Take the Bus and Come with Us: Sox Games a Favorite Rec Tradition

Providing Seacoast area residents seasonal opportunities to see the Boston Red Sox play at Fenway Park is a long-standing tradition for the Hampton Parks and Recreation Department.

Each year, Hampton Recreation organizes a couple of trips to see the Red Sox play at home, and this year is no exception.

On the roster for Summer 2012 are games between the BoSox and the Tampa Bay Rays on May 26 and the Minnesota Twins on August 4. Tickets are now on sale at the recreation office, and the cost includes comfortable, round-trip coach bus transportation.

Why is attending an exciting game at Fenway Park with Hampton Recreation so popular with Seacoast area sports fans?

Besides the fact that it's a chance to join the rest of the Fenway Faithful rooting for the home team, it's also a chance to enjoy terrific baseball action with people from your own home town.

"I've gone with family, I've gone with friends and I've gone with both," said Hampton Parks and Recreation Director Dyana Martin, whose husband Gary has joined her for Red Sox games.

"It's a great family time," added Program Coordinator Rene Boudreau, who organizes the trips each year. "And we always get decent seats. We have the whole section, so it's all people you travel with on the bus ride."

This season, according to Boudreau, "We have our own concession stand behind the seats for both games." That means everyone has easy access to those great Fenway Franks and other ballpark refreshments.

Plus, at this year's Boston-Tampa Bay game with seats in the Coca Cola Pavilion, there's an added bonus that comes with each ticket purchase.

"It comes with a $15 concession voucher attached to it, so it helps with paying for concessions," said Boudreau.

Just the fact that the ticket price includes transportation from Hampton to Boston and back makes this a great deal for everyone. Boudreau estimated that it's easy to spend an extra $40-$50 just to park in Beantown for a ballgame.

"All the stuff like parking and traffic are taken out of the equation, so it's very convenient," said Boudreau. "All you have to do is hop on a bus and get dropped off at Fenway Park. It's cheaper to take the bus and come with us."

It's also more fun and exciting to cheer on the Boston Red Sox surrounded by fellow fans, so plan on signing up today.

Tickets for either game are $115 each for residents and $130 for non-residents. Both are night games which begin just after 7 p.m.; the coach bus leaves Hampton at 3:45 p.m. and returns to Hampton once the game is over.

By the way, the scheduling is perfect for those who want to experience everything there is to offer when the Red Sox play at home.

"We leave early so people have time to do all the fun traditional things, like have a street cart sausage, or peruse the shops on Yawkey Way and pick up your favorite player shirt," said Martin. "That's what I do when I go to a game. You can be part of the Boston community.

Get in on this season's basball action by joining the Hampton Parks and Recreation Department for a Red Sox game at Fenway Park (celebrating 100 years in 2012!) Or, pick up a ticket or two as a gift for your favorite fan. To sign up, stop by the recreation office at 100 Winnacunnet Road in Hampton, or call 926-3932.