.
Tags: baseball, blogging, boston, E, evan, events, family, fenway, fenway park, historic, media, new england, photography, red sox, sports, things I love
How fantastic! I am so jealous! Your pictures are SO GOOD! Glad E could be there!
Wow, that’s so awesome!
SO cool!
So. Freaking. Cool. I wish the Rangers would do something like this! Also? The photos are amazeballs!
That’s awesome!
And love the Hood’s sign – loved their ice cream when I lived in MA.
Wow!!!!! this is so cool!!!!!
I truly enjoyed this story. Your composition is impeccable!
Wow, this looks like it was so much fun! Also, this is incredible photography!
xx Kait
What an amazing opportunity – and gorgeous photos, as usual.
Love the family pictures! What a great memory you have.
I have to admit, this girl is a big Yankee fan…but I have the utmost respect for RedSoxNation after they signed Nomar for one day so he could end his illustrious career as a Red Sox player.
Of course I am also UBER-JEALOUS of the tour and VIP treatment.
Hello, Yankees? I’m your girl!
I would say mean snarky things out of jealousy but you totally thought to invite me even though I love in Chicago. So instead, AMAZING.
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